The start of a new franchise? Oy

Courtesy Lee Goldberg:

Variety reports that Ben Affleck will write and direct, but not act in, a feature film adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s book GONE BABY GONE.  The movie, which will be released by Disney, will shoot in Boston this fall and could be the start of a "franchise." The book is one of a series that Lehane, back before MYSTIC RIVER, wrote about a team of private eyes.

Now, Affleck really needs to save his career and getting behind the camera isn’t necessarily a bad bet. He always struck me as a reasonably intelligent man who’s made some incredibly stupid judgment calls. So I’m cautiously optimistic. Emphasis on cautious.