Cooper, Helms nurse 'Hangover'

Duo in talks to star in Todd Phillips comedy

By DAVE MCNARY, TATIANA SIEGEL

Bradley Cooper and Ed Helms are in taks to topline the Todd Phillips-helmed ensemble comedy "Hangover" for Warner Bros and Legendary Pictures.

Project, which will mark Phillips' next directing project, revolves around three pals who lose the groom at his Vegas bachelor party, 40 hours before the wedding.

Jon Lucas and Scott Moore penned the screenplay, which garnered headlines when it sold for more than $2 million in October, becoming one of the last major spec sales before the WGA strike began.

Cooper will play the best man, who organizes the bachelor party, and Helms will play one of the groom's friends. The parts of the groom and the third friend are still being cast.

Film was fast-tracked after another Phillips-helmed Warners project, "Man-Witch," hit a snag when Jack Black dropped out last month. Phillips will direct that film following "Hangover," which starts shooting in October.

Phillips is producing "Hangover" alongside Dan Goldberg. Scott Budnick is exec producing.

Cooper will next be seen in a pair of Warners comedies: "Yes Man" and "He's Just Not That Into You." His upcoming credits also include "All About Steve" for 20th Century Fox and the indie anthology "New York, I Love You."

Helms ("The Office") recently booked a pair of bigscreen roles: Mark and Michael Polish's indie comedy "Manure" and Shawn Levy's "Night at the Museum II: Escape From the Smithsonian" for Fox.

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