Mike Fleming

Jon Hurwitz Hayden Schlossberg UniversalEXCLUSIVE: After resurrecting the American Pie franchise with the upcoming American Reunion, Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg’s Hurwitz & Schlossberg Productions has been staked to a two-year first look deal at Universal Pictures. They are being brought on the lot by co-presidents of production Peter Cramer and Jeff Kirschenbaum.

Hurwitz and Schlossberg wrote and directed American Reunion after writing Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle, then writing and directing Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, and writing and co-producing A Very Harold & Kumar Christmas. American Reunion, which brings back the original Pie cast, has created enough internal studio buzz that I will not be surprised if Hurwitz and Schlossberg start working on another installment if the movie plays strongly at the box office when it opens April 6.

“We entrusted Jon and Hayden with one of Universal’s most valuable franchises and we are thrilled with the result, which has been getting a tremendous response from early audience screenings,” said Cramer. Added Kirschenbaum: “They really know how to make crowd-pleasing comedies and we are excited to expand our relationship with them on other projects they create.”

The writer-directors said in a statement: “When we first became friends in high school, we shared a dream of making movies, specifically laugh-your-ass-off comedies. At Universal, we feel we have found the perfect place to continue turning out dreams into reality.” The duo have promoted their former assistant, Joseph Amaral, to be creative executive. CAA and attorney Adam Kaller made their deal.