KUMAIL NANJIANI : THE LOVE BIRDS

LOS ANGELES : Nanjiani broke out in a big way in 2017 with sleeper hit 'The Big Sick', the film which earned him and co-writer wife Emily an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay.

'The Big Sick' actor Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae of 'The Hate U Give' have been roped in to star in a romantic comedy, tiled ''The Lovebirds'' .

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the film has been picked up by 'The Big Sick', is reteaming with the actor and will be sitting in the helmer's seat when the fast-tracked project goes into production at the end of January.

Written by Aaron Abrams and Brendan Gall as well as Martin Gero, the script centers on a cuple [Nanjiani and Rae] on the brink of a breakup.

The pair subsequently became embroiled in a bizarre and hijinks filled murder mystery, and as they get close to clearing their names and solving the case, the twosome need to figure out how they, and their relationship, can survive the night.

Tom Lassaly, OlyObst, Todd Shulman, Jordana Mollick and Gero are producing the rom-com, which is being co-produced and co-financed by MRC. [MRC is owned by Valence Media, which is the parent company of  The Hollywood Reporter].

Nanjiani, Rae and Showaiter are serving as executive producers.

Nanjiani, one of the stars of the HBO comedy ''Silicone Valley'', broke out in a big way with ''The Big Sick'', which earned him and his co-writer wife Emily V. Gordon an Oscar nomination for best original screenplay as it became a sleeper hit in the summer of 2017.

He will next be seen starring opposite  Dave Bautista in Fox's action-comedy Stuber, which is set to open July 12.

Rae is the co-creator of the HBO comedy Insecure, in which she is a triple-threat as a writer, executive producer and actress. Rae, who was recently seen in the drama  The Hate U Give, next stars Little, a body morphing comedy from Universal set to bow April 12. [Courtesy Hollywood Reporter]