It’s all change on the Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love) movie Focus, as while Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart had been due to star, they’ve now both left movie. They have found a replacement for Affleck though, with Variety reporting that Will Smith is in final talks to make the main role.

It’s Will Smith’s involvement that’s caused Kristen Stewart to leave, not because she doesn’t like Will, but due to the fact it was felt there was too big of an age gap between her and Will Smith (she’s 23, he’s 44).

The story follows a veteran con man (Will Smith) who takes an inexperienced grifter under his wing, before falling for her. Years later, they reunite and begin to complicate each others lives. Will Smith had reportedly been interested in the project for awhile, but only recently committed fully to the project.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa are directing from their own original screenplay. There’s no news on when it might shoot.

John McAffee made his name founding the anti-virus software firm that made his name, but more recently he’s been making headlines for being a fugitive, hiding out in Belize and being suspected of the murder of his neighbour.

It’s little surprise this has attracted the attention of Hollywood, with Variety reporting that Warner Bros has hired Crazy, Stupid, Love. duo Glenn Ficarra and John Requa to direct a movie about the man. The duo have some experience telling the story of larger than life characters thanks to I Love You Phillip Morris.

The movie will be based on Joshua Davis’ Wired article, John McAffee’s Last Stand, which is well worth reading. McAffee developed the first commercial anti-virus programme, but cashed out of the company in 1994 and hasn’t had anything to do with it since then.

More recently he’s been living in Belize, and went on the run after he was suspected of the murder of American expatriate and neighbour Gregory Viant Faull. McAffee claimed he was investigating it himself and had become a fugitive because he was certain he was going to be framed by the Belize authorities. However he may not be the most reliable of people, as he’d previously been arrested on suspicion of unlicensed drug manufacturing (methamphetamine) and possession of an unlicensed weapon.

McAffee then tried to seek political asylum in Guatemala, but they denied his application. He then reportedly faked a heart attack to stop him being deported back to Belize, giving his lawyer time to ensure he was sent to the US instead.

Although there’s no info on what sort of film is planned, with Requa and Ficarra at the helm, expect it to be darkly comic. It’s certainly one hell of a story.

Hollywood’s love of pairing young women with significantly older men continues with the news 22-year-old Kristen Stewart is in talks to portray the female lead in Focus, where she’d star opposite 40-year-old Ben Affleck.

The movie is about a veteran con man (Affleck) who teaches a grifter (Stewart) the tricks of his trade. Complications arise when they get romantically involved, before going their separate ways. They meet once again years later, when their past romance comes back to haunt them.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love) are directing from their own screenplay. The initial plan was to reteam Crazy Stupid Love co-stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone for the movie, but due to the fact they’re both ridiculously busy, no deals were ever made. (Source: Variety)

Ben Affleck may have been concentrating on his directing career recently, but he’s still up for starring on other people’s movie, as Deadline reports he is in early talks to star in the Warner Bros. drama Focus from the writer/director team Glenn Ficarra and John Requa (Crazy Stupid Love).

Back in April Crazy Stupid Love stars Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone were eyeing the project. However, they are no longer involved in the project, with the studio now focusing on finding a female lead to star alongside Affleck.

The moive is about a con man who becomes romantically involved with his new grifter protege before they part ways. They meet once again years later and once more begin to complicate each other’s lives.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa are directing from their own original screenplay, with Denise Di Novi producing. It is said that Warner Bros. wants to find a female lead quickly so they can get this into production as soon as possible.

Ryan Gosling & Emma Stone in Crazy Stupid Love

I wondered when watching Crazy Stupid Love whether during the editing of the movie, it had become more about Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone than it had been in the original script, in order to make the most of their chemistry. Now it seems the film’s directors, Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, want to continue that chemistry, as they’re trying to get the duo to team up again for their new film, Focus.

Deadline reports that Warner Bros. picked up the directors’ script, which is about a con artist who teaches a new grifter the tricks of the trade, before they become romantically involved. Their paths then cross again in the future, which complicates both their lives.

No offers have been issued to either actor yet, but the hope is they will indeed agree to make the film and they have shown interest.