Encyclopedia Brown's next case involves a trip to Hollywood — and writer Matthew Johnson is along for the ride.

Deadline reports that Johnson, the writer and director of the Slamdance-winning The Dirties, is in talks with Warner Bros. to draft a screenplay based on Encyclopedia Brown, the Donald J. Sobol series about a boy detective working out of his parents' garage. The books were optioned for film earlier in the year, with Roy Lee and Howard David Deutsch set to produce.

There's no word yet on release date or casting, but landing a writer like Johnson is a crucial step in the project's development. Expect more news sooner than later.