Affleck offers change-up on 'The Trade'; Damon to direct? (MTV)

By Nancy Tartaglione

Oscar winners and BFFs Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are reuniting for "The Trade," the project first announced by Deadline in February that's based on the real life tale of Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich, two 1970s Yankees pitchers who swapped wives. Also in the mix is Casey Affleck, who's worked with both before (in big brother’s directorial debut "Gone Baby Gone" and with Damon in the "Ocean's" movies). MTV reports a few new curveballs, however, including the fact that Damon may make his directorial debut with the picture.

Back in February, it was reported that Ben Affleck would direct from a script by "Curb Your Enthusiasm" exec producer David Mandel.

Ben has now told MTV News that while he, his younger brother and Damon are all still involved in the project, some of the specifics have changed.

To wit: The Affleck brothers are currently collaborating on a rewrite of the script, they're not sure who'll be playing the pitchers, and, intriguingly, Damon might step behind the camera for his directorial debut.

"I don't know how it'll come together, acting and directing, but Casey and I have decided to write it together," Affleck told MTV. "Once the script's kind of ready, then it's like: Who's doing what? What's the time frame? Matt, me, Casey directing? Particularly for Matt, he's had this extraordinary career where he's worked with these great directors. He's a great director who just hasn't directed a movie."

Die-hard Boston Red Sox fan Affleck further told MTV, "I've come to have a little more respect for the Yankees. There are some of those guys, I have to say, that look like good guys...But as an institution? Disdain. Contempt."