Ben Affleck is in talks to star in Amazon Studios' upcoming The Tender Bar adaptation directed by George Clooney. The film is based on the memoir by J.R. Moehringer of the same name, which chronicles Moehringer’s childhood in Long Island and his search for a father figure among the customers at his Uncle Charlie's pub. Clooney is both directing and producing the film, but the release date has yet to be announced.
The film’s script was penned by William Monahan, who won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Departed in 2007. Clooney will produce the film with his Smokehouse Pictures partner Grant Heslov and former Amazon executive Ted Hope. The film was originally developed by Sony with Theodore Melfi, the director of Hidden Figures, set to direct. But when Melfi left the project, Sony put it in turnaround and Amazon acquired it soon after.
According to Deadline, Ben Affleck is in negotiations to star in Amazon Studios' film adaptation of The Tender Bar. Clooney and Affleck previously worked together, winning Oscars for Argo (Clooney was a producer on the Best Picture winner). Once Clooney signed onto the project, Affleck was reportedly high on his list to star in the coming-of-age memoir. It’s unknown whether Clooney will also star in the film.
However, it’s certainly possible considering his previous films. Clooney directed and starred in The Ides of March, Monuments Men, and most recently The Midnight Sky, which hits select theaters on December 11 and will be available on Netflix December 23. But even if Clooney plays an on screen role in the film, Affleck is presumably in talks to portray the adult version of Moehringer. Affleck has been very busy lately, starring in The Way Back earlier this year - which critics have called one of his best performances - and recently wrapping Deep Water and The Last Duel. He's also currently starring in Robert Rodriguez's action thriller Hypnotic and is slated to direct The Big Goodbye, a behind-the-scenes look at the making of Chinatown.
Another collaboration of A-listers Affleck and Clooney is sure to attract the attention of critics. With Monahan’s script and its dramatic true-story premise, The Tender Bar has Academy Awards written all over it. It will likely provide Affleck an opportunity to snag his first acting Oscar, and also put Clooney in the running for the Best Director Oscar. Affleck's casting will put the film on award show radars and could ultimately bring prestige to Amazon Studios, which hasn’t had a film nominated for Best Picture since Manchester by the Sea.
Source: Deadline