For anyone who has been paying attention, Matt Damon has made no secret of his desire to step behind the camera and direct like his pal Ben Affleck, and it looks like the gears are in motion for just that to happen. Last month it was revealed that Warner Bros. picked up the spec script “Father Daughter Time: A Tale of Armed Robbery and Eskimo Kisses” as a possible starring and directing vehicle and Damon reveals he’s found his first actor for the movie.
The always inquisitive Vulture caught up with Damon at the American Institute for Stuttering 5th Annual Benefit Gala, who told them simply, “John Krasinski‘s in it.” Wondering if he was joking around because Jim Halpert and his wife Emily Blunt (who co-starred in “The Adjustment Bureau“) were also attending the festivities, Damon stresed “I’m being dead serious!”
“I’ve got a few things that I really want to direct, and one I’m actually going to start at the first quarter of next year,” Damon said. And while he didn’t name the movie specifically — and unless he’s got something else cooking under the radar — it’s looking likely that it will be “Father Daughter Time” (the wife-swapping baseball movie “The Trade” which he was said to be eyeing is having some legal issues). Written by Matthew Aldrich (”Cleaner”) the exciting premise—as the title suggests—centers “on a man who goes on the lam with his daughter, his accomplice on a three-state crime spree.” No word yet on if Damon will star, if he’ll just be directing or what role Krasinski will take.
Damon has a pretty busy year ahead. He gears up for Neill Blomkamp‘s “Elysium” this summer, and if Michael Douglas‘ recent comments are correct, “Liberace” could shoot as early as this fall. Presumably, “Father Daughter Time” would shoot once Krasinksi wraps the next season of “The Office” is March/April next year. Either way, it’s a nice casting choice especially for a good actor whose feature film offerings — “License To Wed,” “Something Borrrowed,” “It’s Complicated,” “Leatherheads” (directed by Damon pal George Clooney) — haven’t panned out quite so well.