Columbia pic gets Sandler and friends

James, Rock, Spade, Schneider in lineup

By TATIANA SIEGEL

Kevin James, Chris Rock, Adam Sandler, Rob Schneider and David Spade are in negotiations to star in an untitled comedy for Columbia Pictures.

Frequent Sandler collaborator Dennis Dugan ("You Don't Mess With the Zohan") will helm, with the studio gearing up for a summer start date.

Sandler's Sony-based Happy Madison shingle, which recently teamed with James and the studio on the box office hit "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," is producing.

Sandler penned the screenplay with "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" scribe Fred Wolf. High-concept story is a comedy about five best friends from high school who reunite 30 years later on a Fourth of July weekend.

The five actors have worked together on a number of comedies, though never all on the same project. Sandler and James most recently starred as the title characters in "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry." Schneider co-starred in "Zohan," while Rock and James made cameo appearances in the film.

Rock and Sandler's relationship dates back to their days as cast members on "Saturday Night Live," where Schneider, Spade and Wolf also cut their comedic teeth. Sandler and Rock also toplined the 2005 remake of "The Longest Yard."

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