Laura Prepon, who’s been cast to play Chelsea Handler in an NBC pilot based on the comedian’s autobiography, tells E! News that Chelsea will be playing her own older sister on the show!

Filming starts soon, and then comes the long and nail-biting process of waiting to see if the network picks it up.

“We start in a couple weeks,” Prepon told E! News Thursday at Kari Feinstein’s 2011 Academy Awards Style Lounge. “I hope NBC gets behind it. There’s a lot of buzz. It’s different and edgy.”

Pickup worries aside, Prepon is willing and able to throw herself into the role of Chelsea, even if she wasn’t exactly a fan of hers from the beginning.

“I haven’t read [her books],” Prepon tells us. “But I’ve seen her a lot and it’s going to be awesome. I am just starting to immerse myself in the Chelsea Handler of it all. She’s an amazing woman.”

Prepon adds that she’ll be a quick study of the Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea author—Including her drink of choice.

“I’m from Jersey,” says Prepon. “Chelsea and I are similar, so it’s perfect we play sisters. It’s funny, because her vodka is my favorite vodka too,” says Prepon. “We both drink the same thing!”

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Tags: Chelsea Handler, comedy, Laura Prepon, NBC, pilot