Ben Affleckhasn’t directed a feature film since 2012’sArgo, but he is now finally back behind the camera as we speak. After winning the Best Picture Oscar for the 70s-set thriller, Affleck quickly began putting together his follow-up project,Live by Night. The crime drama is an adaptation ofDennis Lehane’s novel of the same name, which takes place in Boston during the 1920s and follows the rise of one man from petty thief to the Gulf Coast’s most successful rum runner.
But as Affleckdropped outof Warner Bros.’Focusto zero in on gettingLive by Nightready to shoot in 2013, a couple of things happened: 1. He was offered the opportunity to work withDavid FincheronGone Girland 2. He was asked to play Batman. Affleck said “yes” to both, pushingLive by Nightoff of its targeted July 30, 2025 release date and putting the project on hold for the time-being.
Well, Affleck’s commitment as Batman inBatman v Superman: Dawn of Justiceis now complete, and while he’salsoconsideringdirecting a standalone Batman moviein addition to reprising his role as the caped crusader inZack Snyder’sJustice League, which starts filming next spring, it appears that he was done puttingLive by Nightoff any longer. The actor/filmmaker tweeted a photo from set today marking the first day of production, and boy is it exciting to know that this thing is finally in front of cameras.
In addition to co-writing, producing, and directing, Affleck is starring inLive by NightalongsideSienna Miller,Zoe Saldana,Elle Fanning,Chris Messina, andChris Cooper. Fascinatingly, he’s continuing his trend of working with incredible cinematographers (John TollonGone Baby Gone,Robert ElswitonThe Town,Rodrigo PrietoonArgo) by havingQuentin Tarantino’s longtime lenserRobert Richardsononboard as director of photography for this latest feature.
Warner Bros. has already set abroad 2017 release datefor the film, but I’d be surprised if it fell anywhere outside the fall corridor. Who knows, maybe he’ll be deep in prep for a Batman movie at that point. Right now, I’m elated to see thatLive by Nightis finally going forward.
