As one can imagine, Ben Affleck is a pretty in-demand guy right now. His third directorial effort, Argo, is a major player in the upcoming awards race, as is Affleck for his stellar work as a director on the timely thriller. Affleck hasn’t given up his day job just yet, though, and he most recently wrapped a starring role opposite Justin Timberlake in the gambling pic Runner Runner. However, it looks like his busy schedule has gotten in the way of at least one of his upcoming projects, as he’s been forced to drop out of starring in the Warner Bros. pic Focus opposite Kristen Stewart. Hit the jump for more on the pic and Affleck’s current schedule.
Affleck was set to star alongside Kristen Stewart in Focus, which centers on a veteran con man who becomes romantically involved with a newcomer to the business. Stewart is still attached to star, and Variety reports that writers/directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy, Stupid, Love.) are now looking to find a new male lead before the spring start-date. On top of prepping his in-development projects, Affleck is also incredibly busy with the awards circuit for Argo. With the Oscars not taking place until late February, the April start-date on Focus just wasn’t feasible for Affleck and he regrettably had to pull out.
As for his next project, Affleck is focused on the Dennis Lehane novel adaptation Live By Night. He will write, produce, direct, and star in the pic, which takes place in Boston in the roaring ‘20s. He’s also deep in development on an adaptation of Stephen King’s The Stand for Warner Bros., though Affleck recently admitted that it’s proving to be a struggle to fit the story into one movie. For the long-term, he also continues to develop a Whitey Bulger biopic that he will direct for star Matt Damon.
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yeah schedule. that’s what it was. Ben is a smart man. the tabloids would be all over his ass for this movie with Kristen attached to co star with him. i was waiting for the moment he would jump ship and here it is
Kristen has been attached to Focus for about 4 months, Ben has a lot of say in who is cast in his movies, why would he give the OK if he didn’t want her as a co-star. Why would he have waited this long? There is an incredible amount of shite written i comment sections. Idiot
Good Ben’s out, he’s to old for Kristen and his acting not so good but i bet his job director for his future!!!
It wasn’t that he was TOO old it was that he is TOO good to share the screen with an actress that is TOO limited.
Would any wife want their husband doing a movie with Kristen Stewart?
Not Jennifer Garner, obviously–have been rumors about Ben with leading ladies before, too.
Well played, the farther away from that freakazoid, the better.
nobody wants to work with a woman who has affairs with married guys , if they want to keep their reputation
I hope she’s blacklisted and goes away for a while. Maybe get some education and not be such an ignorant and vapid idiot in interviews.
Good move Ben… Kstew would have dragged you through tabloid hell. That’s all she’s good for nowadays
yeah, but we know her fans are saying something different, they are saying , matt damon or cullen farrell! well who ever great, but kristen will dropped her clothes in a heartbeat,so if i was anyones wife i would of felt a tab bit worried, i might be wrong, but it’s just the things she says at times,ike she don’t care, kristen sometimes you must care!
yeah, but we know her fans are saying something different, they are saying , matt damon or cullen farrell! well who ever great, but kristen will dropped her clothes in a heartbeat,so if i was anyones wife i would of felt a tab bit worried, i might be wrong, but it\’s just the things she says at times,ike she don\’t care, kristen sometimes you must care!
It wasn\’t that he was TOO old it was that he is TOO good to share the screen with an actress that is TOO limited.
lmao, since when is Ben Affleck ever ‘too good’ as an actor. His skill is in directing, so let’s not pretend he is Pacino here…. go back to EdwardCullen.com
Stupid comments on this post, probably from the same deranged Kristen hater who is doing the rounds on every article mentioning her. The movie sounds good. Kinda glad Ben is out, could not picture them as lovers at all.
lmao, since when is Ben Affleck ever \’too good\’ as an actor. His skill is in directing, so let\’s not pretend he is Pacino here…. go back to EdwardCullen.com
lmao, since when is Ben Affleck ever \\\’too good\\\’ as an actor. His skill is in directing, so let\\\’s not pretend he is Pacino here…. go back to EdwardCullen.com
Every one of those hate filled posts are by the same hater. That’s their sick life. They have an obsession to hate on a 22 yr old actress which demonstrates how pathetic they are… Here’s the reality. Kristen is a very gifted actress with an incredible career ahead of her. Despite the multiple posts by that hater, Kristen is in high demand as well and her fans smother her haters as proven at the box office. Haters are simply morons with no life.
I would consider Josh Brolin, Ed Norton or Ed Burns to replace Affleck. I can see chemistry between Kristen and any of those guys. Make the movie a bit darker. Kristen does have a funny side. Most of the movies she has done are kind of dark but watch her during promos and you will see her kind of humor which tends to be a bit sarcastic and dry.