Alan Arkin cast in Ben Affleck's ARGO

Alan Arkin (Little Miss Sunshine) has been cast in Ben Affleck's next directing gig, Argo. The film is based on the Tehran hostage crisis. According to Variety, Arkin is in talks to play Hollywood producer Lester Siegel, "an O.S.S. veteran described as equal parts bookie and rabbi."

George Clooney and Grant Heslov are producing along with David Klawans (Nacho Libre). Chris Terrio penned the screenplay and is also helping produce the film. Argo is based on Joshuah Bearman's Wired Magazine article,“How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran” about "how the CIA and the Canadian government teamed to rescue six U.S. dipomats who'd been taken hostage at the American embassy by a group of Iranians in 1979. The CIA's ruse involved the explanation that the six hostages were actually a Hollywood film crew scouting a movie titled "Argo," and using those fake identities, they were able to flee the country."

Arkin is starring in The Change-Up with Jason Bateman and Ryan Reynolds, and also appears in Disney's The Muppets. I love Arkin and think he would be a great addition to the cast. What are your thoughts on this news?