Ben Affleck To Direct 'Keeper Of The Lost Cities' Adaptation
While he’s been better known as the Batman for the past few years, Ben Affleck does have a number of successful films under his belt that he directed. Recent reports now reveal that Affleck is back on directing.
The Hollywood Reporter says that Disney has approached Affleck to direct the film adaptation of the middle-grade fantasy series Keeper of the Lost Cities. Written by Shannon Messenger, the novels tell the story of a telepathic 12-year-old girl.
Aside from directing the film, Affleck will also be co-writing it alongside scriptwriter Kate Gritmon. Should the first film be successful, it could pave the way for a franchise as there are now nine books in the series.
Variety adds that this new film will be a new addition to Affleck’s directorial credits, which already include critically-acclaimed works like Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Live By Night, and Argo. Argo was the best picture winner during the 2013 Academy Awards.
Affleck will be working on another film other than Keeper of the Lost Cities in the coming year. The actor is already signed on to direct and produce The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood, which chronicles the making of the film Chinatown.
Affleck is not the only superstar director that Disney has signed up to take on a project for them. In December, the company announced that Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins would be directing the Star Wars’ film Rogue Squadron.
Jenkins also announced the new project through her Twitter account, where she posted a video of herself talking about her fighter pilot father. Her father's experience made her want to direct a film about fighter pilots, and she said that Rogue Squadron was the perfect choice.
Walt Disney Company executive chairman Robert Iger expressed his own excitement at Jenkins’ involvement, declaring himself a fan of her work. He said that the whole company was thrilled to have her on board.
Jenkins’ involvement in Rogue Squadron is also historic as it marks the first time that a film in the Star Wars franchise will be directed by a woman. The Rise of Skywalker had Victoria Mahoney acting as second unit director on The Rise of Skywalker. Meanwhile, Deborah Chow directed episodes of The Mandalorian and the upcoming Obi-Wan Kenobi.
Back in 2017, Jenkins also made history when she directed Wonder Woman since it made her the first woman to direct a major superhero film. Wonder Woman proved to be a hit among critics and audiences alike, ending its run with $821 million in box office receipts.