Low budget party pic “Project X” did so unexpectedly well at the box office that it’s no surprise Todd Philipps’ friends want in on the Thomas Mann business. Variety reports Mann is in final negotiations to headline comedy “King Dork” from producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.

Mann will star with Keir Gilchrist as a pair of best friends – Tom and Sam, respectively, “two outsiders who bond over their shared love of classic rock and roll, which helps them cope with the agony of getting through high school in 1987.” “Parks and Recreation” star Nick Offerman is in talks to play Mann’s character’s stepfather. D.V. DeVincentis adapted the script from Frank Portman’s 2006 novel and Matt Piedmont will direct. Filming is slated to begin in June.

Mann made his feature film debut only two years ago in Emma Roberts-Zach Galifianakis comedy “It’s Kind of a Funny Story” (which also co-starred Gilchrist), but has been a fast rising star since. He’ll appear alongside Claire Danes and James Marsden in indie “As Cool As I Am” before taking the male lead opposite Victoria Justice in Josh Schwartz’s directorial debut “Fun Size.” He also recently landed what could be his biggest break to date as one of the leads in “Beautiful Creatures”, a potential “The Next Twilight/Hunger Games” supernatural teen franchise.