Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are getting back together in 'Distance'

 

Can you have a romantic relationship with your ex-boyfriend or girlfriend onscreen?  Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are about to find out.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Barrymore and Long are set to star in "Going the Distance," a new romantic comedy for New Line Cinema.  The movie centers on a couple trying to keep those always difficult long-distance relationships going, but the backstory may be much more intriguing.  Barrymore and Long dated for over half a year from late 2007 to mid 2008.  Clearly, they have fostered a strong platonic relationship as the trade reports Long recruited Barrymore to star in the movie (payback as Barrymore brought him on "He's Just Not That Into You").

While a fictional story, first-time screenwriter Geoff LaTulippe based "Distance" on some aspects of his life.  La Tulippe was a former New Line script reader who made the jump into screenwriting.  Long's character in the movie?  A script reader.  Barrymore, on the other hand, will play a woman who moves to Chicago to become a school teacher. 

Noted documentary director Nanette Burstein ("American Teen," "The Kid Stays in the Picture") will make her narrative feature debut with "Distance."

"Distance" reunites Barrymore with New Line where she starred and co-produced "Into You" which has grossed over $91 million domestically.  She recently made her directorial debut on the roller derby comedy "Whip it!" which is scheduled for release later this year.

No word on when "Distance" will begin production.