WB eyeing Ben Affleck to direct 'Justice League'
With Christopher Nolan declaring himself out of the running for "Justice League," Warner Bros. has approached another of its go-to directors in Ben Affleck, who's expected to discuss the project with studio brass in the coming days, multiple sources tell Variety.
Since guiding WB's "The Town" to commercial success and critical acclaim from both sides of the camera, Affleck has ascended high on the studio's list of filmmakers who can be trusted with prime properties. Thus far, Affleck is the only candidate who's been sent Will Beall's "Justice League" script, which the "Gangster Squad" scribe was hired to write last summer.
DC Comics' answer to Marvel's Avengers, "Justice League" is expected to bring together marquee characters Batman and Superman, as well as Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and The Flash. Affleck has made it clear that he's only interested in directing films in which he also stars -- "The Town" and "Argo" are proof of that -- so its likely that if this pairing ever came to fruition, he would don a suit of his own. DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Affleck's reps declined to comment.
While Affleck has shown an aptitude for mid-budget movies, he's poised to prove he can handle a nine-figure budget like other actors-turned-directors Jon Favreau ("Iron Man") and Kenneth Branagh ("Thor").
One possible hesitation on Affleck's part is that any involvement with "Justice League" would take him out of circulation as a director for a few years. He could, however, still fit in an acting gig at Warners.
Visit Variety.com for the full story
Since guiding WB's "The Town" to commercial success and critical acclaim from both sides of the camera, Affleck has ascended high on the studio's list of filmmakers who can be trusted with prime properties. Thus far, Affleck is the only candidate who's been sent Will Beall's "Justice League" script, which the "Gangster Squad" scribe was hired to write last summer.
DC Comics' answer to Marvel's Avengers, "Justice League" is expected to bring together marquee characters Batman and Superman, as well as Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and The Flash. Affleck has made it clear that he's only interested in directing films in which he also stars -- "The Town" and "Argo" are proof of that -- so its likely that if this pairing ever came to fruition, he would don a suit of his own. DC Entertainment, Warner Bros. and Affleck's reps declined to comment.
While Affleck has shown an aptitude for mid-budget movies, he's poised to prove he can handle a nine-figure budget like other actors-turned-directors Jon Favreau ("Iron Man") and Kenneth Branagh ("Thor").
One possible hesitation on Affleck's part is that any involvement with "Justice League" would take him out of circulation as a director for a few years. He could, however, still fit in an acting gig at Warners.
Visit Variety.com for the full story
Author:
JEFF SNEIDER, JUSTIN KROLL
Date:
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Source URL: http://www.variety.com/