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Ben Affleck has been cast in “Hypnotic,” an action thriller written and directed by Robert Rodriguez.

Affleck will play a detective who becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program, while investigating a string of impossible high-end heists.

Solstice Studios and Studio 8 unveiled a strategic partnership for the film prior to this year’s American Film Market and plan to sign off on the co-production at this week’s AFM. The two companies will produce the movie, with Solstice spearheading U.S. distribution and international sales, while Studio 8 retains the option to co-finance.

Sources tell Variety that Rodriguez and the producers are trying to change production dates to accommodate Affleck’s busy schedule, with plans to start filming in April.

The Oscar winner has a hectic six months ahead. His New Regency thriller “Deep Water,” co-starring Ana de Armas, goes into production this month, followed by the Ridley Scott period drama “The Last Duel,” which is expected to start production at the beginning of 2020. That film also stars Matt Damon and Adam Driver.

Affleck recently wrapped the Netflix movie “The Last Thing He Wanted,” opposite Anne Hathaway, and also has the basketball drama “The Way Back.” He is repped by WME.

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One of Austin’s hometown filmmakers is bringing his next movie to SXSW.

Director Robert Rodriguez will screen a work-in-progress cut of his crime thriller “Hypnotic,” starring Ben Affleck, for fans at the SXSW Film Festival in the Texas capital on March 12.

In the film, written by Rodriguez and Max Borenstein (“Godzilla vs. Kong,” HBO’s “Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty”), Affleck plays a detective who is investigating a series of inexplicable crimes while searching for his missing daughter, whose disappearance is somehow involved with a secret government program.

The film co-stars Alice Braga, JD Pardo, Hala Finley, Dayo Okeniyi, Jeff Fahey, Jackie Earle Haley and William Fichtner. Along with Rodriguez, Mark Gill, Guy Botham, Lisa Ellzey, Jeff Robinov, John Graham, and Rodriguez’s son Racer Max are serving as producers. Ketchup Entertainment is serving as the U.S. distributor.

Affleck is set to have a busy 2023. He’s starring in his next directorial effort, the Nike biopic “Air,” with Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman, Chris Tucker and Chris Messina, which opens in April; and he’s set to reprise his performance as Bruce Wayne (aka Batman) in “The Flash” in June and “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” in December.

Rodriguez has a long history with SXSW. His production company, Troublemaker Studios, is based in Austin, and in 2019, he premiered his film “Red 11” at the film festival. He’s also set to premiere the next “Spy Kids” movie, “Spy Kids: Armageddon” with Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi, on Netflix.

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