Thomas working on 'Veronica Mars' movie

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. writer-producer Rob Thomas says he is working on a big-screen follow-up to his critically acclaimed, now-defunct TV series "Veronica Mars."

The show, which was canceled after three seasons due to low ratings, followed a resourceful, fast-talking private detective through high school and college.

E! News said it looks like Kristen Bell will reprise her role of Veronica in a movie version of "Mars" now that Thomas's latest show "Cupid" has been cut from 13 episodes to eight this season.

"What that means for me is that I have a couple of months to write the 'Veronica Mars' movie," Thomas told E! News. "I suddenly find myself with enough time to write that script. That's the next project. ... I think it would open just days before Hearst College graduation, so Veronica would be at the end of her college career."

Thomas said he hopes the show's co-stars will also return for the film.

"I've talked to Jason Dohring, I've talked to Enrico Colantoni and I've talked to Kristen, obviously. I know that Kristen wants to do it. I want to do it," Thomas said. "(Producer) Joel Silver does have a certain pile of money that he can decide on, and he called me asking, 'Can we do this now?'"