The film is directed by “The Bourne Identity” director Doug Liman.
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck will star in “The Instigators,” a new film for Apple Studios, the company announced Thursday.
“The Instigators” sees Damon and Affleck play thieves who must go on the run with one of their therapists following a failed heist. Doug Liman, who directed Damon in the “Bourne Identity” film series, is attached to helm the film, based on a script by Chuck MacLean, best known for creating the Showtime series “City on a Hill.” Affleck developed the current project with Jeff Robinov and John Graham.
In addition to starring, Damon will produce the film with Ben Affleck for Artists Equity. Kevin Walsh, who also produced “Manchester By the Sea” with Affleck, is producing for The Walsh Company (“House of Gucci”) as part of his multi-year production deal with Apple TV+. Robinov and Graham produce for Studio 8.
The film reunites the two stars and Boston natives, who are longtime friends and have appeared in and produced several films together, often with Casey’s brother Ben Affleck. Damon also produced Affleck’s 2016 film “Manchester By the Sea,” which won him the Best Actor Oscar. Additionally, both actors are set to play supporting roles in Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated “Oppenheimer” next year: Damon will play Leslie Groves, head of the Manhattan Project, while Affleck’s role is currently under wraps.
Aside from “Oppenheimer,” Damon is currently attached to star in an untitled biopic about the life of former Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro, with Ben Affleck co-starring and directing. Casey Affleck is set to star in “Slingshot,” a sci-fi thriller from director Mikael Håfström, with Laurence Fishburne, Emily Beecham, Tomer Kapon and David Morrissey all co-starring.
In addition to “The Instigators,” other Apple original films in development and set to be released include Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. Additionally, “Napoleon,” a Walsh-produced film starring Joaquin Phoenix and directed by Ridley Scott, is also slated for release next year.
WME and Ziffren Brittenham LLP represent Damon and Affleck. Walsh is represented by Gregory Slewett at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole.
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