By Chris Petrikin

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – Chevy Chase is teaming up with independent filmmaker Kevin Smith for a third installment of thepopular “Fletch” films.

Chase, who starred in the 1985 original, as well as its 1989 sequel, “FletchLives”, is attached to reprise his role as the wise-acre, undercover crime reporter with a penchant for absurd disguises and pseudonyms.

Smith, the writer-director of the hit Miramax comedies “Clerks” and “Chasing Amy”, has signed a deal with Universal Pictures to write the script. He may also direct the film, which is going by the tentative title “Fletch 3.”

While Smith admits that he “learned to write dialogue” from Gregory McDonald’s series of “Fletch” novels, he told Daily Variety that his take on the third film will be based on his original idea rather than a specific book, as had been the case with the previous films.

He will move the main character, a die-hard Lakers fan, from his L.A. base to the East Coast, and will write it in the spirit of“The Third Man”.

He first will shoot “Dogma”, based on his original screenplay, and slated to go before the cameras for Miramax in February.

The “Fletch” films have been two of Chase’s most popular films. The films have grossed nearly $85 million combined at the box office. The original “Fletch” was helmed by Michael Ritchie — who alsodirected the sequel — and was adapted by Andrew Bergman from McDonald’s novel.

“Fletch 3” also brings Smith back to the studio system, after an irksome gig writing the screenplay for Warner Bros.’“Superman Lives”. Smith’s version of the script, which stayed true to the “Superman” comic series, was rejected by helmer Tim Burton after he signed to direct the film. Subsequently, the film has been postponed until April, and Smith said that because of the favorable notices and success of “Chasing Amy,” “I can come back into a studio again.”

Reuters/Variety