Russell Brand channels Dudley Moore

Wild man record producer and murder defendant Phil Spector may have a problem identifying with Dudley Moore, but cheeky Brit actor and comedian Russell Brand has no such issues.

Brand, a consistently entertaining envelope-pusher who had to resign recently from his BBC radio gig after a profane round of crank yanking, is developing a remake of "Arthur," the cocktail-fueled love story that earned Oscar nominations for the late Moore and writer-director Steve Gordon.

(Oscar wins for the romcom: John Gielgud, who played Arthur's valet, for best supporting actor, and the theme song, "The Best That You Can Do," for original song).

Brand, who's trying to raise his profile on this side of the pond, post-"Forgetting Sarah Marshall," has a producer (Larry "Good Morning, Vietnam" Brezner) and a studio (Warner Bros.) and is meeting with writers for the "Arthur" project, in which, of course, he'll star as the martini-swilling playboy, according to THR.

It's all in the execution, certainly, but we can't think of a better fit of performer and material. In this case, we'll all just have to get over the End of Original Ideas in Hollywood, where anything and everything, sacred or silly, is open to "reimagining." (Note: Still stewing about that "Romancing the Stone" remake.)

At the moment, Brand can do no wrong in our book. Keep it up, mate.