Kristen Stewart Gets Into 'Focus' With Ben Affleck

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by Kevin Jagernauth
November 2, 2012 11:08 PM
36 Comments

With Kristen Stewart seemingly back with Robert Pattinson and the so-called scandal from this summer behind her, the actress is getting ready to get back in the game. She's on the press trail for "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn -- Part 2," and her junket tour will likely continue for "On the Road" next month. And with Volturi now in the rearview, she's looking at her post-Bella career, and this is a pretty good choice.

Stewart is in talks to join Ben Affleck in "Focus." Originally set up as a vehicle for Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the Warner Bros. movie tells the story of a veteran con-man (Affleck) who becomes romantically involved with a newcomer (Stewart) and finds the relationship challenged by their illegal activities. When they meet again down the line, the complications have long-lasting effects. "Crazy, Stupid, Love." team Glenn Ficarra and John Requa wrote the script and will direct, and the studio is said to want to get this going soon. But we'd reckon it'll have to wait until after the awards season, or perhaps manuever between the press commitments for both Affleck and Stewart.

It's not exactly a pairing we would have expected, but we kind of dig it. Stewart has shown she's got actual chops beyond the 'Twilight' series, and the concept and character sound like a fresh direction for the actress. As for Affleck, it's likely something a bit more fun to do after the more serious "Argo," and he certainly won't be saddled with the responsibilities that come with directing. So we'll been curious to see how these two bounce off each other and how the material shakes out. [Deadline]

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36 Comments

| Reply
sanders | November 4, 2012 9:08 AMReply

She is a great trampire, I love her and remember when i was in her minicooper, it was so.........
Carlos Aona | November 3, 2012 2:38 PMReply

My Gawd....................Kristen takes my breath away !!
Sam | November 3, 2012 11:21 AMReply

In this photo, she looks very sensuous (not sexy) with a touch of wickedness. She is not voluptuous or conventionally beautiful but she has her brand of sensuality without trying. I don't quite see Stewart and Affleck since he comes across as funny even if being serious like any second he will burst laughing. Maybe Stewart and Gosling. I would also pair Stewart with Ed Norton, and some day in another movie Stewart and James Franco.
sue | December 5, 2012 11:11 AM

@sam.... I agree, the photo is something else. The photographer caught KS in a real moment,
it is a sensuous, lovely photo.
Kristen is awesome | November 3, 2012 11:06 AMReply

The Cake Eaters, The Runaways, Welcome to the Rileys (Best Actress nomination Milan Film Festival), Adventureland, Yellow Handkerchief & Into the Wild to name a few. If you have not seen her performances in these films, then you really need to STFU. Bruce Dern, Jodie Foster, Sean Penn and more actors and directors I can name really think Kristen can act. Only jerkoff Twilight haters or Robsessed Pattinson lovers think she can't act.

But you know what? I'll take the word of these Hollywood heavyhitters than any of you insane people commenting on this board.
Ha | November 4, 2012 8:25 AM

Oh and you're not a big twilight fan clearly?? Actually I have seen all those films and thought all her performances were pretty much the same (so no real differentiation between characters either): forced, stilted and uncomfortable to watch (not in a good way). Always aware that in watching an actress and never truly believing she is the character.
M4 | November 3, 2012 10:07 AMReply

@Jess: LOL!...Kristen Stewart is getting Oscar buzz??!!...for what? (LOL!)...Stewart is getting, at best, decent reviews (and is that really saying much?) and that does not translate into OSCAR BUZZ. I mean, c'mon, that's baloney that Stewart's PR team is throwing out there hoping it will gain some/any traction. Stewart has family in the business, and so, mom and dad/ PR team, put a few phone calls to whomever would listen. Right now, the ONLY 20-25 year old actress that is receiving legitimate Oscar buzz is Jennifer Lawrence (I have no idea if Lawrence will win, but, it would be Lawrence's second nomination in two years). I don't think that fact is lost on Stewart's PR team. As far as this film is concerned...well, who knows but, really, Affleck should stick to directing (and continue to keep that great circle of people he has around him these days). It looks as though Stewart wants to do different kinds of films and that's admirable...but the fact remains that she's not a strong actress...she's incredibly bland. Perhaps a decent director could pull a halfway decent performance. Who knows.
Really folks, come on Afleck don't be an idiot | November 3, 2012 10:00 AMReply

Afleck this gal doesn't have the acting chops to pull off good sensuality!! Don't do it!!
llila | November 3, 2012 9:54 AMReply

OMG jennifer garner, I am sorry for her!!!
Truj | November 3, 2012 7:52 AMReply

Gosling and Stone dropped out. It will blow. Unless Affleck is directing and has a hand in the screenplay his vehicles suck. Simple equation for Affleck movies: Affleck Director +Affleck Screenplay = Good Affleck performance but Anyone else Director + Anyone else Screenplay = Bad Affleck performance.
Cya | November 3, 2012 7:47 AMReply

Huh? how do you go from Gosling and Stone to Affleck and Stewart. Bizarre. And the age gap is disgusting.Apart from a select few you really are screwed if you are an actress over 25 in Hollywood these days. Soon as you hit 26 might as well just start auditioning for those Mom roles.
Marie | November 3, 2012 3:35 AMReply

Affleck is a great director but a mediocre actor and Stewart is just terrible, is a perfect match i think. Jen Garner is not worried?
vidaia | November 3, 2012 2:15 AMReply

Well I hope Kristen get's the role. She is really great and beautiful as Marylou in On the Road
Ryan | November 3, 2012 12:33 AMReply

I would rather Stewart get it over Stone. Stone does best at comedies and Stewart does dramas best. This seems to fit well with some of her past films.
Jess | November 3, 2012 12:30 AMReply

Hopefully this is true and we get a confirmation soon. Kristen has so many good films under her belt: Welcome to the Rileys, The Runaways, Into the Wild, The Cake Eaters, The Yellow Handkerchief, On the Road, etc... Twilight definitely wasn't her best film but it's not like she had much to work with. It would have made anyone look bad. Now that the series is over she can do better films.
uttib | November 3, 2012 11:49 AM

absolutely true
Wing | November 3, 2012 12:14 AMReply

Would have liked to see Emma Stone or Jennifer Lawrence instead but oh well. However, watch out for another scandal since Ben is also another older married man with children
Wing | November 3, 2012 12:14 AMReply

Would have liked to see Emma Stone or Jennifer Lawrence instead but oh well. However, watch out for another scandal since Ben is also another older married man with children
Su | December 5, 2012 11:06 AM

@wing....ridiculous comment, double standard prejudice. I am sure Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are not worried about a scandal. Get used to it, Kristen Stewart is not going away, she will be around making movies for a long time.
Jason | November 3, 2012 12:34 AM

Ugh. I don't see people making these types of comments every time Jude Law, Brad Pitt, and other male actors make films. Hell, Letterman took his mistress on vacation with his pregnant girlfriend and got 1/100th of the vitriol Stewart has received. The double standards are ridiculous. That said, I think the public stoning/scarlet lettering of actors/actresses is just dumb in the first place. People need to learn to separate the actor from the character they play.
James | November 3, 2012 12:09 AMReply

The role was originally written for Emma Stone and now they going with Kirsten Stewart?? Does that even make sense! Emma is vibrant, has great comedic timing, very natural, always awesome, beautiful, outgoing etc... And Stewart is just ... Bland...

I don't see how she can possibly take a role that was meant for Stone... Imagine Stewart in EASY A! Disaster!
Emily | November 3, 2012 12:50 AM

Bad reading comprehension James. The screenplay wasn't written for Emma, she is not a legend. LOL. The director, who worked with Emma in Crazy, Stupid, Love planned to work with her again. Evidently, it is not a case. I think Ben Affleck and Kristen Stewart are the good pair for the plot. I watched Kristen in On The Road at TIFF, she is really good.
James | November 3, 2012 12:09 AMReply

The role was originally written for Emma Stone and now they going with Kirsten Stewart?? Does that even make sense! Emma is vibrant, has great comedic timing, very natural, always awesome, beautiful, outgoing etc... And Stewart is just ... Bland...

I don't see how she can possibly take a role that was meant for Stone... Imagine Stewart in EASY A! Disaster!
Marie | November 3, 2012 3:40 AM

precisely, those people you mentioned, all have talent, Stewart in addition to her questionable behavior has none. it has always surprised me that she managed to get roles, how did she do?
rodie | November 3, 2012 12:02 AMReply

What movie is that photo from?
Emily | November 3, 2012 12:52 AM

It is from a press junket, but I don't remember which movie.
rodie | November 3, 2012 12:02 AMReply

What movie is that photo from?
rodie | November 2, 2012 11:59 PMReply

What movie is that photo from?
rodie | November 2, 2012 11:59 PMReply

What movie is that photo from?
Kadz | November 2, 2012 11:37 PMReply

hopefully this will not lead into another full blown scandal.
oogle monster | November 2, 2012 11:32 PMReply

Well at least this guarantees that Affleck will not be outshone in the acting department. Would rather see him behind the camera because he's proven to have a terrific director's eye but if the man needs a paycheck between directing gigs, so be it. As for Stewart... I am yet to see these "chops" so very few people speak of. She has been pretty mediocre in the acting department thus far (that's including Adventureland and On the Road, so shut it Twihards).
Oogle monster | November 3, 2012 12:05 PM

LOL- Jess, let's not play this game. Your beloved K Stew isn't a terrible actress, but as I mentioned in my comment, she's mediocre. I have seen On The Road, and while I don't think she sucks the life out of the film, that's more due to the fact that she has very little screen time + Garrett Hedlund is a revelation in terms of bringing his character to life and really hitting every note. And just because OTR went to Cannes, Tiff, and is screening for the SAG Awards has NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING to do with Stewart's performance or really the film. Not saying the film itself is bad (because it definitely isn't), but if you really want to use such a lazy argument- I can throw in The Paperboy and say it screened at Cannes and is screening for the SAG... does that solidify its quality? I think not.
Angela | November 3, 2012 3:41 AM

Bullcrap!! The only oscar buzz Kristen Stewart is getting if from her own PR team. That girl is terrible, and I was hoping she would disappear quickly after Twilight was over.
Jess | November 3, 2012 12:23 AM

Really? That's weird because OTR only went to Cannes, TIFF, and is screening for the SAG Awards... Not to mention that she is already getting Oscar & Golden Globe talk for her role. So no, it's not just twihards who say she is great.
Dan | November 2, 2012 11:27 PMReply

Sounds very interesting .
paul | November 2, 2012 11:12 PMReply

gosling and stone would have been better. to me affleck is a better director then actor, and no comment on stewart.