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THE STAND: Scott Cooper In Talks To Replace Ben Affleck As Director

Scott Cooper

Scott Cooper is in talks to direct and rewrite The Stand. Cooper is in talks to replace Ben Affleck as director for the adaptation of Stephen King’s epic novel being made by Warner Bros. and CBS Films. Jimmy Miller and Roy Lee are producing the project. Affleck was attached back in 2011, but previously, David Yates had considered directing. Steven Kloves, the screenwriter for Harry Potter, had originally been tapped to write for a multi-movie version of The Stand. The two later exited the project in October 2011 due to Yates believing the project would work well as a miniseries. Affleck was later brought on to direct.

The breaking news last night of Affleck signing on to be the next rendition of Batman is one of the many contributing factors to Affleck’s directorial exit. Ben Affleck is currently prepping to star in Gone Girl and with the addition of playing Batman will be unavailable for The Stand. In the interim, Warners and CBS Films have a limited window in which to move on The Stand or they will lose the rights to the adaptation hence Scott Cooper’s quick hire. David Kajanich wrote the original script for Warners and CBS Film’s adaptation but with Cooper on-board, that script may be re-written.

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King’s book is a story of good vs. evil after a virus wipes out most of the America’s population. It features dozens of characters (including such memorable ones like the Trashcan Man and Mother Abigail) and overlapping story lines running over many years as a group of survivors fights the Antichrist-like Randall Flagg.

No release date has been scheduled and casting has not yet begun. Major casting and scheduling will be contingent on Cooper’s deal. It will also cause a shift in project budget.

Scott Cooper is best known for writing and directing Jeff Bridges to an Oscar win for Crazy Heart in 2009. That independent film was made for 7 million dollars but grossed over 47 in return. This December, Scott Cooper’s revenge thriller Out of The Furnace will premiere and stars Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, and Zoe Saldana.

Leave your thoughts on Scott Cooper becoming the new director for The Stand below in the comments section below. For more The Stand photos, videos, and information, visit our The Stand page, subscribe to us by Email, follow us on Twitter, Tumblr, or “like” us on Facebook. The Stand has no confirmed release date.

Source: Hollywood Reporter

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