Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and…Whitey Bulger?

Whitey Bulger, Most Wanted
Whitey Bulger, Most Wanted
Last June, while we were all fascinated by the capture of Whitey Bulger, the 81 year old Boston gangster who was finally caught after leading the Most Wanted list for more than a decade, Criminal Element posted an excerpt from Howie Carr’s true crime book, Hitman, the story of Johnny Martorano, whose “partnership with Whitey Bulger and the infamous Winter Hill Gang led to twenty murders.” Then Howie Carr himself explained how perfectly the George V. Higgins novels, starting with The Friends of Eddie Coyle, parallel and predict the life and crimes of Whitey Bulger.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon
And now according to Deadline, two of Boston’s most famous Hollywood stars are bringing Whitey Bulger to the big screen. Ben Affleck will direct, co-star and produce with Matt Damon, who’ll portray Bulger. (It’s easier to imagine when you see Bulger as a young man.) Casey Affleck will also have a role in the film.

And I’m betting that Damon and the Afflecks will use their Boston roots to thrill us all with an intimate hometown spin on Whitey Bulger’s story.

Photo via ETOnline.com.


According to Terrie, writing short mystery fiction is nearly as much fun as hanging out with any or all of her seven grandchildren. She is editor of the recently released anthology, Murder New York Style: Fresh Slices and blogs at Women of Mystery.