Josh Schwartz making Bright Lights, Big City

Josh Schwartz, the man behind The OC, Gossip Girl and Chuck on TV has signed up to write and direct a new film based on the 1984 novel Bright Lights, Big City.

Jay McInerney’s book was previously made into a 1988 comedy drama starring Michael J Fox (below) and Kiefer Sutherland – you can rent it on DVD.

The plot? A disillusioned mag writer tries to escape his failed marriage and writer’s block with drugs, alcohol and casual sex.

"Jay created a world that is really seductive and then deconstructed it in a way that is both funny and emotional," Schwartz tells Variety.

Schwartz will make his film directing debut with the film, and has yet to decide whether he’ll update the movie’s ‘80s setting.

And he’s already got the nod from McInerney, who he served with on the jury of the Tribeca Film festival and then got to contribute to Gossip Girl.

But before he gets to work on that, Schwartz still has to work on young mutant tale X-Men: First Class.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering how the TF team deals with writers’ block, we cope using cream teas and pie.

Honest.

[Source: Variety]

Are you hopeful for this new version? Or is it sacrilege to try again?