Ben Affleck wants to tackle adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s Live By Night next

Anyone checking out ARGO this weekend? Ben Affleck seems to be doing a pretty good job with his directing career. Also, as you may have already noticed we’ve been very Affleck-centric on the site this week. Jimmy-O gave ARGO a 10/10 in his review of the film. Not too shabby.

Currently, Affleck is in talks with Warner Bros. about directing an adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s LIVE BY NIGHT. The book was published this month by William Morrow. Affleck is familiar with Lehane’s material since his debut directorial effort, GONE BABY GONE was derived from Lehane’s book. Scripting duties will go to Affleck as well.

Here’s a description of LIVE BY NIGHT content: “Live By Night uses some of the characters from Lehane’s sprawling period novel The Given Day and brings them into Prohibition. The focus is Joe Coughlin, the black sheep son of a police captain who gets involved in escalating levels of organized crime during Prohibition.”

Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran’s Appian Way secured the rights earlier this year. Pearl Street, the WB-based company that Affleck shares with Matt Damon will share producing duties with Appian.