Will Ferrell takes up residence in ‘Neighbors’ writers’ ‘House’

Will Ferrell is in the house. Or rather, Will Ferrell will be in “The House,” a comedy from “Neighbors” writers Andrew J. Cohen and Brendan O’Brien, a spokesperson for New Line Cinema confirmed to The Times.

Deadline Hollywood first reported that New Line acquired the script, with Cohen to make his feature directing debut and Ferrell to star and produce.

“The House” centers on a suburban dad (Ferrell) and his wife who blow their daughter’s college fund, then partner with their neighbors to start an illegal casino and earn back the money.

Ferrell has been engaging in some paternal hijinks lately, also starring with Mark Wahlberg in the recently shot slapstick “Daddy’s Home.” He’s also an expert when it comes to playing middle-aged goofballs, and will continue that pattern in next month’s “Get Hard,” about a yuppie investor sent into a panic when he’s sentenced to a term in a maximum security prison.

“House” is eyeing an August start date.

Cohen and O’Brien’s “Neighbors,” released by Universal in May, was one of 2014’s surprise hits. Directed by Nick Stoller and starring Seth Rogen, Zac Efron and Rose Byrne, the movie was made on a slim $18-million budget and grossed $268 million at the worldwide box office. Earlier this month, Universal dated a sequel for May 2016.

The writing duo also penned the Fox comedy “Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates,” which will re-team them with Efron and is scheduled for a July 2016 bow.

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