It was way back in February of 2011 that we first heard of the plans to reboot the Fletch movie franchise, which originally starred Chevy Chase in the title role. The movies are based on the series of novels written by author Gregory Mcdonald.

Now comes word that an actor has been chosen to take over the reins from Chase. According to reports, Saturday Night Live, Horrible Bosses, and We’re the Millers star Jason Sudeikis has landed the role of Fletch in the reboot, which is titled Fletch Won (the same title as Mcdonald’s 1985 sequel book).

The new franchise will be adapted more from Mcdonald’s books than the Chevy Chase movie and its sequel. The first story follows Irwin Maurice “Fletch” Fletcher, a former marine and current journalist who’s approached by a man dying of bone cancer who’s looking for someone to kill him instead of suffering a long and painful death and willing to pay a lot of money for the favor.

The reboot is described as a gritty action-comedy, and the hope is to duplicate a Beverly Hills Cop or Midnight Run vibe. It’s being planned as a new franchise, with this first movie starting a new series of movies.

[Source: THR]