Ben Affleck is looking to delve into the fantasy realm for the first time as director. The filmmaker is attached to direct an adaptation of the book series Keeper of the Lost Cities for Disney.
Kate Gritmon and Affleck are penning the script, which adapts Shannon Messenger's bestselling series of middle-grade fantasy books centering on Sophie, a 12-year-old girl with telepathy. As Sophie unravels the mystery behind her powers, she discovers she is not human, but instead is from a world that exists alongside our own. The series already has eight installments, with a ninth on the way, and has sold more than 2.5 million copies combined. Madison Ainley will serve as executive producer on the film version, which Deadline first reported.
Affleck, who directed 2013 best picture winner Argo, is also attached to helm a making of Chinatown movie for Paramount. He was last seen onscreen in the personal sports drama The Way Back, which debuted just as the coronavirus pandemic closed theaters worldwide in March. The role has Affleck in the awards conversation for acting. He is slated to appear in the upcoming The Flash movie, reprising his role as Batman, and also has Ridley Scott's The Last Duel and Adrian Lyne's Deep Water upcoming.