While filmmaker Nicholas Stoller has been plenty busy with his own films as of late, he’s also been doing excellent work writing for movies that he didn’t direct.  Stoller co-wrote the screenplays for both The Muppets and Muppets Most Wanted, and he’s currently working on a high-profile Uptown Saturday Night remake that would see the comedic pairing of Denzel Washington and Will Smith under the direction of Anchorman and Step Brothers helmer (and all-around comedy great) Adam McKay.

Steve recently spoke with Stoller in ancitipation of his latest directorial effort, Neighbors, and during the course of their conversation, Stoller provided an update on Uptown Saturday Night.  He said that everyone seems to be excited about the script, and spoke a bit about what the story entails.  Hit the jump to read on.

When asked about upcoming project, Stoller said that writing on Uptown Saturday Night is going really well, and spoke a bit about the story that finds Smith and Washington filling roles previously played by Bill Cosby and Sidney Poitier:

“It’s Will Smith and Denzel Washington.  If it comes together it will be incredible.  It seems like everyone’s pretty excited about the script.  It’s a kind of movie that hasn’t been made in a long time, the premise is basically two working class guys go to this crazy party and the party gets held up, and then the next day one of the guys discovers that his wallet that was taken from him has a lottery ticket that won $100,000 or whatever.  So it’s two idiots kind of—not idiots but bumbling guys, like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, trying to get into a gang to get this wallet back.  So that’s it, it’s pretty funny.  There’s big action in it, but it’s more of like a—it’s fun, it’s really fun.”

McKay has previously said that he hopes to make Uptown Saturday Night his next film, and while the pic hasn’t received an official greenlight yet, Stoller seemed hopeful and explained that the key is making sure all the deals come together at the right time:

“Yeah, I think it’s more [‘can it come together?’].  Everyone’s excited about it, it seems like it’s moving in the right direction, and I will knock on wood on it.  Because honestly, I just want to see it.  Adam McKay is one of my comedy idols, and just to see him direct something that I had something to do with would be just awesome.”

Watch the interview with Stoller concerning Uptown Saturday Night below, followed by a full transcript of the interview.  Look for more from Stoller on Collider soon.

Collider: What’s the status with Uptown Saturday Night?

NICHOLAS STOLLER: Uptown Saturday Night is going really well, I’ve been writing that for Adam McKay.  It’s a remake of the original, which I hadn’t seen until I came onto this.  It’s really funny.  Have you seen it?

I haven’t seen it but I know the cast you’re going for.

STOLLER: Yeah, it’s Will Smith and Denzel Washington.  If it comes together it will be incredible.  It seems like everyone’s pretty excited about the script.  It’s a kind of movie that hasn’t been made in a long time, the premise is basically two working class guys go to this crazy party and the party gets held up, and then the next day one of the guys discovers that his wallet that was taken from him has a lottery ticket that won $100,000 or whatever.  So it’s two idiots kind of—not idiots but bumbling guys, like Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, trying to get into a gang to get this wallet back.  So that’s it, it’s pretty funny.  There’s big action in it, but it’s more of like a—it’s fun, it’s really fun.

The pairing of Will and Denzel is one of those things that audiences would go crazy for.

STOLLER: Yeah, they’d go insane.

So it’s one of those, “can it come together?”

STOLLER: Yeah, I think it’s more that.  Everyone’s excited about it, it seems like it’s moving in the right direction, and I will knock on wood on it.  Because honestly, I just want to see it.  Adam McKay is one of my comedy idols, and just to see him direct something that I had something to do with would be just awesome.