Alyson Hannigan returns for American Pie 4

After initial doubts, it seems Alyson Hannigan is now set to star in American Reunion - the third sequel to 1999's American Pie .

There was worry she may be too busy to schedule filming due to a starring role in CBS' hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother .

However, a deal has apparently now been made to reunite all of the original cast members of the first film, in a story that will pick up over a decade after their characters were seen graduating from high school.

The American Pie series has proven to be incredibly popular with audiences. Hannigan, in particular, has been highlighted for her role as Michelle due to the character's annoying catchphrase "this one time at band camp..." - something that was quickly installed into mainstream popular culture after the initial film's release.

The gang were last seen in 2003's American Pie: The Wedding in which Hannigan and Jason Biggs' characters tied the knot. Tara Reid, Chris Klein and Mena Suvari, all main supporting characters in the first two films, were notably absent from this outing.

These "spin-offs" have all focused on the extended family of Sean William Scott's character Steve Stifler, with Eugene Levy being the only original cast member to feature in each. Levy will also be returning to the franchise with this new film.

American Reunion is to be written and directed by Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schossberg. The duo wrote both Harold and Kumar films, and made their combined directorial debut on the second.

It is thought to start filming this summer, during Hannigan's break from How I Met Your Mother , and is being scheduled for a 2012 release.

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