Oscar-winning screenwriter Ben Affleck's next directorial project will be the romantic crime thriller The Town, according to both Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. The movie will also see Affleck co-starring opposite Mad Men star Jon Hamm and Rebecca Hall (Vicky Cristina Barcelona). As penned by veteran crime novelist Chuck Hogan, The Town is a two-fold tale about a professional stick-up man (Affleck) who falls for a female teller (Hall) at the bank he tries to heist, and the equally-infatuated FBI agent (Hamm) who is hellbent on nabbing him and his crew. The movie itself will be made (once again) in Boston, where Affleck lensed his directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone. Shooting is set to begin in September.
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Comments (1-10) of 10 Add your comment
Ben should stay behind the camera but his ego won’t let him that’s why he cast himself as the lead actor in this movie as well as the director. Unless this movie gets an A list actor or actress like scarlett johansen to play the teller it sounds like it will go straight to DVD. I can’t see anyone wanting to see a movie starring ben affleck and c list actress rebecca hall. This movie sounds like a turkey.
He should go back to what made ‘Gone Baby Gone’ so great….stay behind the camera and cast his brother.
How sarcastic of EW: “managed to recruit”. I’m sure a lot of actors want to work with someone who “managed” a best supporting actress Oscar nod (and many actual awards) for Amy Ryan. BTW It would be stupid of him to keep working with his brother, they both need to show they can do as well without each other, and I surely hope he doesnt cast Matt Dillon for the same reason. I mean Matt Bourne.
I have to disagree with BOSTON, respectfully. I did not expect Gone Baby Gone to be a good movie but it was actually a great movie and I was impressed. I do agree with BOSTON with the idea that Ben should not be the star just the director because as I stated earlier, Gone Baby Gone was a great movie and it introduced me to one of the best and most underrated actresses, Amy Ryan- she was amazing in that movie and she deserved the Oscar that year. Kudos to Ben for directing another movie, but do you really need to star in the movie? Also, I hope he doesn’t cast his brother or Mat Damon either- he needs to work with different people. Another word of advice, don’t hire someone because their pretty either because we see how that worked out with Gigli- one of the worst movies in cinematic history.
It’s a really great novel. If you want a more in-depth synopsis just go here http://www.crazycritics.com/page/jon-hamm-will-star-alongside I think it will translate extremely well onto the big screen
LOVE Jon Hamm!
to Boston – just because you haven’t heard of Rebecca Hall, doesn’t mean she’s a c list actress. She shined in Vicki Cristina Barcelona along side Scarlett Johannson. I also loved her in Starter for 10. I’ll be happy in the theater knowing you won’t be sitting next to me.
Hamm is great on Mad Men. Been watching Season 2 non-stop for the past couple days. Can’t wait for the new season.
http://tvdonewright.com
Ben did a really good job with Gone Baby Gone … it surprised me (and a lot of other people). And I love me some Jon Hamm. But … this story sounds sooo typical. Bank robber, FBI agent, and surprise surprise they are in love with the same woman. YAWN!
Sometimes the A-lister needs to star in the movie to get the money to make the movie. Why don’t you all wait until you have more than a two sentence description before you pan the movie!
Ben did a good job directing gone baby gone and he should stick with directing and should have a hired an A lister for the lead role instead of casting himself. Rebecca Hall is a good actress BUT neither she nor Ben Affleck are bankable and can open a movie, Ben has some fan base Rebecca has none. It all comes down to money at the box office and this movie will not be a box office hit.