Universal races for 'Tour' comedy

Writers sell biking pitch

By MICHAEL FLEMING, DIANE GARRETT

Shadyac

Universal has pedaled hard for "Tour de Frank," plunking down $800,000 against $1.5 million in a preemptive purchase of a pitch by Andrea King and Andy Marx.

Tom Shadyac and Michael Bostick will produce for Shady Acres Entertainment. Shadyac is developing the comedy, about the competitive world of bicycle racing, with an eye toward directing.

Dan Halsted, King's manager, will exec produce.

King and Marx, both former trade journos, are also paired on "Squeezed" for Jerry Bruckheimer at Disney. That project was also sold as a pitch.

Marx was a scribe for Daily Variety, and King worked for the Hollywood Reporter.

Shady Acres has two high-profile projects bowing this summer: "Evan Almighty," a sequel to "Bruce Almighty" that stars Steve Carell, and "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry," a comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James as firefighters who pretend to be gay in order to receive domestic partner benefits.