Paul Feig is back in business with Universal Pictures, which has tapped the “Bridesmaids” helmer to direct its romantic comedy “The Better Woman.”
Julie Yorn (“We Bought a Zoo”) will produce through her LBI Entertainment banner. Amy Sherman-Palladino (“Gilmore Girls”) is writing the script, based on an idea by Ron Bass and Jen Smolka.
“Better Woman” is a comedy about how a young woman’s seemingly-together life unravels after her fiancee leaves her for a much older woman.
Reese Witherspoon had been circling the project but is no longer involved.
After “Bridesmaids” grossed over $288 million worldwide, Universal moved fast to hang on to Feig, tapping him to direct the third film in the “Bridget Jones” franchise. Feig left that project in October after developing a draft of the script. He also remains hesitant to commit to directing a possible “Bridesmaids” sequel for Universal, as co-writers Kristin Wiig and Annie Mumolo are currently focusing on other projects.
Prior to “Bridesmaids,” Feig directed “Unaccompanied Minors” for Warners, created NBC’s “Freaks and Geeks” and co-created Fox’s “Undeclared” with Judd Apatow.
Feig is repped by CAA.
