Rod Lurie will direct the romantic comedy "Beat the Eagle" for Intermedia Films, reports Variety.
Written by Oscar-winning screenwriter Tom Schulman ("Dead Poet's Society"), pic is the story of a beloved two-term president who retires to a small East Coast town to write his memoirs. When asked to becoming the town's mayor, he finds himself challenged for the post by a local hardware proprietor and the election escalates into a battle royal.
Lurie has made a name for himself helming politically oriented dramas of the high-minded sort, including "The Contender" for DreamWorks and "Deterrence" for Paramount Classics.
"It's so funny, commercial and high-quality that I was surprised they offered it to me," said Lurie. "It's a big gift. It's a way of staying involved in a world that I love, but in a different genre."
No producer is attached. The script will get a quick polish before going out to cast.