Jason Sudeikis is a "Distance" runner

By Jay A. Fernandez

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - "Saturday Night Live" veteran Jason Sudeikis is in final negotiations to join Drew Barrymore and Justin Long in the romantic comedy "Going the Distance."

Sudeikis will play Box, a friend of Garrett's (Long) who counsels him against trying to maintain his long-distance relationship with Barrymore's character. Charlie Day and Christina Applegate also were recently cast.

Documentary veteran Nanette Burstein ("The Kid Stays in the Picture") is directing the New Line film.

Sudeikis was a writer on "Saturday Night Live" before becoming a regular cast member four years ago. He appeared in "The Rocker" and "What Happens in Vegas" and recently was cast in the Columbia comedy "Bounty Hunter" opposite Jennifer Aniston and Gerard Butler.

Sudeikis also appears regularly on the NBC series "30 Rock" and voices two characters on "Cleveland," Seth MacFarlane's new animated comedy series that Fox will air in the fall.

(Editing by DeanGoodman at Reuters)