Though most of the recent chatter surrounding Ben Affleck has been about his casting as Batman in the new Warner Bros. match-up between the company’s two most famous superheroes, the man himself is keeping an eye on his career as a writer, director and producer. He’s developing another new project, an untitled thriller set in Africa and the world of mercenary action.
Will Staples, who parlayed his experience writing video games such as Call Of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 into script jobs, has several screenplays floating about, including Myth and King Tut. After Affleck pitched him the idea, Warners has hired Staples to write the new film, which sees mercenaries hired to take out a warlord who has been victimizing his own people.
In keeping with the likes of Argo, the planned film will blend action with thoughtful looks at the moral ambiguities of modern politics, philanthropy and foreign assistance, which is much easier in theory than practice.
Aside from his Batfleck duties, Affleck is at work on David Fincher’s Gone Girl while also preparing to direct and star in Dennis Lehane adaptation Live By Night.