Affleck, Bailey Team up for "Blade"

The filmmakers of “Gone Baby Gone” are teaming up again for another gritty crime novel on the big screen.

Miramax has acquired the rights to Marcus Sakey’s debut novel “The Blade Itself,” and the movie will be produced by Ben Affleck and Sean Bailey, reports The Hollywood Reporter.

Affleck and Bailey co-produced “Gone Baby Gone” with Alan Ladd Jr. and Danton Rissner, while Aaron Stockard, a former assistant to Matt Damon, co-wrote the script with Affleck. Stockard is on board to pen the screenplay for “Blade,” as well.

The story revolves around two Chicago friends who tore up the neighborhood as kids, committing petty crimes before choosing different paths in life. Reunited years later, one must decide how far he’ll go to protect the secrets of his past. Esquire magazine named the novel one of the five best of 2007.

Keri Putnam, Miramax president of production said, “We had a great experience working with Sean, Ben and Aaron and look forward to continuing our relationship with this new one.”

Though the subject matter was intense, “Gone Baby Gone” was one of my favorite movies of last year. I hope they can bring the same intensity and knock-out performances to this movie.

Photo: Gone Baby Gone, Miramax Films, 2007