Ben Affleck is in early talks to direct an American adaptation of the Harlan Coben novel "Tell No One," TheWrap has confirmed.
Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures are negotiating to acquire the rights to the novel. They already have a deal with Chris Terrio to write the script.
Affleck directed Warners' 2010 "The Town."
"Tell No One," published in 2001, is the author's first New York Times bestseller. The story, made into a movie in France in 2006, is about a pediatrician -- Coben is married to a pediatrician -- whose wife suddenly vanishes. When the doctor goes looking for her, he is beaten -- and then is considered a suspect.
When police determine she is the victim of a serial killer, he's off the hook -- until more bodies are found years later, and he's once again a suspect.
French director Guillaume Canet adapted the French version.
Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall will produce the American version.
Warner Bros. will release it domestically; Universal Pictures International will release it abroad.
Deadline first reported the news.
