Affleck's 'The Town' begins filming in Charlestown

Ben Affleck has been busy in Boston this summer. After shooting The Company Men in May, he has started production for his next starring role in The Town yesterday. This will also be his second directorial effort after 2007's Gone Baby Gone also filmed all over Boston.

The movie is based on the book Prince of Thieves by fellow Massachusetts native Chuck Hogan about a bunch of regular guys from Charlestown who pull off a successful bank robbery in Kenmore Square.

According to Loaded Gun Boston, they were filming at a triple decker home on the corner of Bunker Hill St. and Mead St. yesterday and today. Plans to continue filming in Charlestown for the rest of the week. Blake Lively who plays Ben's ex-girlfriend in the movie was also on set this week. Affleck's The Company Men costar and Kingston resident, Chris Cooper, is currently in negotiations to play his father in the movie. Rapper Slaine, who played gangster "Bubba Rogowski" in Gone Baby Gone will be playing one of the bank robbers. The cast will be rounded out with Mad Men star Jon Hamm who will be playing an FBI agent investigating the robbery.

If you have any tips about The Town please email me at npistorino@bostonmovietours.net