Twentieth Century Fox is in negotiations with helmer Larry Charles ("Masked & Anonymous", TV's "Curb Your Enthusiasm") to come aboard the Sasha Baron Cohen comedy "Borat" based on his savant-like Kazakhstani TV journalist character from "Da Ali G Show" reports Variety.

In January, a creative clash between "Old School" director Todd Philips and the British comic Cohen prompted the director to ankle the documentary-style comedy feature, which had just begun shooting. In opening footage of the Philips-helmed film, Borat's mangling of the U.S. national anthem at a rodeo in Virginia made headlines for its off-key tone, and for inciting the rodeo crowd by making inflammatory remarks about the war in Iraq.

Fox declined to comment on the talks, but insiders say a deal for Charles to helm and Fox to distribute is in the works.

Thanks to 'Boyashaka'.