Ben Affleck May Direct Tehran Hostage Film

Ben Affleck May Direct Tehran Hostage Film

Movie News

By our guest blogger, Joe Oliveto

In one of the most remarkable career turnarounds in recent memory, Ben Affleck has gone from being a punchline to being a respected director of two noteworthy crime movies: “Gone Baby Gone” and “The Town.” Even though he did fine playing the protagonist in the latter, it looks as though his natural place is behind the camera, and movie fans may be eager to know what his next project will be.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, although Affleck has been offered several directing gigs, he may soon be attached to a project about the true life rescue of U.S. diplomats taken hostage during the 1979 occupation of the U.S. embassy in Iran.

While this sounds like a sobering drama about international relations, word is that the movie may have an element of humor, thanks mainly to the unconventional manner in which the CIA eventually rescued the hostages. Based mainly on information related in a 2007 Wired article, the story shows how the CIA disguised the hostages as filmmakers scouting locations for their new science-fiction movie (featuring art from Jack Kirby, of Marvel comics fame). The plan sounds ridiculous, but it worked; the hostages were successfully rescued.

If Affleck does decide to go forward with this project, it could be the real test of his skills as a director. His previous two films were excellent by any standards, but they were Boston-centric, taking place in neighborhoods he is familiar with and populated by characters he could have grown up with. Neither “Gone Baby Gone” nor “The Town” featured anything even vaguely resembling comedy, either. This film will determine whether or not he can step outside of the comfort zone he’s established and show his versatility.

Our guess, or, at least, hope, is that he can. As soon as his directorial debut hit screens, Affleck renewed his significance in Hollywood, and we want to see his career thrive, if only because we need directors as skilled as he is.

Never thought we’d say that, but there you go.