Ben Affleck to direct and possibly star in the fantasy film Replay?

Since the much-deserved success of THE TOWN, filmmaker Ben Affleck has become quite a commodity in Hollywood. After having brought in some money and clout to Warner Bros. (who’s already going to end up having one hell of a year in the money and clout departments), the studio would like Affleck to direct and possibly star in a project that’s been in development for over 20 years.

The project is called REPLAY, based on the 1989 Ken Grimwood novel of the same name and adapted by screenwriter Jason Smilovic (“My Own Worst Enemy”, LUCKY NUMBER SLEVIN). According to Deadline, the story follows “a 43-year old radio journalist who dies, wakes up in his 18-year old body, and gets to relive his life over and over. With his original memory intact, he takes the opportunity to travel down roads he passed up the first time around.” If that sounds similar to GROUNDHOG DAY, that’s because Grimwood’s novel had at one point been referenced as a precursor to the classic Harold Ramis comedy.

As mentioned, the book was first published in 1989, and at the time producer Lee Rich (THE SCORE, PASSENGER 57) first attempted to bring the project to the big screen but with failed results. It has languished since, until writer Smilovic turned in a draft that apparently has had various leading men circling the project. Will Affleck then take the lead here like he did with THE TOWN?

The other project Affleck’s looking at right now is the recently discussed THE TRADE with bro Casey and bud Matt Damon possibly directing. Affleck will reportedly decide on one of these two projects once new drafts of their scripts are turned in.