Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Adapt Comic Book 'Sleeper'

The Holden Carver story will be produced for Warner Bros. with its script written by Shawn Ryan and David Wiener.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are teaming up to produce a big-screen adaptation of "Sleeper", a comic book series written by Ed Brubaker with illustration by Sean Phillips. The two actors will produce the project along with Jennifer Todd through their Pearl Street Films.

Running from 2003 to 2005, the book follows covert agent Holden Carver, who can absorb pain and pass it on to others, as he goes undercover in a criminal organization. His loyalty to his law enforcement agency comes into question after he falls in love with the alluring assassin, Miss Misery.

Shawn Ryan, the creator of FX's cop drama "The Shield", is attached to write the screenplay along with playwright David Wiener whose credits include AMC's gritty crime show "The Killing". No director and actors have been tapped for the Warner Bros. project.

The film has long been stalled. Back in 2008, WB developed it with Sam Raimi and Josh Donen as producers. It was originally rumored being planned as a starring vehicle for Tom Cruise.