Ben Affleck Directing, Starring in 'Witness for the Prosecution' Remake
Ben Affleck (Photo: Rex/Shutterstock)
By Dave McNary, Variety
Ben Affleck is in talks with Fox to direct and star in a remake of Witness for the Prosecution.
The 1957 adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story, directed by Billy Wilder, starred Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich, and Charles Laughton, and was nominated for six Academy Awards.
Christopher Keyser will write the script, and Affleck will produce with Matt Damon, Jennifer Todd, and the Agatha Christie estate.
Laughton plays a lawyer who represents a man (Power) accused of murdering a rich widow who had become enamored with him and made him the main beneficiary of her will.
Affleck directed Oscar best picture winner Argo and is in post-production on Live by Night for Warner Bros. He’s also directing the standalone Batman movie for Warner Bros.
Affleck is an executive producer on Justice League for Warner Bros. and stars in Gavin O’Connor’s The Accountant, which Warner Bros. opens on Oct. 14.
Keyser is the executive producer of the FX series Tyrant. He served two terms as president of the Writers Guild of America West.
Affleck is represented by WME, while Keyser is repped by CAA. The news was first reported by Deadline Hollywood.
