Glenn Ficarra and John Requa – best known for their work on romantic comedy the commercially-succesful Crazy, Stupid, Love’ which starred Ryan Gosling and helped launch Emma Stone’s career – are directing the picture, which is backed by Warner Bros.

The 22-year-old actress has entered into negotiations to play the role of a young girl who teams up with an experience con-man to teach her the ways of the crime world, before their seeing their lives put in danger after becoming romantically involved.

If negotiations are completed, Stewart and Affleck will begin shooting in early 2013.

Stewart will next be seen in the final instalment of the Twilight franchise The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2, while Ben has Runner, Runner and To The Wonder due out in the near future. Argo, which he directed and starred in, is in cinemas from next.