John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the screenwriters behind New Line’s surprise workplace comedy hit Horrible Bosses, have closed a deal to pen a sequel.

It is expected that Jason Bateman, Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis will be back to star in the movie, and the studio is in early talks with helmer Seth Gordon to return to the director’s chair.

Bosses, released July 8, saw Bateman, Day and Sudeikis as harried workers who, in Strangers on a Train meets Nine to Five fashion, try to off each others’ bosses. Jennifer Aniston, Colin Farrell and Kevin Spacey starred as the employers while Jamie Foxx cameoed as a would-be murder adviser.

The movie, made for about $35 million, proved to be a surprise hit, grossing $117 million domestically and $209 million worldwide.

Daley is an actor-turned-writer who appeared in shows such as Freaks & Geeks, Kitchen Confidential and Bones. Goldstein worked on such TV comedies as The New Adventures of Old Christine and $#*! My Dad Says as a writer-supervising producer.

Bosses was their first teaming and was fruitful; the duo also worked on Burt Wonderstone, New Line’s upcoming comedy starring Steve Carell and Jim Carrey, which will shoot early this year, and a sequel to Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs for Sony Animation.