'Bored to Death' Feature Film in Development at HBO

Jonathan Ames is scripting what would be a continuation of the Brooklyn-set comedy that ran for three seasons on the premium cable network.

Bored to Death might be coming back to life -- and bigger than ever before.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that HBO is developing a feature-length film that would continue the quirky adventures of the Brooklyn-based writer/amateur private eye played by Jason Schwartzman for three seasons from 2009-11. The comedy, created and scripted by author-essayist Jonathan Ames -- also the name of Schwartzman's character -- was a light-hearted, modern-day neo-noir that co-starred Zach Galifianakis (as Jonathan's perennially frustrated friend Ray) and Ted Danson (as George, his stoner former editor), both of whom would return for the film.

PHOTOS: 40 Years of HBO

"Jonathan, Ray, and George reunite to fight crime, commit crime, lose their minds and fail at love in a Bored to Death feature-length slapstick adventure," the film's logline reads. Ames will write and executive produce the project, while Sarah Condon and Stephanie Davis, who worked on the show, also will exec produce.

Word first broke about the potential project in June; Danson mentioned it at the GQ Gentleman's Ball in October, adding that the script -- at least then -- saw Jonathan become a police officer and Ray and George become roommates. Schwartzman, who is close friends with Ames, recently told THR that Ames was working on the script and that he'd love to make the film. Asked about his character's signature trenchcoat, he joked, "I hope it still fits." The pair also are working on another writing project together.

Bored to Death, which enjoyed ratings success early on its run, brought in north of 1 million viewers on Sunday nights in its second season. It started to struggle from the start of its third season, opening to just 240,000 viewers when moved to Monday nights in October 2011.

Ames has written several memoirs and novels, including The Extra Man, which was turned into a 2010 film starring Kevin Klein and Paul Dano. He recently released a noir novella called You Were Never Really Here.

Email: Jordan.Zakarin@THR.com; Twitter: @JordanZakarin