Ben Affleck has finally entered negotiations to direct a film, after countless rumours and apparent interest in a series of projects.
According to the Heat Vision Blog in The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck is looking likely to direct Argo, which is to be produced by another successful actor/director, George Clooney. The quirky sounding production would be based on the 2007 Wired article 'How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran.' You can see why they shortened the title... The article was based on the true story of what happened when the American Embassy was taken over in Iran in 1979 by fundamentalists and the diplomats held captive. The CIA sent in six of their agents posing as a film crew making a Hollywood production to smuggle out the hostages. Argo is the name of the movie they told the hostage takers they were making.
Sounds like a lot of fun, and almost Three Kings/The Men Who Stare At Goats like in terms of set up. Given Affleck's already proven ability as a director, and probable cast members (Clooney? Damon?) this one just placed itself firmly on my radar.