Two-time Emmy nominee Rose Byrne is in negotiations to join Steve Carell in Jon Stewart‘s political satire Irresistible, Collider has exclusively learned.

Sources say the story follows a slick Democratic strategist (Carell) who helps a retired veteran run for Mayor in a small, right-wing town in Wisconsin — which is, of course, a swing state. Byrne is nearing a deal to play Carell’s cutthroat Republican counterpart who campaigns on behalf of the local mayor.

When Variety last wrote about Irresistible in October, financing and scheduling still had to be worked out. Sources say the project is expected to land at Focus Features, and production could begin as soon as this spring. Stewart wrote the original screenplay and will produce along with Brad Pitt‘s company Plan B Entertainment.

The former host of The Daily Show left his plum gig on Comedy Central to embark on a filmmaking career, having made his feature directorial debut with the 2014 drama Rosewater starring Gael García Bernal. Carell, of course, worked with Stewart on The Daily Show, and the duo have been eager to reunite.

Byrne is coming off of a busy 2018 that included Instant Family, one of the most underrated films of last year, and one that should have brought her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Musical/Comedy. Byrne earned equally good reviews for her turn opposite Ethan Hawke and Chris O’Dowd in Juliet, Naked, while she also starred in the box office hit Peter Rabbit and Insidious: The Last Key.

Though she was introduced to many through the twisted drama series Damages, I think Byrne is one of Hollywood’s most talented comic performers, and yet, she doesn’t get nearly the credit she deserves. From Get Him to the Greek and the Neighbors franchise to Paul Feig‘s Bridesmaids and Spy, she has consistently made me howl with laughter, and I admire the commitment she brings to each character. Byrne is represented by CAA and RGM Artists.