( USA Today) STUDIO SIFTS INGREDIENTS FOR FRESH 'PIE' by Josh Chetwynd and Andy Seiler
Universal is fine-tuning the recipe for the sequel to last summer's sleeper hit American Pie.
The studio recently received the film's first draft, which brings back most of the characters from the original and, despite rumors of a European setting, returns them to the Midwest. (The first one took place in Michigan). Execs liked the initial script from up-and-coming writer David Steinberg but thought he veered too far from the tone set by Adam Herz, who wrote the original.
Now there's talk about bringing Herz back to punch up the script, which is expected to include the same physical humor as the first (like the famed pie scene).As for the case, it is unclear which members will take a second helping of Pie. They are waiting for the script, and scheduling might be difficult because many Pie players are getting lots of work: Jason Biggs stars in Boys & Girls (due June 16) and Loser (July 21); Mena Suvari and Thora Birch are much in demand since starring in American Beauty; and Seann Scott stars with MTV's Tom Green in Road Trip (May 19). Still, the studio is confident the film will go into production by year's end.