Affleck Bound For ‘Glory’

By Michael Fleming

NEW YORK (Variety) – Alhough Ben Affleck’s “Good Will Hunting” co-star and co-writer Matt Damon has gotten the lion’s share of attention from that film, Affleck himself is emerging as an up-and-coming leading man.

Affleck is being eyed by Warner Bros. to head the cast in a character-based drama tentatively titled “Glory Days.” The project is one of several that Robert Zemeckis (“Forrest Gump”) is considering for his next directing slot.

The film won’t start production until the fall, which is fine with Affleck, since he’s booked solid until then.

Affleck has small roles in “Shakespeare in Love”, “Dogma” and “200 Cigarettes” and will costar with Sandra Bullock in “Forces of Nature” in June at DreamWorks.

He is expected to get a major career boost this summer, when he stars alongside Bruce Willis in Disney’s big-budgeter “Armageddon”, which opens July 4 weekend.

And now the second…

Damon To Present Oscar

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) – Matt Damon will be a presenter at the 70th Academy Awards. It will be the first Oscar appearance for the actor-screenwriter.

Damon received nominations in the best actor and best screenplay categories for his acting and writing duties in “Good Will Hunting.” He will next appear in the titlerole in Steven Spielberg’s upcoming “Saving Private Ryan”.

The Academy Awards will be broadcast live by ABC on March 23 beginning 6 p.m. (PST)