Actress Kristen Bell reads from the book 'The Cat in the Hat Comes Back' to local school children as part of the 'Read Across America' program during the 2007 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah January 22, 2007. Bell has been cast as the title character in 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall,' a comedy described by the filmmakers as a 'romantic disaster movie.' (Fred Prouser/Reuters)

LOS ANGELES - "Veronica Mars" star Kristen Bell has been cast as the title character in "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," a comedy described by the filmmakers as a "romantic disaster movie."

Jason Segel, a cast member on CBS' "How I Met Your Mother," wrote the script and is starring in the film. He plays a man who gets dumped by his sitcom-star girlfriend (Bell). He heads to Hawaii to forget the relationship but learns that the girl, and her new boyfriend, are staying at his resort.

Nicholas Stoller, a writer on "Fun With Dick and Jane" and "Just My Luck," is making his directing debut on the project, which Universal will release. Production begins in late April.

Bell will appear in the Weinstein Co.'s August 17 theatrical release "Fanboys."