Netlflix’s film Triple Frontier has been hit with yet another setback as Deadline reports that Ben Affleck has dropped out of the film to focus on his “wellness and family”. He and his brother Casey Affleck were being courted for the film’s two lead roles back in May.
The film has been struggling with development for several years. It was originally going to be director Kathryn Bigelow’s follow-up film after her Oscar winning The Hurt Locker, but will now be directed by A Most Violent Year‘s J.C. Chandor from a script by Mark Boal. Additionally, Tom Hardy and Channing Tatum were cast in the film, but they, along with the film’s studio Paramount, also dropped out in April before Netflix decided to pick the film up. As of now, Moonlight‘s Mahershala Ali is the only set cast member.
While he has dropped out of Triple Frontier, Ben Affleck will be next seen in Justice League as Batman this November and will reportedly reprise the role in Matt Reeves’ The Batman. Affleck was set to direct that film, but stepped away as director earlier this year to again focus on his family and rehabilitation as well as his performance as the Dark Knight.
Triple Frontier is set in the notorious border zone between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil where the Igazu and Parana rivers converge – making “la triple frontera” difficult to monitor and a haven for organized crime.
Originally published July 19, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
