Ben Affleck To Order Matt Damon Around In Whitey Bulger Film

Casting News, News, Projects

How hot of a career swing is Ben Affleck having right now? With newfound success as a director, Affleck looks to have greased the right palms over at Warner Bros., as the studio stands behind him with his upcoming release Argo (in 2012), and wants him to helm an ambitious big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s famed epic, The Stand.

Now the studio is making a new film with Affleck about New England’s notorious gangster, Whitey Bulger. Even better is the news that Matt Damon, a longtime friend of Affleck’s, will star in the project as Buldger. The two will serve as producers, plus Affleck will also direct and costar. Terrence Winter, who has written multiple episodes for The Sopranos and created Boardwalk Empire, is penning the script.

For Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, this is their first project together since Good Will Hunting, the 1997 film that put them on the map and saw them victorious with Oscars for Original Screenplay. Casey Affleck, who also had role in Good Will Hunting and starred in Affleck’s directorial debut Gone Baby Gone, will have a supporting part in the Whitey Bulger project.

Considering the Boston setting and gangster story (a Warner Bros. genre staple), put this project on your radar as one to keep tabs on.

According to Deadline, the story will cover Bulger’s youth to his incarceration on Alcatraz, through his rise to become a mob boss while secretly serving as an FBI informant for decades.

“When Ben mentioned this to Jeff and Sarah, they jumped immediately,” said Greg Silverman, Warner Bros Pictures president of production. “It’s a perfect for of story with the ideal artists to bring thast story to the screen, and it’s so great to be heading back to Boston with Ben and Matt.”

Travis Leamons is one of the Inside Pulse Originals and currently holds the position of Managing Editor at Inside Pulse Movies. He's told that the position is his until he's dead or if "The Boss" can find somebody better. I expect the best and I give the best. Here's the beer. Here's the entertainment. Now have fun. That's an order!