Judge to Extract Affleck

Time to get back in front of the camera, Ben.

Variety notes that Ben Affleck is in talks to has join the cast of Mike Judge’s next movie, Extract. Yes, I know, the title on this post made it all sound much shadier and potentially a little disgusting. Sorry to disappoint.

Anyway, Extract stars Jason Bateman as a guy with all kinds of issues–he runs a flower extract company which is having problems, he’s on a run of bad luck and his wife is having an affair with a gigolo (does one technically have an affair with a gigolo? Isn’t it more like a business relationship?). Affleck would play Bateman’s best friend. Clifton Collins, Jr., Mila Kunis and Kristen Wiig are also in the cast.

Affleck’s resurfacing on the screen after a few years of scorn followed by redemption for his turn as director of last year’s Gone Baby Gone. He’s in the upcoming State of Play and He’s Just Not That Into You; catching on with a Mike Judge movie would seem to be a good move, as Judge will always hold a warm place in many hearts thanks to Office Space. Affleck’s always been a good enough actor and screen presence–he was the best thing in Hollywoodland–his problem has just been in choice of material. He’s miscast as an action hero in big blow ‘em up pix like Armageddon. Let’s see if he can straighten his career out. But if not onscreen, hey, that directing thing seems to have some promise.