Affleck to Head North for Starring Role in Action-Thriller ‘Hypnotic’

By JENNIKA INGRAM | Reporter

Palisadian Ben Affleck is heading back to work this October—but not in Los Angeles.

The two-time Oscar-winning actor will head north to star in the upcoming action-thriller “Hypnotic,” set to start production in Vancouver, British Columbia, according to Cinema Blend, after the border between the United States and Canada reopens.

The film originally began pre-production in California, but when the pandemic hit Southern California in March, production plans slated for April 27 were postponed.

The story of “Hypnotic” follows a detective investigating a high-end heist while chasing the mystery of his missing daughter and a top-secret government program.

Affleck, known for many projects such as “Argo,” “Gone Girl” and “Good Will Hunting,” is in the lead role as the detective.

Director Robert Rodriguez (“From Dusk till Dawn,” “Planet Terror”) is from Austin, Texas, but the potential for that filming location disappeared when rates of COVID-19 spiked in Texas.

One of the biggest challenges of putting together a large film production is screening the cast for COVID-19 before coming to work, Mark Gill, Solstice Studios CEO, reported to Postmedia, adding that the city of Vancouver can handle the number of tests needed.

Studio 8 and Solstice Studios are financing the project. Solstice Studios recently released “Unhinged” in limited theaters with strict COVID-19 protocols. The film opened in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

A number of productions have been shooting in Vancouver recently, including Hallmark films, ABC’s “The Good Doctor” and the end of the final season of CW’s “Supernatural.”

Other projects shooting north of the border are Hulu’s “The Midnight Benedict Society” and “Supergirl.”

Affleck is also on board to reprise his role in the Matt Reeves-directed version of “Batman” alongside Michael Keaton. Reeves will also write and produce the picture set for release in 2021.

A potential release day for “Hypnotic,” which was first announced in November 2019, was not available as the Post went to print.