Some of us have idly waited for further updates on The Stand, a (presumably) epic adaptation of Stephen King‘s beloved apocalyptic text that had been on the platter for Ben Affleck. The actor-writer-director is ever so busy, however, and his advancing Live By Night — along with a prominent role in David Fincher‘s next effort, Gone Girl — was somewhat casting Captain Trips and co. aside, no matter the likely lucrative nature of it all.
Then, last night, something else Affleck-related fell together. His schedule now a mess of missing women and leather suits — how nice that those probably aren’t connected — and the book’s rights close to reverting, Warner Bros. and CBS Films have angled toward another voice: as told by THR, The Stand is looking to fall to Scott Cooper, best-known for Jeff Bridges-starrer Crazy Heart and, coming this fall, the Christian Bale– and (this is somewhat amusing) Casey Affleck-led Out of the Furnace. It’s not a choice many (or any) would’ve thought up — a small-time filmmaker who’s never shown himself capable of writing and directing a large, strange story such as this, natch — but with it noted that he “clearly can attract actors” and, indeed, with King‘s novel containing a rather large cast of characters, the studios’ thinking may prove wise.
No notice as to when things begin to accelerate, but with Furnace mere months from release and an ever-closer expiration date hovering over The Stand, WB and CBS — should they really believe this has commercial value — would, expectedly, have Cooper push forward at an expedient rate.
Would you say Cooper makes sense for King? Any grief over the loss of Affleck?