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EXCLUSIVE: Sometimes, the hottest projects in town aren’t the newest. Warner Bros is in early talks with Ben Affleck to come aboard to direct and possibly star in Replay, a Jason Smilovic-scripted adaptation of a Ken Grimwood novel. The protagonist is 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. The book was published in 1989, and Lee Rich first set it up as a movie back then. It languished, and then Smilovic turned out a script that has top leading men circling. The question will be: does Affleck play the lead role himself? He’s age appropriate and co-wrote and directed The Town primarily to give himself the killer lead role of the thief who falls in love with the bank employee during a heist. Rich and Elaine Goldsmith Thomas are producing.
After the strong grosses and acclaim for The Town, Affleck is being offered a lot of stuff to direct. He is still keen on The Trade, the Dave Mandel-scripted film based on the 70s wife swap of New York Yankees pitchers Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich, Affleck is indeed interested in Replay, and in playing that starring role. He just met with Smilovic and Goldsmith Thomas, and gave them a bunch of notes. Smilovic has gone back to do another pass. Affleck won’t decide his next picture until that and The Trade get new drafts. Then he’ll figure out what to do next.
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43-year-old man vs 18-year-old man. there’s a difference?
What are you a studio accountant? No wonder nothing ever makes a profit.
He’s age appropriate and co-wrote and directed The Town primarily to give himself the killer lead role of the thief who falls in love with the bank employee during a heist.
Did the same with “Good Will Hunting” – everyone knows that’s Ben’s M.O.
By the way, wasn’t this called “Groundhog Day” over a decade ago?
Your right that is his M.O. He also wrote that part for himself in Gone Baby Gone oh wait he didn’t star in that movie. So maybe you should learn facts before you criticize the man.
You’re right. They should learn facts prior to commenting. I admire that he can do that and so well. Sh*t goes wrong, can’t blame anyone but yourself.
“Groundhog Day” came out long after the book “Replay” was published. The book came out in 1986 and the movie rights were bought that year. Additionally, this is about reliving a 25 year period of life, not one day.
I have to say that this would lend itself much better to a miniseries though. There is way too much great story in the book to squeeze it into a 2 hour movie.
“Replay” is my favorite book of all time, and I am currently reading it for the 5th time through and still thoroughly enjoying it.
What a zzzzzz….fresh…zzzzz….idea…. Zac Efzzzz…. Taylor Lazzzzz….. Justin Bezzzz…..
HaHa…so true. Listen, why is it when someone’s career is going well, do they want to throw a stupid romantic comedy. I will never ever everrrrr see Gerard Butler the same after that idiotic romantic comedy he made w/ Aniston. Now they have Jake starring with Anne over viagra? Gag!!!!!!!!!!!
HaHa…so true. Listen, why is it when someone’s career is going well, do they want to throw a stupid romantic comedy in the Actors face. I will never ever everrrrr see Gerard Butler the same after that idiotic romantic comedy he made w/ Aniston. Now they have Jake starring with Anne over viagra? Gag!!!!!!!!!!!
Wasn’t this already a movie, with his WIFE no less, called 13 Going on 30. And then Efron’s 17 Again. And so on….? Just because this is more dramatic than comedic then that still makes it ok? I don’t get this need to redo the same premise 10 times as if its new again. So stupid.
Ha! I just posted something similar. NO MORE! Sick of the studios spending money on the saaaaame crap. The Town? Now that’s good work.
Please, read the book. You can’t compare those other movies with this book. If one doesn’t know the story – how can one have a well-informed opinion of whether or not this is a good idea?
Sounds very familiar to Groundhog Day… or is that just me.
NO NO NO NO
Ben,
The Town was great…well directed acting great movie escapism at its best. I feel you were the creative force behind the project,
Why in God’s Name would you do this movie. This concept has been done over and over again. Your career is on a path for long term success NOW. A few stumbles along the way yes. You recovered you are respected-dont be talked into something that NO one wants to see. Ben as an 18 year old is grotesque and not funny. Look at something else to do PLEASE. Do you think Clint Eastwood when his directing was beginning to shine-would jump into an 18 year old’s
body. NO
Quite a rant considering Clint had more and better directing credits than Affleck when he decided to co-star with an orangutan (twice).
Well played… Never get between a man and his monkey.
I read the novel when I was in middle school and it’s stuck with me all of these years. It’s actually a strong story and I can see why they’ve not buried it these 20+ years later.
“Replay” is nothing like “Groundhog Day” or “13 Going on 30″ or any of the others. The book — which is terrific — is about living ones life over and over, not just one day. There are some thematic similarities but relatively few. And if we ruled out movies with similar themes, we’d be done forever with love stories, sports stories, war stories, etc. etc. etc.
Thank you.
Ditto. Great point.
Exactly. If people read the book they’d know that this story is in a whole different league.
Will people ever get over this second chance idea? I think it says something sick about our culture, but I’m not sure. Newsflash: Everyday is a new beginning! You don’t need some Groundhog Day hoodoo to better your life!
Replay is different from Groundhog Day/ 17 Again/ 13 Going on 30/ Big (which 13 Going on 30 pretty much copied, just switching genders).
It’s about a man who actually lives 25 years of his life (not just a day) over and over again, with his memories from his previous lives intact. So he gets to make different choices, see how that turns out, etc.
The book was good. Not sure I trust Affleck with it (as an actor I think he’s over-rated), but the story is great.
I read this Smilovic script. It’s great. Best script I’ve read in years. He’d be a perfect director, but note to WB, you can get a better star.
THIS IS AN INCREDIBLE SCRIPT. NOTHING LIKE GROUND HOG DAY. IT WAS CIRCULATED IN MY AGENCY LAST WEEK, AND EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT IT. I THINK BEN AFFLECK IS PERFECT TO STAR AND DIRECT. I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE IT!
why all of a sudden is this script over all the hundreds of thousands of others just sitting on shelves or in caves across the country getting resurrected. I want that story. How can this happen to more scripts from the past???!!!
stephanie–are you an intern working for kolbrenner by any chance?
One question, what took ya’ll so long to make this movie? I love the book. I can’t wait to see it with or without ben affleck. groundhog day, 17 again, they don’t even stand it the shadow of this story. Really happy to hear that someone finally wised up.
I work at CAA, and I heard they were packaging this with Ryan Murphy, Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts. That should be an interesting conversation later…
This is a great book that deserves to be on the screen. Hope Ben makes the right choice and picks REPLAY…
NO. NO. NO. NO. Don’t let Affleck direct REPLAY. He’ll make everyone speak with Boston accents, and turn it into a noir thriller.
For everyone that has said it’s a teeny bopper redux movie and that it’s something similar to Groundhog Day without actually knowing what the story is about, do at least a wikipedia search before you give your uninformed opinion.
It just makes you sound like a child trying to sit at the grownups table.
No, N Cognito, they’re actually giving the marketing department an early look at how people’s perceptions and desire…or not…to see this film that sound, to them, derivative.
no joke considering rich’s daughter, blair is EVP mktg.
I read the book a long time ago, but everybody seems to be talking about this script. I hear it’s great. Affleck wouldn’t be the first person i’d go to, but he’s a good director. Not sure he should star. Would rather see Brad Pitt or Depp. Who’s the woman? She’s a great role, too.
Haven’t read the book but the premise sounds interesting. I think it all comes down to the script. The Town showed Affleck hasn’t lost his touch. He’s waited long enough to get his Mojo back. Just can’t see him picking a bad project at this point.
The man does good work! Who cares about Boston and accents?! Sounds like REPLAY would be a great next choice for Ben.
I heard that every big director from Ridley Scott to David Fincher wants to do this Smilovic script, but Affleck is the love child at Warners. Robonov thinks no one’s better, and everything they get they send to him first. Go figure.
I also hear the script is amazing. So maybe Nikki’s right. Again.
Wasn’t it just yesterday that this guy was joke in Gigli? How does he rate? I saw The TOWN. It was like a movie of the week. I don’t care how great you all say the script is. If it was that great they’d get Steven Speilberg or McG. They wouldn’t go to Ben Affleck first. Here’s some free advice for Leigh Rich and Elaine Goldsmith – you’re passing over some really good filmmakers and you’re showing your cards by aiming low. I think the story line sounds cool, but I’d rejigger your directing choice.
vic
Lee Rich is 92. I’m sure he’d just like a check and nothing more.
FINALLY! This book is an unsung classic. It NEEDS to be made and it needs the right director. I thought that Ben Affleck did an excellent job with THE TOWN. He has the chops to tackle this incredible story. Replay is nothing like the second chance movies people are mentioning here! This story is in a league of its own. I hope it gets the talent it deserves.
Ben is a good choice to direct. He’s proven he’s talented, and Replay would give him a chance to tackle a real expansive story. The book was excellent – i bet the smilovic adaptation is great.
I read this book when it came out in paperback and it’s one of my all time favorites. I tracked down the author and was able to call him and thank him for a wonderful story. Ken Grimwood was a radio news reporter at KFWB in Los Angeles for many years. I think he died a few years back. Pity he won’t get to see his work finally hit the big screen.
The actor is going to have to play 18 and 43 and I don’t think Affleck can pull that off anymore. I’m sure there’s a better choice. Remember when Michael J. Fox was well into his 30′s and still looked like a teenager? They need someone like that.
I can’t wait for this movie.
Just thought of the perfect actor to play this role. How about Joseph Gordon-Leavitt from Inception. He more than held his own opposite Leo in that film and he has a boyish look that can also appear mature. For those of you who don’t know who he is, he was the kid alien in 3rd Rock From the Sun.