Although it more or less sank without trace at the time of its 1997 release, The Big Lebowski has arguably become the Coen brothers' most popular film, inspiring legions of devoted fans to imitate the shambolic charm of Jeff Bridges's stoner sleuth the Dude. Now this unlikely dream team may be reunited for a fresh mission - a remake of the John Wayne western, True Grit.



According to Variety, Bridges is in talks to star in the project. The Coens will reportedly look to the original novel by Charles Portis, rather than the 1969 film that won Wayne an Oscar. The story follows US Marshal Rooster Cogburn as he tracks an outlaw killer on behalf of his victim's 14-year-old daughter. The novel depicts the action from the girl's point of view rather than the lawman's, which would seem to have more potential for Coen-esque humour than a conventionally heroic approach.

The Coens' latest film, A Serious Man, premieres tomorrow at Toronto film festival and is set in 1960s Minnesota against a Jewish academic backdrop similar to the circumstances in which the brothers grew up. They had previously announced an adaptation of the Michael Chabon novel, The Yiddish Policemen's Union, as their next film. The brothers are known for juggling several projects at various stages of development.

Bridges is currently on impressive form, with central roles in the acclaimed absurdist war movie The Men Who Stare at Goats and the forthcoming sequel Tron Legacy. The Dude remains the role for which he is best known, however. He has appeared at Big Lebowski-themed festivals and published a book of his own photographs from the production of the film.