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Ben Affleck to Direct Black Listed Tehran Hostage Crisis Film 'Argo'

by Ethan Anderton
February 4, 2011
Source: Heat Vision

Last month we heard that Ben Affleck was in the midst of considering Black Listed screenplay American Bullshit as a potential directing gig. However, Heat Vision now reports that Affleck is in talks for a project that hadn't been mentioned as one of the projects he was previously circling. The actor turned director is in early talks to helm Argo, a film from producers Grant Heslov and George Clooney about how the CIA used a fake sci-fi film to rescue Americans during the Tehran hostage crisis. The story originally comes from a 2007 Wired article which has since been adapted into a script that also appeared on last year's Black List as #9.

The story sounds like a Hollywood creation, but during the occupation of the American embassy by Iranians in 1979, a rescue effort was mounted by the CIA and the Canadian government to extract six U.S. diplomats. In a genius plan, the CIA used a disguise expert and concocted a scenario that involved the six being a Hollywood crew scouting a movie titled Argo. Under those disguises, they were able to flee the country. To make the movie that much more convincing, the CIA commissioned comic book creator Jack Kirby to create designs and drawings to make the production seem real. What an awesome story!

However, despite all the news, we've heard independently from our own sources that Affleck was already in the midst of negotiating to direct American Bullshit later this year before this was revealed last night. If you don't recall, that film tells the true story of Abscam, the FBI's 1980 undercover sting operation of Congress to root out corruption which was the brainchild of the world's greatest con man.  It's possible that Affleck could direct both, and will simply direct one before the other. We'll do our best to keep you updated. Which project sounds more interesting to you?

Filed under Development, Movie News

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