Bob and Harvey Weinstein are planning a Fletchfranchise, kicking off with the origins story Fletch Won based on the eighth book in Gregory Mcdonald'scomedy-mystery series.

Emmy-nominated Scrubs creator BillLawrence will adapt the screenplay for The Weinstein Company (TWC) and is expected to make his featuredirectorial debut in April 2007 during a break from the hit network comedy.

Despite being the eighth in the series, Fletch Won is a prequel story that follows the early life andtimes of the investigative reporter made famous by Chevy Chase in the 1985 filmFletch, and Fletch Lives four year later. No cast is attached yetand David List is producing.

"This is an important franchise for our company and we can't think of a betterperson than Bill to take the Fletchstory all the way back to the beginning," TWC co-president of production Michael Cole said. "His work on Scrubs speaks for itself and his ideas for adapting Fletch Won are hilariousand incredibly smart."

Cole and senior vice president of production Carla Gardini will oversee theproject on behalf of TWC.

Executive vice president of business and legal affairs Eric Roth negotiated thedeal for TWC with Howard West of Shapiro/West Associates, Jared Levine atBarnes, Morris, Klein, Yorn, Barnes & Levine, and Emile Gladstone of BWCSon behalf of Lawrence.

Lawrence's writing credits include Friends, the Billy Connolly series Billy, and Spin City.