According to the Hollywood Reporter, Ben Affleck, 40, and Kristen Stewart, 23, who were to star in Glenn Ficarra and John Requa’s comedy film Focus have backed out. Affleck was up for the job but decided to leave the project back in December to work on another film Live by Night. He said, “I was really excited to work with her. I think the movie is going to be fabulous. I’m sure they’ll find a great guy for it.” The ‘great guy’ that has already expressed some interest in the role is none other than Will Smith. However, Yahoo Movies reported that the new cast member caused Stewart to drop the project as well. The movie is about a veteran con-man who falls for his rookie con-woman. She felt that the age difference between her and Will, 44, was ‘too drastic’ to be playing his lover. Writers and directors, Ficarra and Requa, who worked with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone in Crazy, Stupid, Love, initially had the pair in mind but due to conflicting schedules, they weren’t able to do the movie. ~E. Guevarra
