The initial project, which was to be directed by Jay Roach, centred on cloned men who were traded by women. Stiller and Carrey were to play obsolete models who go in search of ‘Mantopia’, but the film was cancelled as the budget spiralled past $100 million.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, studio 20th Century Fox is moving forward with the film again, changing the story to focus on the relationship between Stiller’s character and Witherspoon’s clone owner.

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (“Little Miss Sunshine”) are in talks to direct. Dave Guion, Michael Handelman and Mickey Birnbaum wrote the script.