Ben Affleck is Captain Kirk?

By: Karl Schneider
Date: Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Source: Cinescape

"Southie" contacted us today from pre-production of Gone Baby Gone. He had some news about Ben Affleck, who is making his directorial debut with the movie. Take the news with a grain of salt as it is all unconfirmed. He wrote:

I'm doing some work at the moment - well, a week off from doing some work, rehearsals start next week - on the Boston-filmed "Gone Baby Gone" with Ben Affleck directing, and Casey Affleck starring. It's a great script - very tense stuff - I think it'll change everyone's mind about Ben's abilities in this industry.

Anyway, at a round-table catch-up this week, a few of us sparkies and grips (and briefly, Ben and Ed Harris), got together to run through some of the details for the actual shoot - which begins in little under a month.

To the news...

This isn't gospel, this isn't even confirmed....it's merely speculation on our behalf, but some pretty SOLID speculation from some solid sources...... Ben had to shoot back to L.A, briefly after our meeting, to talk to Paramount. One of the chaps here, who just worked with Ben on a movie called Man About Town, said Ben's been talking about playing Jack Ryan again in a new movie called "Red Rabbit". It's the follow-up to 'Sum of all fears'. He assumes that's what it's still about..

.. some others had heard that Ben has also been talking to Paramount about possibly playing a lead role in a new Star Trek film from J.J Abrams. Apparently Abrams is coming down to visit the set in a few weeks, to visit Michelle Monaghan, whom he directed in Mission : Impossible 3, so that might add some more fuel to the fire. If it comes off, he's apparently playing the hero. Don't know if that's Captain Kirk or some other nameless male protagonist...but that's the gist of it. So possible that Affleck's going to go onto doing a new Jack Ryan, and possibly a "Trek", after he finishes with this film.

I wouldn't be surprised if they wait till Man about Town comes out to make any decisions on that. But can I just say, Ben is the nicest guy you'll ever meet....really respectful to "everyone and anyone".....I think he's going to do a top job on "Gone"..... stay tuned.

My best,
'Southie'