Ben Affleck to play lead role in ARGO

Earlier we reported that John Goodman was close to starring in Ben Affleck's Argo. Variety is now reporting that Affleck has cast himself in the lead role. He will star as "Tony Mendez, the CIA exfiltration expert who created a fake Hollywood production to get six Americans who were hiding out at the Canadian ambassador's out of Iran." Goodman would play Oscar-winning makeup artist John Chambers. Alan Arkin is in final negotiations to play Hollywood producer Lester Siegel. 

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."

Affleck is no stranger to directing himself. He directed and starred in The Town, which grossed more than $154 million worldwide. He is also set to remake the French thriller Tell No One for Warner Bros., which I could see Affleck play the lead in as well. Affleck will also produce Father Daughter Time for the studio. 

I am very excited to see this film. What are your thoughts about Affleck's casting?