Maybe it’s time for everyone to step away from “Triple Frontier” before someone gets hurt, because this project seems cursed. Once set to be directed by Kathryn Bigelow, with all-star list of names circling roles (Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, Will Smith, Javier Bardem and Christian Bale), it could never get off the ground. She left, and in her place, J.C. Chandor (“All Is Lost,” “A Most Violent Year“) signed up. And for a while, things looked promising…until attached stars Channing Tatum and Tom Hardy bounced, right along with Paramount, who couldn’t get the budget to a place they were happy with. However, a few weeks later, Netflix swooped in to save the day, with Ben and Casey Affleck now attached to the lead roles. But once again, the movie has hit a big roadblock.
Ben Affleck has now stepped down from a starring role in the movie, but will stick around to produce. The actor is reportedly taking time to focus “on his wellness and his family,” and while there’s no word on Casey Affleck, Netflix is apparently looking for a whole new cast, so we’ll assume he’s out as well.
The forever developing movie, first penned by Mark Boal (“The Hurt Locker,” “Zero Dark Thirty“) and re-written by Chandor, is set in the notorious, titular border zone between Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil called “la triple frontera,” where the Iguazu and Paraná rivers converge, making it a haven for crime that’s difficult to monitor.
As for Ben Affleck, he’s not out of the spotlight for too long, as he’s expected to fulfill his duties this weekend at San Diego Comic Con where he’ll be promoting “Justice League.” Meanwhile, we’ll see if “Triple Frontier” can ever come together. [Variety/Deadline]