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Posted: Wed., Feb. 22, 2006, 9:00pm PT

'Larry' helmer bows out

Dobkin separates from 'Pronounce'

David Dobkin

Dobkin

"Wedding Crashers" director David Dobkin has divorced himself from Universal's same-sex comedy "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry."

The studio announced earlier this month that Adam Sandler, Kevin James and Dobkin were readying a comedy about two straight firefighters who pose as a gay married couple for insurance purposes.

Dobkin dropped out abruptly on Wednesday, citing big creative differences, but his exit came before he had a pay or play deal, studio sources said. Word is Dobkin ankled because there was a gap between the Sandler vehicle the studio expected to make and Dobkin's view of what the film should be. Studio reps said there were no creative differences -- he simply passed.

U will look to bring in a replacement helmer to keep the film on track for an August start. Alexander Payne and James Taylor wrote the script. Pic is expected to get under way later this year.

Contact the Variety newsroom at news@variety.com

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