drop dead fred remake

Universal Pictures is developing a remake of Drop Dead Fred for Russell Brand to star in, says The Hollywood Reporter.

Dennis McNicholas (upcoming Land of the Lost) will write the remake. Marc Platt is producing via his studio-based Marc Platt Productions along with Working Title's Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner.

The 1991 original starred Phoebe Cates as a wallflower who loses her job and husband during the course of a lunch hour. Forced to live back home, she's reunited with her childhood imaginary friend (Brit actor Rik Mayall), who promises to help but causes more havoc.

The trade says the take for the update is to make a film in the tone of Beetlejuice, building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends. Brand would play the trouble-making pal.