ZACH BRAFF - SCRUBS DUO TAKE ON FLETCH

ZACH BRAFF is to step into comedy legend CHEVY CHASE's shoes and star in a new prequel of the 1980s movie franchise FLETCH. BILL LAWRENCE, the creator of TV comedy SCRUBS, has been signed up by HARVEY and BOB WEINSTEIN to adapt author GREGORY MCDONALD's 1985 novel FLETCH WON and direct the movie. He wants Braff - the star of Scrubs - to play investigative journalist IRWIN 'FLETCH' FLETCHER. Lawrence says, "Zach is perfect for the role. I'm going to use all my pull trying to make him do it. My closest friends from high school don't care about my career. "This is the only job I've ever gotten where every one of them said, 'Congratulations,' and then said, 'Don't f**k it up.'" Braff is thought to be keen - earlier this year he discussed the role with director KEVIN SMITH, who was due to make Fletch Won himself, before pulling out.