As major fans of Ben Affleck and huge fans of Chinatown, this new project sounds absolutely bang up our street.

Via Deadline, Affleck has signed on to writer and direct Paramount Pictures’ The Big Goodbye. That film will be based on Sam Wasson’s novel of the same name, which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of the iconic Chinatown.

At the time of its filming, Chinatown had to deal with the erratic behaviour of star Jack Nicholson and director Roman Polanski, yet the movie had a script in place that’s viewed as one of the greatest in cinema history.

It’s believed that both Paramount and Affleck are treating The Big Goodbye as a priority picture.

At this stage, it’s not been revealed whether Affleck will end up having a role in the film, although he has starred in three of the four movies he’s directed to date.

Expect more on The Big Goodbye as we get it.