Gerard Butler to Hunt Jennifer Aniston for Columbia Pictures

[J_UNTITLED]

From Variety...

"Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler are in negotiations to topline an untitled bounty hunter project at Columbia.

"Hitch" helmer Andy Tennant is attached to direct the comedy, which centers on a bounty hunter (Butler) hired to retrieve his ex-wife (Aniston), who has skipped bail.

Sarah Thorp, whose most recent bigscreen credit is the Ashley Judd starrer "Twisted," penned the script.

Studio is eyeing a May start date.

Neal Moritz is producing through his Sony-based Original Films shingle.

Aniston, who next stars in the Christmas Day opener "Marley & Me," has three films in the can: "He's Just Not That Into You," "Traveling" and "Management," which she also produced.

"300" star Butler, who most recently appeared in "RocknRolla" and "Nim's Island," will next be seen in the thriller "Game" and the romantic comedy "The Ugly Truth" opposite Katherine Heigl.

Tennant most recently helmed the Matthew McConaughey-Kate Hudson topliner "Fool's Gold." He also is attached to direct "Chasing Harry Winston.""