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Ben Affleck Directing & Starring in Yankees Sex Scandal Film

by Ethan Anderton
February 19, 2010
Source: Deadline

Hot on the heels of the news that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck would be revamping their old production company with a deal first look deal at Warner Brothers, comes word from Deadline Hollywood of a project over at WB attaching none other than Affleck himself to direct and star in The Trade, a long gestating feature which focuses on the true story of two New York Yankees pitchers who were caught up in a national scandal by playing real-life wife swap in the wild 1970's. However, despite the time proximity of each of these stories, there's no official word yet on if this project will be coming from Affleck/Damon's new deal.

Back in 1973, teammates Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich disclosed that they were trading wives because Peterson had fallen in love with Kekich's wife and vice versa. That seems logical right? Peterson and his wife are still together to this day while Kekich's relationship didn't turn out so well. Sounds like an interesting project for someone like Affleck (and potentially Damon) who bleed Boston Red (Sox) through and through. Affleck and Damon have both had an interest in playing Peterson and Kekich, respectively, and it sounds like it finally might happen after years of waiting. This almost seems like a slap in the face to Yankees fans.

Apparently producer/writer David Mandel ("Curb Your Enthusiasm"/"Seinfeld") agreed to write the script long ago, but legal issues like life rights and such held it up. By the time all that nonsense was cleared up, Mandel was busy, paid well and had become quite an in-demand writer. However, he agreed to still write it for the original payment amount but would simply get to the script when he could without haste. Deadline's Fleming says it was well worth the wait with a screenplay that "has the feel of a Hal Ashby movie" and ended up on last year's Black List. We'll be the judges ourselves if we ever get to see this on the big screen.

Filed under Casting, Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Voice of Reason

AWESOME-O.....no better person/people to make this movie. I hope for as many low blows as possible to the Yankees, their smug franchise and arrogant players as possible. Bring it.
Dave Lister, JMC

Jets suck, Yankees suck, Knicks suck. Gotta love seeing New York sports fans getting shat on.
dee

How about doing a Redsox movie about the obvious racism in their fanbase and management. How they were the last franchise to sign a black player. How the lack of Black Players were ever in their lineup. Jim Rice doesn't count! How bout them apples Damon and Afleck? How black players these days hate the city of Boston. Good luck to cameron this year by the way!