Ben Affleck Gets Dream Project, Set To Direct African Thriller

Ben Affleck has made quite an impression on people as a director. Batman aside, Affleck has made an incredible comeback, and has proved himself to be a worthy filmmaker. Now it looks like he’s finally getting Hollywood on board with his dream project – an Africa-Set Thriller.

In between films BenAffleck’s impressive stance to tell the stories of the Eastern Congo has transported the actor in dangerous territory. His recent reporting on the Congo was for Dateline, and he even started the Eastern Congo Initiative to aid people who are suffering from the atrocities that take place. This of course was before his film Argo won the Academy Award for Best Picture. Now that he’s riding high in his career, it seems as though Hollywood is willing to finance his dream project.

Back in 2010 Affleck had voiced his desire to create a movie about Africa, but Hollywood wasn’t biting. At the time Affleck said, “I would love to make a movie about Congo, but unfortunately I’ve asked Hollywood folks and they always say, ah, nobody wants to see a movie about Africa.”

Now Deadline is reporting that Ben Affleck is finally getting his dream project off the ground with the help of Warner Bros, who has been a solid supporter of Affleck’s directing career. Scribe Will Staples has been tapped to start the script, as he’s set to tackle themes of philanthropy, foreign policy, and neocolonialism that goes on in Africa. The plot revolves around a group of mercenaries that are hired to overthrow a warlord.

Odds are this project won’t come out anytime soon, as Affleck has just started shooting the Man Of Steel sequel with Zach Snyder. Earlier he spoke with 411 Mania about his hesitance to play Batman: “Initially, I was reluctant as I felt I didn’t fit the traditional mold. But once Zack [Snyder] showed me the concept, and that it would be both different from the great movies that Chris [Nolan] and Christian [Bale] made, but still in keeping with tradition, I was excited.”

Next up for Ben Affleck is Gone Girl which is an adaptation of the book by Gillian Flynn, and will be directed by David Fincher. As far as directing goes, there’s also Live By Night to consider, which Affleck plants to film at the end of next year.