Quite the comedy pairing may soon be taking place on the film St. Vincent De Van Nuys.  The Black List script by Ted Melfi has been quite the coveted property over the past few years, and became even more attractive when Bill Murray signed on for the lead role last summer.  The pic centers on a cantankerous war veteran with a penchant for drinking, gambling, and prostitutes who forms an unlikely friendship with his 12-year-old next door neighbor, a young boy whose parents are going through a divorce.

The Weinstein Company picked the project up last fall, and the film’s female lead—the role of the boy’s mother—has been sought after by a number of comic actresses.  Now it looks like the part has been set, as Melissa McCarthy is expected to land the gig.  Hit the jump for more.

Per Deadline, McCarthy had been campaigning hard to star in St. Vincent De Van Nuys, and now will be extended an offer for the part.  Melfi is directing from his own script, and the story’s mix of drama and comedy has been likened to As Good As It Gets and Silver Linings Playbook (ie. this is a potential awards contender for TWC).  Filming is set to get underway this July after McCarthy wraps the road trip comedy Tammy, which she will both topline and co-direct alongside her husband and producing partner Ben Falcone.  It’s sure to be a busy summer hiatus for the actress before she returns to the CBS sitcom Mike & Molly in August, but it’s most definitely looking like a fruitful one.

McCarthy is coming off her first leading role in a feature with Identity Thief, which thus far is the most successful film of 2013.  The comedy hit has grossed over $110 million after just a month in release, and ensures that McCarthy has a healthy feature film career ahead of her.  The actress will next be seen onscreen opposite Sandra Bullock in director Paul Feig’s Bridesmaids follow-up The Heat.