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Ben Affleck's unrealized projects

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The following is a list of unproduced Ben Affleck projects in roughly chronological order. During his long career, American filmmaker Ben Affleck has worked on several projects which never progressed beyond the pre-production stage under his direction. Some of these projects fell in development hell, were officially canceled, were in development limbo or would see life under a different production team.

As director

The Trade

On February 18, 2010, Affleck was set to direct and produce Dave Mandel's screenplay The Trade, with Matt Damon, Sean Bailey, and Jennifer Todd producing and Universal Pictures set to distribute. On May 8, 2014, Jay Roach was set to direct The Trade instead of Affleck.

Tell No One

On June 15, 2011, Affleck was set to direct the film adaptation of Harlen Coben's novel Tell No One with Chris Terrio writing the screenplay, and Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy producing, with Warner Bros. set to distribute in America while Universal Pictures International would distribute the film internationally and EuropaCorp for France. On July 20, 2017, F. Scott Frazier was hired to write a new draft and Affleck was likely no longer attached.

Line of Sight

On August 23, 2011, Affleck was set to direct, produce and possibly star in F. Scott Frazier's action thriller screenplay Line of Sight, with Joel Silver, Alex Heineman and Andrew Rona producing, and Warner Bros. set to distribute. On December 19, 2012, Mouse McCoy was set to direct Line of Sight instead of Affleck.

The Middle Man TV pilot

On September 13, 2013, Affleck was set to direct the pilot episode and produce The Middle Man, a crime drama written by Glenn Gordon Caron, Michael Yebba and Emilio Mauro, with Caron also attached as the showrunner and producer with Chay Carter, and Fox giving a pilot order. On January 24, 2014, the pilot was put on pause due to Affleck's schedule for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

Untitled action thriller film

On October 25, 2013, Affleck was set to direct, produce and possibly star in Will Staples' action thriller screenplay about mercenaries killing an African warlord, with Matt Damon and Jennifer Todd producing and Warner Bros. set to distribute.

The Batman

Main article: The Batman (film) § Development

Witness for the Prosecution

On August 19, 2016, Affleck was hired to direct and produce a new adaptation of the Agatha Christie novel The Witness for the Prosecution, with Christopher Keyser writing the screenplay, and Jennifer Todd, Matt Damon and Christie's estate producing, 20th Century Fox distributing.

Untitled McDonald's Monopoly film

Main article: McDonald's Monopoly § Fraud

Ghost Army

On April 23, 2019, Affleck was hired to direct, produce and star in Ghost Army, the World War II film adaptation of Rick Beyer and Elizabeth Sayles novel The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery, with Nic Pizzolatto writing the screenplay, Andrew Lazar and Madison Ainley producing and Universal Pictures distributing.

King Leopold's Ghost

On November 21, 2019, Affleck was hired to direct and produce the feature film adaptation of Adam Hochschild's novel King Leopold's Ghost, with Farhad Safinia writing the screenplay, Martin Scorsese, Emma Koskoff-Tillinger, Harry Belafonte, Gina Belafonte and Madison Ainley producing the film and One Community financing.

The Big Goodbye

On August 7, 2020, Affleck was set to direct, write and produce a film about the making of Chinatown based on Sam Wasson's The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, with Lorne Michaels producing, and Paramount Pictures set to distribute.

Keepers of the Lost Cities

Main article: Keeper of the Lost Cities § Film adaptation

As producer

The Blade Itself

Main article: The Blade Itself § Potential film adaptation

Father Daughter Time

On May 6, 2011, Affleck was set to produce Matt Damon's directorial debut Father Daughter Time and potentially star from a spec script from Matthew Aldrich, Chris Moore and Drew Vinton producing and Warner Bros. distributing. On January 9, 2017, Gavin O'Connor set to direct instead of Damon, with Affleck still attached as a producer.

Race to the South Pole

On September 19, 2012, Affleck was set to produce Race to the South Pole along with Matt Damon and Jennifer Todd producing from a pitch by Peter Glanz, Casey Affleck was set to star and Warner Bros set to distribute.

Sleeper

Main article: Sleeper (comics) § Film

More Time with Family TV series

On October 10, 2013, Affleck was set to produce More Time with Family, a sitcom based on Tom Papa's comedy act, with Papa writing the series with Cathy Yuspa and Josh Goldsmith, Matt Damon producing and CBS giving a pilot order. On February 14, 2014, Alyson Hannigan was cast in the series.

Untitled action adventure film

On December 16, 2013, Affleck was set to produce an action-adventure film from a screenplay written by John Krasinski and Oren Uziel, Jennifer Todd & Matt Damon producing and Warner Bros. distributing.

House of Deceit

On June 26, 2015, Affleck was set to produce the film adaptation of Ken Bensinger's novel House of Deceit with Gavin O'Connor set to direct, Anthony Tambakis writing the screenplay, Guymon Casady, Darin Friedman & Matt Damon producing and Warner Bros. distributing.

The Shadows

On October 12, 2017, Affleck was set to produce The Shadows, a film based on a New Yorker article about the first American undercover police unit, with Chris Bremner writing the screenplay, Matt Damon & Jennifer Todd producing, and Paramount Pictures was set to distribute.

I Am Still Alive

On December 19, 2018, Affleck was set to produce and star in the film adaptation of Kate Alice Marshall's novel House of Deceit with Lori Evans Taylor writing the screenplay, Pearl Street Films Madison Ainley producing and Universal Pictures distributing.

Power to the People

On November 12, 2019, Affleck was set to executive produce Power to the People, a film about The Black Panther Party founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale being investigated by the FBI, with George Tillman Jr. directing, Gregory Allen Howard writing the screenplay, Madison Ainley, Stanley Nelson, Bryan Oh, and Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni producing, and Paramount Pictures was in talks to distribute.

Offers

Arizona

On December 8, 2008, Affleck was offered to direct Arizona, a true crime biopic about the late investigative reporter Don Bolles with Sheldon Turner writing the screenplay and Miramax would distribute.

Replay

On October 19, 2010, Affleck was offered to direct and produce the feature film adaptation of Ken Grimwood's novel Replay, with Jason Smilovac writing the screenplay and Warner Bros. was set to distribute, but on October 19, 2010, Robert Zemeckis was set to direct and produce the film adaptation instead of Affleck.

Gangster Squad

On December 1, 2010, Affleck was offered to direct Will Beall's screenplay Gangster Squad, but Ruben Fleischer was hired instead.

Bunker Hill

On March 18, 2013, Affleck was offered to direct and produce the feature film adaptation of Nathaniel Philbrick's historical novel Bunker Hill: A City, a Siege, a Revolution, with Chris Terrio writing the screenplay and Warner Bros. set to distribute. On April 5, 2016, Aaron Stockard was set to write a new draft, while Affleck was still in talks to direct.

American Hustle

Main article: American Hustle § Development

The Stand

Main article: The Stand § Adaptations

See also

References

  1. Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 18, 2010). "Warner Bros Finally Going Ahead With Shocking Film About Yankees Sex Scandal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  2. Kroll, Justin (May 8, 2014). "Jay Roach to Direct Baseball Sex Scandal Movie for Warner Bros". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  3. Kit, Borys (June 15, 2011). "Ben Affleck To Turn French-Flavored Harlan Coben Novel 'Tell No One' Into Feature". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  4. Kit, Borys (July 20, 2017). "F. Scott Frazier To Write Harlan Coben Adaptation 'Tell No One' For Universal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  5. Kit, Borys (August 23, 2011). "Ben Affleck in Talks to Direct and Star in Thriller 'Line of Sight' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  6. Kit, Borys (December 19, 2012). "Black List Writer Tapped to Work on 'Line of Sight' for Warners (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  7. Andreeva, Nellie (September 13, 2013). "More Time with Family Comedy from Executive Producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Lands at CBS with Put-Pilot Commitment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  8. Goldberg, Lesley (September 13, 2013). "Ben Affleck to Direct, Exec Produce Fox Crime Drama Pilot". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  9. Andreeva, Nellie (January 24, 2014). "Fox Pilot 'The Middle Man' On Pause As Ben Affleck Becomes Unavailable To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  10. Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 25, 2013). "Ben Affleck Plans Geopolitical Africa-Set Warner Bros Thriller, Will Staples Scripting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  11. Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 19, 2016). "Ben Affleck & Fox Plot 'Witness For The Prosecution'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  12. Kroll, Justin (April 23, 2019). "Ben Affleck to Star in and Direct World War II Caper 'Ghost Army'". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  13. Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 21, 2019). "Ben Affleck To Direct 'King Leopold's Ghost,' About Unlikely Trio Who Exposed Atrocities In Plunder Of Congo". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  14. Kroll, Justin (August 7, 2020). "Ben Affleck To Direct Adaptation of 'Big Goodbye' For Paramount, Behind-The-Scenes Story Of The Making of 'Chinatown'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  15. Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 6, 2011). "Warner Bros Buys Hot Spec, Matt Damon Circles As Star And Director". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  16. Fleming, Mike Jr. (June 26, 2015). "Gavin O'Connor New Beneficiary Of Matt Damon's Busy Sked: Will Helm 'Father Daughter Time'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  17. Kit, Borys (September 19, 2012). "Ben Affleck, Matt Damon to Produce 'Race to the South Pole' at Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  18. Trumbore, Dave (October 10, 2013). "More Time with Family Comedy from Executive Producers Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Lands at CBS with Put-Pilot Commitment". Collider. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  19. Marechal, AJ (February 14, 2014). "Alyson Hannigan Cast in Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's CBS Comedy". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  20. Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 16, 2013). "John Krasinski, Oren Uziel Sell Spec To Warner Bros, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon Producing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  21. Kit, Borys (June 26, 2015). "Ben Affleck to Produce FIFA Scandal Film for Warner Bros. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  22. Borys Kit; Mia Galuppo (October 12, 2017). "Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jennnifer Todd to Produce Movie on America's First Detectives (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  23. Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 19, 2018). "Universal Wins Ben Affleck-Attached 'I Am Still Alive:' Year's Last Big Book Auction". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  24. Kit, Borys (December 19, 2018). "Ben Affleck, Universal Team to Adapt Survival Thriller 'I Am Still Alive'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  25. Fleming, Mike Jr. (November 12, 2019). "Paramount In Talks For George Tillman Jr-Helmed Black Panthers Pic 'Power To The People,' Script By 'Harriet's Gregory Allen Howard". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  26. Fleming Jr., Michael (December 8, 2008). "Ben Affleck eyes Miramax's 'Arizona'". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  27. Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 19, 2010). "Ben Affleck Mulling 'Replay,' a 22-Year Old Suddenly Hot Project At Warner Bros". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  28. Fleming, Mike Jr. (October 19, 2010). "Robert Zemeckis Heading Back to the Future With Replay". Vulture. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  29. Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 1, 2010). "Warner Bros Wants Ruben Fleischer To Lead 'Gangster Squad'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
  30. Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 18, 2013). "'Argo's Ben Affleck At Center Of Warner Bros Deal For Nathaniel Philbrick Book 'Bunker Hill'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2024.
  31. Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 5, 2016). "Aaron Stockard To Adapt Nathaniel Philbrick Revolutionary War Tale 'Bunker Hill' For Pearl Street's Affleck & Damon". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2024.

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