Universal is developing a remake of Drop Dead Fred, as a starring vehicle for Russell Brand.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Dennis McNicholas, who is one of the writers of Universal's upcoming Land of the Lost, will pen the remake.

The 1991 original starred Phoebe Cates as a wallflower who loses her job and husband during the course of a lunch hour. Forced to live back home, she's reunited with her childhood imaginary friend (Brit actor Rik Mayall), who promises to help but causes more havoc.

Produced by PolyGram and Working Title, the first "Fred" was a critical flop and commercially unsuccessful, however it did achieve a certain cult status and is considered a film that fell short of its full potential.

The take for the new "Fred" is to make a film in the tone of Beetlejuice, building a universe around the concept of imaginary friends. Brand would play the trouble-making pal.

No production date has been set.