McG headed to "War" with Reese Witherspoon

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Charlie's Angels" director McG, returning to action-comedy territory, is in negotiations to shoot "This Means War" for Fox.

Bradley Cooper is attached to star in the tale of best friends who are also spies and fall in love with the same woman (Reese Witherspoon). The men's bond disintegrates, and their ensuing battle escalates.

The move seems to get the long-gestating project on track. The studio picked up the script in 1998, with the project seeing its share of producers, directors (including Gore Verbinski) and stars (Martin Lawrence) come and go.

McG's schedule opened up when Disney pulled the plug in November on the remake "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Captain Nemo," which he had been readying.

McG -- whose real name is Joseph McGinty Nichol -- most recently directed the sci-fi action tentpole "Terminator Salvation." His other credits include the two "Charlie's Angels" movies, which blended action and comedy, as well as the true-life drama "We Are Marshall."