Zach Braff bails on Fletch Won

So who’s going to be Chevy Chase’s precursor?

A major setback, yet again, for the long-gestating “Fletch Won” project with director Bill Lawrence announcing that “Scrubs” star Zach Braff – someone we all presumed had the role all but sewn up – won’t be playing the new master of disguises.

The “Scrubs” star has been in talks to play the lead role in the new film – based on the book by Gregory McDonald; later a series of films starring Chevy Chase – ever since Kevin Smith was on board to helm. He remained the favourite to take on the role of the investigative reporter when “Scrubs”’ main-man Lawrence was hired to take over the project. It seemed a natural that the two TV comrades would unite on the big-screen venture.

“Zach is writing and directing his own film [‘Open Hearts’] at Paramount,” Lawrence, who’s currently in New York searching for a new Fletch, tells TV Guide. “I’m very happy for him. We were looking forward to doing this thing together, but when you get an opportunity like that, you’ve got to take it.”

So, the question remains, will Lawrence go back to any of the actors that were rumoured to be up for the part originally? Like Brad Pitt, Will Smith, and Jimmy Fallon? Anyone’s guess.