Kevin Smith Wants A-List Fletch

Cult movie maker Kevin Smith has drawn up a shortlist of Hollywood's hottest male stars to play FLETCH in the upcoming comedy - but he hasn't told any of them yet.

The Clerks auteur is eyeing a list of A-list talent, including Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck, for the role of the investigative journalist made famous in the eighties by Chevy Chase.

His flick FLETCH WON is intended to be a prequel to 1985's FLETCH and 1989's FLETCH LIVES.

Smith originally wanted Jason Lee to take the part, but backers Miramax wanted a bigger star, so he's been considering household names.

He explains his vision for the film, "The other Fletch films were Chevy vehicles. We've taken an early novel where the author told the origin of how Fletch got his job on a newspaper. The model for this film is Out of Sight.

"Though these actors know nothing about this, I've worked down to a short list of Ben Affleck, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Jimmy Fallon and Adam Sandler for the role of Fletch."

Fletch Won is scheduled to begin production in January 2004.