Ben Affleck just closed a deal to star and direct in a new big-screen adaptation of “Witness for the Prosecution” for Fox, TheWrap has learned.
“Witness for the Prosecution” is an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story and play that Billy Wilder directed back in 1957 which starred Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton.
The film received six Oscar nominations at the time, including Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress and Best Director.
Charles Laughton played Sir Wilfrid Robarts a lawyer in bad health who represents Leonard Vole (Power) accused of murdering a a rich, older widow who had become enamoured with him, going so far as to make him the main beneficiary of her will. The suspect’s German wife Christine (Dietrich), while initially unable to testify against her husband, is called as a witness for the prosecution because she was married to a German man when she wed the defendant. She testifies that Leonard admitted to her that he had killed the widow, and that her conscience forced her to finally tell the truth.
The last movie Affleck directed was the Best Picture winner “Argo”, and he just wrapped “Live By Night” for Warner Bros, his adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel.
He’s currently co-writing and looking to direct the next stand-alone “Batman” film. Affleck is also an executive producer on “Justice League.” He next stars in the Gavin O’Connor-directed “The Accountant”, which Warner Bros opens on October 14.
Affleck is repped by WME.
Michael Keaton Is Batman and the Vulture: 27 More Stars in Both Marvel and DC Movies (Photos)
The animosity between Marvel and DC goes back decades in the comics world, but it's still burgeoning in Hollywood. It turns out a bunch of actors have switched sides in that corporate war over the years -- and some are making that move even now.
Ben Affleck Marvel: "Daredevil" (2003)
DC: "Batman v Superman," future DC Extended Universe movies
Ryan Reynolds Marvel: "X-Men: The Last Stand," "Deadpool," "Blade: Trinity"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Chris Evans Marvel: Human Torch in "Fantastic Four" (2004) and its sequel, "Rise of the Silver Surfer"; Captain America in Marvel Cinematic Universe
DC: "The Losers"
Willem Defoe Marvel: "Spider-Man"
DC: Just signed on for upcoming "Justice League" film
Tommy Lee Jones Marvel: "Captain America: The First Avenger"
DC: "Batman Forever"
Idris Elba Marvel: "Thor," "Thor: The Dark World" "Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance"
DC: "The Losers"
JK Simmons Marvel: "Spider-Man" (2002-2007)
DC: "Justice League" (future)
Tao Okamoto Marvel: "The Wolverine"
DC: "Batman v Superman"
Djimon Hounsou Marvel: "Guardians of the Galaxy"
DC: "Constantine"
Laurence Fishburne Marvel: "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer"
DC: "Man of Steel," "Batman v Superman"
James Marsden Marvel: "X-Men" films
DC: "Superman Returns"
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje Marvel: "Thor: The Dark World"
DC: "Suicide Squad"
Natalie Portman Marvel: "Thor," Thor: The Dark World"
DC: "V for Vendetta"
Hugo Weaving
Marvel: "Captain America: The First Avenger"
DC: "V for Vendetta"
Josh Brolin Marvel: Various Marvel Cinematic Universe films
DC: "Jonah Hex"
Michael Fassbender Marvel: "X-Men" prequels
DC: "Jonah Hex"
Michael Clarke Duncan Marvel: "Daredevil"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Halle Berry Marvel: "X-Men" trilogy
DC: "Catwoman"
Tim Robbins Marvel: "Howard the Duck"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Zoe Saldana Marvel: "Guardians of the Galaxy," "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2"
DC: "The Losers"
Chin Han Marvel: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
DC: "The Dark Knight"
Callan Mulvey Marvel: "Captain America: The Winter Soldier"
DC: "Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice"
David Dustmalchian Marvel: "Ant-Man"
DC: "The Dark Knight Rises"
Parker Posey Marvel: "Blade: Trinity"
DC: "Superman Returns"
Terence Stamp Marvel: "Elektra"
DC: "Superman" (1978), "Superman II" (1980)
Angela Bassett Marvel: "Black Panther"
DC: "Green Lantern"
Jon Favreau Marvel: "Spider-Man: Homecoming," "Iron Man," "Iron Man 2," "Iron Man 3"
DC: "Batman Forever"
Michael Keaton Marvel: "Spider-Man: Homecoming"
DC: "Batman" (1989)
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Despite the seemingly eternal rivalry between the two largest comic book brands, some big actors have been in films from both sides
The animosity between Marvel and DC goes back decades in the comics world, but it's still burgeoning in Hollywood. It turns out a bunch of actors have switched sides in that corporate war over the years -- and some are making that move even now.
