Ever since Boston mobster Whitey Bulger, long a fixture on the FBI Most Wanted List, was apprehended in Santa Monaco earlier this year, Hollywood has been swooning at the idea of making a film about his exploits. More than a handful of projects are already in development by some pretty high profile folks, but I'm going to give you three reasons why they don't really matter anymore:
1. Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are pairing up for it, with hopes of Damon starring and Affleck directing. What role Damon would take is unclear, and considering both actors are busy until around 2013 this won't be kicking off anytime soon. 2. The muscle of Warner Brothers is backing this one, a regular home for the duo over the last decade. Especially Affleck, who did The Town for them last year and recently became the lead to direct their massive adaptation of The Stand. 3. Terence Winter, writer of both The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire, is working the screenplay. Check please.
Seriously, that's a Murderer's Row of talent right there, along with a story that captured the attention of the world already once this year. Since 1979 Bulger had been the leader of the infamous Winter Hill Gang, piling up a heavy body count along with a number of other federal charges. None of these would come to pass, however, because since '75 he had also been serving as an FBI informant. That is until he was tipped off by an agent that he was about to be brought up on RICO charges, leading to Bulger fleeing Boston. For 16 years he stayed in hiding, until his arrest back in June.
Affleck is currently shooting his hostage drama, Argo, which will likely be followed up by The Stand if that pans out as expected. Damon has Steven Soderbergh's Liberace biopic, Behind the Candelabra, as well as his own untitled directorial debut lined up after that. [GQ]
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