Ben Affleck to Be Replaced by Scott Cooper as Director of ‘The Stand’

With Ben Affleck's schedule filling up, the new Batman and future "Live By Night" director has been forced to exit Warner Bros. and CBS Films' adaptation of Stephen King's post-apocalyptic novel "The Stand," which will now be directed by Scott Cooper, ("Out of the Furnace"), TheWrap has learned.

Cooper is in talks to rewrite and direct "The Stand," which WB and CBS Films have a limited window to bring to the bigscreen, lest they risk losing the rights.

Roy Lee and Jimmy Miller are producing the project, which is expected to draw a litany of top-tier acting talent. Cooper is well-regarded amongst the acting community, having directed Jeff Bridges to an Oscar in "Crazy Heart." He lured an impressive cast including Christian Bale, Casey Affleck, Woody Harrelson, Forest Whitaker and Willem Dafoe to his latest film "Out of the Furnace," which Relativity opens wide on Dec. 6.

Published in 1978, "The Stand" takes place after a virus has killed most of the American population. The epic novel chronicles the battle between good and evil as it concerns dozens of survivors with overlapping storylines.

The bestselling book was previously adapted by as a 1994 ABC miniseries starring Gary Sinise and Molly Ringwald.

Cooper has also been developing "Creek" for Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way banner, and that project has certainly suffered a setback with "The Stand" taking priority for Cooper, who is repped by CAA and attorney Darren Trattner.

Comments