Will Smith is reportedly in final talks to join Focus, a con artist picture set up at Warner Bros.  The story follows a young woman who’s just getting into the con game and teams up with a seasoned veteran to gain experience.  Ben Affleck was previously attached to star, but dropped out in order to work on his next project.  Recent reports also have Kristen Stewart, who had previously been attached, departing the picture.  Glenn Ficarra and John Requa of Crazy, Stupid, Love wrote the film and will direct.  Hit the jump for more.

Many (myself included) are still reeling from the fact that somehow Ben Affleck wasn’t nominated for Best Director during this morning Oscar nominations announcements, but I have little doubt that we’ll be hearing Affleck’s name as a major part of an awards season race again soon.  Argo was his most accomplished work yet, and eyes are now looking to what he’ll be directing as his next project.

We recently heard that Affleck was eyeing an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s 1920s Boston crime drama Live By Night as his next effort, and during a recent interview Affleck confirmed that he’s currently working on the screenplay as he readies the pic to be his next film.  He also took a moment to explain why he had to drop out of starring in the drama Focus with Kristen Stewart.  Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

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.

After The Twilight Saga ends for Kristen Stewart this November 16th, she may have a role lined up to star opposite Ben Affleck in Focus.  We previously reported that Affleck was circling a role, and Warner Bros. was looking to fast-track the project once they found a female lead.  It looks like Stewart is their choice.  Focus, written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa of Crazy Stupid Love,  tells the story of a “veteran con man who gets involved with a newcomer to the grifter business. They get involved romantically but that becomes perilous in a business where they lie and cheat for a living. The complications of the encounter haunt them when they meet up again in the future.”  Hit the jump for more.

Ben Affleck‘s detractors say he should stick to directing or only starring in movies he directs, but I’ve always liked him as an actor.  He’s been in some bad movies, but he wasn’t the reason those movies were bad.  He’s charismatic, compelling, and I’m excited to see what he’ll do if he signs on to star in Focus.  Written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love.), the movie “tells the story of a veteran con man who gets involved with a newcomer to the grifter business. They get involved romantically but that becomes perilous in a business where they lie and cheat for a living. The complications of the encounter haunt them when they meet up again in the future.”  According to Deadline, Warner Bros. is looking to fast-track the project once they find the right female lead.  As we reported back in April, Ficarra and Requa were hoping to reunite Crazy Stupid Love. stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone for the lead roles, but obviously the filmmakers have decided to move on.

Affleck will next be seen in his great thriller and possible awards contender, Argo.  He’s also starring in the 2013 films To the Wonder and the gambling drama Runner Runner.

The Crazy, Stupid, Love team wants to get the band back together.  Directors Glenn Ficarra and John Requa just made a deal with Warner Bros. to direct their script Focus, and Deadline reports that they want to reteam Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling from last year’s successful dramedy.  The new project is called Focus and centers on a veteran con man who becomes romantically involved with a newcomer to the business.  Expectedly (in a business based on deceit), things don’t exactly work out and the complications of their previous encounter “haunt them when they meet up again in the future.”  Hit the jump for more.