Kristen No Longer Attached to Star in Focus

From Variety:

Kristen Stewart was attached to also star in the pic but when Smith became engaged in the project, Stewart fell off with the feeling that the age difference between the two would be too large a gap

From THR:

Kristen Stewart is no longer set to star in Focus, a Warner Bros. heist project being directed by Crazy, Stupid, Love helmers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa. And as Stewart exits, the project could be landing a male star in Will Smith.

Ben Affleck Talks About Kristen and Focus

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"Basically I'm doing this movie called "Live By Night" and I'm trying to meet this schedule... so that I can have it released at the right time," he explained at the event where he picked up a Special Achievement in Filmmaking award for "Argo." "And basically I haven't gotten enough writing done; it became clear that if I took that job — it was in Buenos Aires for three months — I'd have to miss the deadline. I had to choose between getting the movie out when I wanted to or doing that movie. Reluctantly I chose the latter but I love those guys, I love Kristen. 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."

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Preview of New Kristen Interview with Huffington Post + Kristen Confirms 'Focus'

Kristen Stewart has told HuffPost Entertainment that she will indeed star opposite Ben Affleck in a comedy titled "Focus."

"I can confirm that rumor," she said, referring to Internet reports that began surfacing last month. "It's a comedy. I'm really excited about it. We start shooting in April."

On November 2, Deadline Hollywood reported that Stewart had entered talks to appear in the Warner Bros. production as "an inexperienced con artist who hooks up with the more seasoned Affleck." According to the report, the film will be written and directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa, who previously teamed up on "Crazy, Stupid, Love."

Subsequent reports claimed that the role would call on Stewart, 22, to shoot some "passionate" love scenes with Affleck, 40. Affleck was also quoted saying that he hoped Stewart would take the role because she's "terrific."

Stewart told HuffPost that she does not have any other projects lined up, but "would love to find some micro-project before then, because April is kind of a ways away."

From Deadline (Via):

Twilight Saga star Kristen Stewart confirms that she’ll be joining Ben Affleck in the con-artist comedy Focus. The project starts filming in April, and Stewart plays an inexperienced con artist who hooks up with the more seasoned Affleck. Glenn Ficarra and John Requa are directing Focus from their screenplay. Stewart’s been touring to promote The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part II and costars in the adaptation of Jack Kerouac’s On The Road that opens in limited release December 21st. Stewart is repped by Gersh.

Source | Via

Kristen will Star in 'Focus' with Ben Affleck

From Variety:

After closing in on Ben Affleck, Warner Bros. now looks to have its female lead for the drama "Focus," as Kristen Stewart is in talks to co-star with Affleck in the con artist movie.
"Crazy Stupid Love" helmers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa will direct from a script they wrote. Denise DiNovi will produce the story of a veteran con man who partners with a girl who's new to the grifter life.  Movie Plot: A veteran grifter takes a young, attractive woman under his wing, but things get complicated when they become romantically involved.

Warners has been aiming to get this off the ground for a while with the studio eyeballing Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone to reteam with their "Crazy Stupid Love" helmers. When those plans fell through the studio moved quickly grabbing Affleck as he was deciding his next project following "Argo" and now look to have Stewart in their sights.

With "Snow White and the Huntsman" hitting big at the global box office and "The Twilight Saga" franchise coming to an end this month, Stewart had been taking her time before deciding what she would decide to do next.

UPDATE: THR confirms Kristen will star in the film-

The "Breaking Dawn" star will play a grifter in the Warner Bros. film.

Kristen Stewart is getting into Focus.

The actress is in talks to star opposite Ben Affleck in the Warner Bros. con artist film, The Hollywood Reporter confirms.

Stewart will play a young grifter who teams up with Affleck, an experienced vet.

Focus will be directed by Crazy, Stupid, Love helmers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa from a script that they penned. Denise DiNovi will produce.

Stewart is repped by Gersh.

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