Yeah, Ben Affleck is getting back into directing according to Variety this morning.
It’s a Miramax, “fact-based” drama called, “Arizona” that might be used as a starring and directing vehicle for the 36-year-old star. The story is about an investigative reporter killed in a 1976 car bomb explosion as he was investigating the infiltration of organized crime into state government.
OK, great, but even juicier and something everyone seemed to miss was the Anne Thompson story about Affleck and Russell Crowe mixing like oil and vinegar on the set of “State Of Play,” a political thriller set to come out in April 2009.
Brad Pitt was supposed to star, but wanted re-writes right before the writers strike last year. Instead of acquiescing, the director Kevin Macdonald (“The Last King of Scotland”) replaced Pitt with Crowe, and his departure delayed the project and so Ed Norton also left and the role was recast with Affleck. Apparently there wasn’t a lot of chemistry between the two new actors to say the least.
“Word is, the on-set chemistry was not ideal. While Crowe is never easy, he and Affleck were supposed to be playing best friends, and they couldn’t stand each other. Poor Macdonald had his hands full. It remains to be seen whether their on-set chill will negatively impact their performances,” Thompson wrote.
“State Of Play” is about a a team of investigative reporters that work alongside a police detective to try to solve the murder of a congressman’s mistress. Crowe plays the journo and Affleck takes on the role of the congressman. The film also stars Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Helen Mirren, Robin Wright Penn, Viola Davis and Jeff Daniels.
Another bad sign about this film? It seems like it was written by committee (it actually went through re-write hell) and the credits include, Matthew Michael Carnahan, Tony Gilroy (“Bourne”), Peter Morgan (“Frost/Nixon”), and Billy Ray (“Shattered Glass”).
The best part of McAdams’ role? She plays a popular blogger turned junior political reporter who finds herself in the midst of the career-making story. The score is being handled by Alex Heffes (“One Day in September,” “Touching the Void,” and “The Last King of Scotland,” all Kevin Macdonald films).
This was supposed to be one of the more interesting dramas of 2009, but now we wish Norton and Pitt were still starring in it.
