Unfortunately, those of you living in the UK and really looking forward to the much buzzed-about directorial debut of Ben Affleck, Gone, Baby, Gone, will have to wait some time before seeing the film. That's because Buena Vista International UK has suspended the release of the film indefinitely due to similarities between the flick and the real-life case of Madeline McCann, the British girl who's been missing since early May. Though the case is a fairly popular topic here in the States, I gather it's a much bigger deal in Britain -- especially now that the two parents have become official suspects in their daughter's disappearance from a Portuguese apartment.

Based on a book by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River), Gone, Baby, Gone follows two detectives tracking the case of a missing four year-old girl, and how it subsequently affects them both professionally and personally. It stars Casey Affleck, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman, among others. By total coincidence, the name of the actress portraying the missing girl in the film is Madeleine O'Brien, which I'm sure would just add fuel to the fire across the pond. Affleck, who is totally behind the decision to pull the film, had this to say while at the Deauville Film Festival: "We are acutely aware of the situation. We have a greater concern for that than the release of our film, which is just a commercial matter, whereas this is a matter of life and death." Gone, Baby, Gone was also scheduled to have, what Variety calls, a "splashy" Oct. 26 Times London Film Festival gala screening, but it's since been pulled from the lineup. No word on when the film will arrive in the UK; I imagine it will depend on where the McCann case goes from here. Gone, Baby, Gone will arrive in US theaters on October 19.

I'm actually surprised that neither the trailer for Gone, Baby, Gone nor this new poster feature the words "From Academy Award Winner Ben Affleck." It wouldn't have been the first time we've seen or heard that phrase (or part of it, anyway), and for once it would have actually been appropriate since Affleck won his Oscar for screenwriting. Instead you have to look at the credits at the bottom of the poster to notice that Affleck co-wrote the script (with Aaron Stockard) and directed the film, too. Rather than emphasizing Affleck's achievement or involvement, Miramax (who also distributed the film that got him the Oscar) spotlights a different connection. Under the title, the poster tells us that this film is from the same novelist (Dennis Lehane) who wrote Mystic River. But while the trailer does make the film seem like that Clint Eastwood film, the poster reminded me more of The Departed, especially after I noticed the subtle gun that's in the hand of Casey Affleck.

However, this poster, which highlights the Boston skyline, is nothing like the poster for The Departed since it doesn't have a close up or frontal shot of Casey Affleck's face. Perhaps such a head-shot would have less appeal to moviegoers since the younger Affleck is still pretty much unknown. I'm guessing (and hoping), though, that after Gone, Baby, Gone comes out, Casey will become a bigger star. The rest of the film's cast includes Morgan Freeman, Ed Harris and Michelle Monaghan (all three of whom join Affleck's name on the poster marquee), along with Amy Madigan, John Ashton, Amy Ryan, Titus Welliver and Robert Wahlberg (brother of The Departed's Mark; he also appeared in The Departed and Mystic River). The film goes into limited release on October 19.

The most fascinating part of this newly-released trailer for Gone, Baby, Gone is that at no point do they advertise the fact that Ben Affleck directed. Yup, Ben Affleck. And for those of you wondering where the hell Affleck has disappeared to, well, he's been off piecing together what looks to be a gem of a film. Based on a Dennis Lehane (Mystic River) novel, Gone, Baby, Gone tells the story of a little girl who goes missing and the intense (but possibly corrupt) police investigation that follows. Affleck seems right at home with this flick (literally), as it's shot in Boston and stars his kid brother, Casey (in a role that will either make or break his career as a lead actor). I guess you can say I came away with a Good Will Hunting meets The Departed vibe, and if the film excels in one particular area, it's in the acting.

Right off the bat, Ed Harris looks phenomenal (as always) in the role of Detective Remy Broussard. Morgan Freeman also shows up hoping to deliver another solid performance. I love Freeman just as much as the next guy, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that he's beginning to bore me just a bit. Michelle Monaghan stars as the worried girlfriend who's there to cough out lines like, "I think you're getting in a little too over your head." Amy Madigan plays the missing girl's mother in a supporting role that's about as juicy as they come. Also showing up in one way, shape or form are John "Taggart" Ashton and Robert "The Other, Other Brother" Wahlberg. I have to say the film looks pretty damn good, and not what I would expect from Affleck's first directorial effort (he also co-wrote the script along with Aaron Stockard). Let us know what you think; Gone, Baby, Gone hits theaters on October 19.

According to Us Weekly, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are currently in Hawaii working on a new screenplay. If true, this will be the duo's first script written together since they won Oscars for Good Will Hunting almost ten years ago. In the past decade, neither has done much professional writing. Damon was credited as a co-writer on Gus Van Sant's Gerry and Affleck just co-wrote his feature directorial debut, Gone, Baby, Gone. Obviously no details are given on the script, so we have to just imagine what it will be like. Personally, I'm hoping it's a realization of that sequel to Good Will Hunting (Good Will Hunting 2: Hunting Season) that we got a hint of in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. Actually, I'm sort of kidding, but I can't honestly imagine any other idea would be better for the guys. Nothing else will live up to the anticipation and the definite hype that audiences will endure up until it is released. So, why not just do something silly?

A lot of people, including the editors at Premiere, consider Good Will Hunting to be highly overrated. I'm far from being one of them, though I have to admit I would rather have seen Paul Thomas Anderson get the Oscar in 1998 (others may have favored Academy regulars Woody Allen or James L. Brooks that year). Awards aside, though, I like the 'forced premise' and formulaic structure of the film. However, I probably buy the Will Hunting character and his story because Matt Damon's performance makes him so convincing. I don't think the duo will have as much luck with their next script unless Damon again takes a lead role. Anyway, Us has an amusing photo up of Affleck and Damon taking a surfing break while out in Hawaii. Maybe they're actually doing research for their script. Maybe while in California Will Hunting has become an avid surfer. Maybe we will get a Good Will Hunting sequel after all.