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Ben Affleck Gearing Up to Direct 'The Town' with Jon Hamm

by Alex Billington
July 27, 2009

One of my favorite up-and-coming directors, Ben Affleck, is gearing up to start shooting his second film. Yes, I'm sort of making a joke, as this is the same Ben Affleck who is also an actor, but he last directed Gone Baby Gone, one of my favorite films of 2007. THR confirms today that Affleck is getting ready to start shooting The Town, an adaptation of Chuck Hogan's novel "Prince of Thieves," starting in September. He has cast "Mad Men's" Jon Hamm and actress Rebecca Hall in the film and will star in it as well. This project was announced almost a year ago. I'm thrilled to see that Affleck is getting behind the camera again.

The story we'll see in The Town, described as similar in tone to Gone Baby Gone, involves a high-tension love triangle between a female bank manager, a longtime thief who stole more than her heart and an equally smitten FBI agent trying to bust the crook and his gang before they can pull another big job. Rebecca Hall will play the female bank manager, Ben Affleck will play the "career criminal," and Hamm will play the FBI agent. Sounds like some great casting and a great story as well. Affleck co-wrote the screenplay along with author Chuck Hogan and Peter Craig. Warner Brothers and Legendary Pictures are developing the project.

I've been very excited to see this project come together ever since I first heard about it last year. I really do think Affleck might be able to continue building his directing career and become just as well respected of a director as he is an actor (eventually like Clint Eastwood). He's certainly got the talent, as Gone Baby Gone was extraordinary. And if this is anything close to that film, in style, tone, or story, then I know I'll probably love it as well. I'll be following this closely as it heads into production out in Boston, MA this September.

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