Turner to cook Par's 'Hot Dog'

Knoxville to play vendor in comedy

By DAVE MCNARY

Paramount Pictures has moved forward on Johnny Knoxville's "Hot Dog Vendor" project by signing Sheldon Turner, one of Hollywood's most sought-after writers, to pen the script.

The comedy will center initially on the rivalry between a pair of hot dog vendors in downtown Los Angeles, with Knoxville portraying an ex-con forced into the business by his parole officer. The duo eventually ally to take on a common enemy, the equivalent of the New York Yankees of the hot dog vending world.

Knoxville is also producing along with MTV Films, Art Linson and John Linson. Knoxville, Par and MTV teamed on "Jackass the Movie," which surprised with a $64 million domestic gross in 2002.

"There's a real appeal in writing a comedy with broad characters for Johnny," Turner said.

Scribe recently signed a blind script deal at Par and wrote the first draft of Par/Sony's "The Longest Yard," which attracted Adam Sandler.

Turner's also written a pair of thrillers for MGM -- "Scrawl" and "Pursuit," with Will Smith and James Lasseter's Overbrook Entertainment producing the latter pic with Bob Wunch. He's also writing "Overtime" at Warner Bros. with Ashton Kutcher and Sean Levy attached, and "Up in the Air" with Ted Griffin attached to direct.