EXCLUSIVE: The Help stars Bryce Dallas Howard and Oscar winner Octavia Spencer will be working together again in Universal’s upcoming female ensemble comedy Fairy Tale Ending.

Jim Hecht Universal

Universal recently acquired the pitch from Jim Hecht (A Wizard’s Tale, Ice Age: The Meltdown) and Tracy McMillan (Marvel’s Runaways and Mad Men), both of whom will be writing the script.

Tracy McMillan WME

Howard will produce through her Nine Muses Entertainment label alongside Eric Carlson and Susan Carlson who will produce through their CK&D Media. Seth MacFarlane, who directed the Ted cinematic comedy canon for Uni, will produce with Erica Huggins at their production company, Fuzzy Door. Spencer will also executive produce alongside Hecht and McMillan.

Universal EVP of Production Erik Baiers will oversee the project on behalf of the studio.

Howard recently starred in Universal’s $1.3 billion-grossing cornerstone franchise Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom last summer and she can be seen next in Paramount’s Elton John biopic Rocketman on May 31. She is also a voice in Sony’s A Dog’s Way Home which is currently in theatrical release. Howard is repped by WME, Management 360 and Ziffren Brittenham LLP.

Spencer received her third Oscar nomination for Guillermo del Toro’s near $200M-global grossing best picture winner The Shape of Water and she recently starred in Paramount’s Instant Family. She won an Oscar for her best supporting actress turn in DreamWorks The Help. Spencer is also a voice in Universal’s upcoming Robert Downey Jr. pic The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle. She is repped by WME and Jackoway Austen et al.

Hecht is repped by WME, The Gotham Group and attorney Loan Dang. McMillan is a client of WME and Jackoway, Austen et al. The Carlsons are also represented by WME. MacFarlane is represented by CAA, Jackoway Austen and manager, Joy Fehily.