Chris Tucker in Talks for David O. Russell’s THE SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK, Circling Role in NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH

After a five-year hiatus, Chris Tucker is looking to return to Hollywood. The actor is currently in negotiations to join David O. Russell’s adaptation of The Silver Linings Playbook, and he’s also circling a role in the Vince Vaughn/Ben Stiller/Jonah Hill comedy Neighborhood Watch. Based on the book of the same name, The Silver Linings Playbook stars Bradley Cooper as a man who believes he’s only been away for a few months, when in actuality he’s been locked up in a mental hospital for four years. He sets out to woo his ex-wife, but becomes involved with an eccentric neighbor played by Jennifer Lawrence.

Variety reports that Tucker would play Cooper’s friend from the mental hospital who often escapes to visit him. Hit the jump more, including Tucker’s involvement with Neighborhood Watch.

Tucker isn’t exactly known for being prolific, as he hasn’t appeared in a film since 2007’s Rush Hour 3, which even then was only his third movie since 1998 (all three of which were the Rush Hour films). So it comes as a bit of a surprise that he’s now looking to return to the acting world with two films, neither of which are being directed by Brett Ratner.

In addition to The Silver Linings Playbook, Tucker is also circling a role in the comedy Neighborhood Watch, which centers on a group of suburban dads who join a neighborhood watch group as a way of escaping the rote of their daily lives. Things take a turn, however, when they uncover a plot to destroy the world. Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer is directing from a script by Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen, with the comedy trifecta of Stiller, Vaughn and Hill all set to star. Tucker will place a divorcee who joins the group.