Ben Affleck has signed on to direct and pen the script for an adaptation of the Sam Wasson novel “The Big Goodbye” at Paramount Pictures. The project marks his first directing effort since 2016’s “Live by Night”.
The novel tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of Roman Polanski’s 1974 film noir classic “Chinatown” which starred Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway and boasted an Oscar-winning script by Robert Towne.
The film had a fascinating gestation. Iconic producer Robert Evans ran Paramount’s production at the time, turning it from the ninth largest studio into a giant with a string of deals that generated major critically acclaimed hits including “Rosemary’s Baby,” “The Conversation,” the first two”The Godfather” films, “Harold and Maude,” “Love Story,” “Serpico,” “The Italian Job,” “The Great Gatsby,” “True Grit” and “The Odd Couple”.
“Chinatown” was a key part of that success and ‘Goodbye’ also deals with the themes of how the 1970s filmmaker-friendly studios gave way to corporate Hollywood we know today. The 2002 doco “The Kid Stays in the Picture,” based on Evans book, covers some of the events of this as told from Evans’ perspective.
Affleck, who will also produce alongside Lorne Michaels, is coming off some of the best reviews of his acting career for the drama “The Way Back”. It’s unknown if he’ll star in the project in a role but there will be plenty of iconic parts to play with characters including Evans, Polanski, Towne, Nicholson and Anjelica Huston.
Source: Deadline
