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Ben Affleck May Direct Adaptation of 'Replay' for Warner Bros

by Ethan Anderton
October 19, 2010
Source: Deadline

After he turned down Tales from the Gangster Squad for his follow-up to the crime drama The Town, it looks like Warner Bros. found another project for Ben Affleck to helm. Deadline reports the studio is in early talks with Affleck to direct and star in an adaptation of the 1989 Ken Grimwood novel Replay, a project that spawned shortly after the book was published but never quite got off the ground. The story follows a 43-year old radio journalist who dies, wakes up in his 18-year old body, and gets to relive his life over and over, getting the opportunity to take roads he passed up the first time around. It's essentially a dramatic version of 17 Again.

Personally, I like the sound of Tales from the Gangster Squad better than this dramatic, reverse-telling of Big. I guess the script (from writer Jason Smilovic) and the source material must be really good if Affleck decided to take on the project. Maybe Affleck also liked the fact that he could take the lead role himself. Though he came through with flying colors on The Town, I'd like to see him stay behind the camera this time. Of course, it seems like the only decent roles Affleck gets nowadays are the ones where he casts himself in the lead, so I understand the appeal. Affleck is still keen on The Trade though, and he won't decide which project will be his next until both have new drafts of the script turned in.

Filed under Movie News, Opinions

From around the web:

Jon Pagan

Just wanted to say that the book isnone of the best books I've ever read. Truly an extremely unique take on the story. Be careful to compare it to Big in reverse because I found it to be much deeper than that. The author died shortly after it's publication. I read somewhere that he was working on a sequel when he died. Very disappointed that we'll never get to see where he would have gone with that. All of this said, from the moment I finished the book I've been looking forward to the inevitable movie. I'm extremely thankful that they are giving it to such a great director!!
John

One of my favorite books of all time, and my single favorite actor of all time. I think I just filled the cup.
Bob Petersen

It's more than just a "dramatic version of 17 Again" - after he relives his life, doing everything right, fixing all the mistakes - he drops dead again, wakes up in the past, has to do it again. And again. And again. Hence, the replays - which start getting shorter (not travelling as far back into his past) as the years pass. And if it sounds like "Groundhog Day" on a much bigger time-frame, don't forget that the original novel *pre-dates* "Groundhog Day"... good as that film was, it owes a LOT to this novel...
nelson

want to tell the whole story Douche
tivdatsun

I read the book as well. I'm saddened to learn the author died. I always thought Replay would make a fantastic movie. I just never thought it would take this long to pass.
Xerxex

sounds pretty good, can see Affleck doing wonder with the story.
Jon

Nelson- He didn't tell the whole story, trust me, that is just a taste. In fact you know what he said after barely starting the book, so chill. I hate spoilers, but believe me he didn't give anything away! I think one of the reasons this is one of my favorite books is because of how strongly it made me feel. Days after finishing with it I was still effected. Great book. Everyone. Read. It.
Tony

Oh God, "a reverse telling of Big" god I hate when people ignorant of the story make comments on it. It is not even close to Big in any way ( as people have said) This is about a guy with future knowledge continually ressurected in hiw younger body. A far cry from a 13 year old kis suddenly thwarted into an alien an unknown adult world. Yes the source material is excellent, the simple number of awards it won/was nominated for woud be a dead giveaway. As for the script, like all good source material, I am worried about how much they are changing it. We have already been told that the script moves the setting to New York, and "Jeff Winston" ( if the characters name will stil be that) will have a fatal heart attack while rescuing a jogger, whose fate somehow gets entwined with him in his replays. Hopefully the film can do the novel justice. It better not be a pathetic piece of crap film like they made out of the brilliant Stephen Gould novel "Jumper"
http://whimzee.tumblr.com/ Ashley

Tony, I have to agree that nothing makes me angrier than writers who know nothing about a subject presuming to make assumptions and therefore swaying the opinions of the masses who read their ignorant comments. I had the pleasure of reading Replay less than a year ago, although I had heard wonderful things about it for many years- I literally read it overnight, could not put it down, and came out of it feeling highly affected. This is NOTHING like any time travel story or movie I have ever read/seen- it focuses more on the emotional and psychological toll that comes with the pressure of having to make new decisions in the same time/space OVER AND OVER again, and knowing the exact moment of your ever-impending and recycling death- it's not a feel-good, second chance film by any means. I only hope that Hollywood will treat it right, leave in the grit, I even hope they will not change the settings, either time or place- everything about this book was perfect the way it was.