AceShowbiz -

The producers of "R.I.P.D." are turning their heads to Jeff Bridges for the role which failed to secure Zach Galifianakis. The veteran actor is in "final negotiations" to star opposite Ryan Reynolds in the action comedy which follows a murdered cop working for Rest in Peace Department.

Produced by Dark Horse Entertainment's Mike Richardson along with Neal Moritz and David Dobkin, "R.I.P.D." is based on the Dark House comic of the same name. According to Moritz, it's "a buddy action comedy that follows Reynolds' recently deceased cop character and a gunslinger who has been dead for hundreds of years as they find themselves patrolling the deadbeat, reporting to one boss. Yes that 'boss'."

Bridges is to take the role of Reynolds' partner, a wise-cracking officer who's been hunting spirits since the 1800s.

Universal Pictures first scheduled the production to begin this summer but Reynolds' involvement in "Deadpool" and Galifianakis' departure reportedly had thrown the plan into jumble.