Writing duo has "Millions" at stake

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Michael Diliberti and Matthew Sullivan have been tapped to write "Brewster's Millions" for Warner Bros., the latest in a decades-long string of adaptations of the George Barr McCutcheon novel.

The 1902 novel, which became a play in 1906, has proved to be a popular film subject, with this project being the eighth incarnation. Popular versions include the 1945 film starring Dennis O'Keefe, directed by Allan Dwan, and the 1985 comedy starring Richard Pryor and John Candy and directed by Walter Hill.

The story centers on a man who inherits $1 million from a rich grandfather. When a wealthy uncle who hated the grandfather also passes away, the will leaves the young man $7 million -- but on the condition that he spend the grandfather's million within a year and not end up with any assets from the spending spree.

Diliberti and Sullivan wrote the well-received spec script "Comic Con." a buddy comedy about two friends who form a justice league of comic geeks to execute a daring heist at the Comic-Con convention to save their beloved neighborhood comic shop from the clutches of an evil corporate takeover.

(Editing by SheriLinden at Reuters)