Ben Affleck wants to make a movie about Syria

Actor/director Ben Affleck has his sights set on making a movie about the growing conflict in Syria after winning the Best Picture Oscar for his Iranian hostage drama Argo.

The filmmaker has been the toast of the 2012/13 Hollywood awards season for his work and star turn in the thriller, based on the real-life events amid the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and 1980, but instead of basking in glory, he has already turned his attention to the ongoing fighting between rebel forces and government troops in another Middle Eastern country.

He tells New York Post columnist Cindy Adams, "I studied the Middle East in school. It's my interest. I've never been there, but with what's happening in Syria, I'd love to do a movie about that."

Argo, produced by Affleck alongside George Clooney and Grant Heslov, made history at Sunday's Oscars after becoming the first film to win Best Picture without also picking up a Best Director nod since 1989's Driving Miss Daisy.

Affleck was infamously snubbed in January when the awards shortlist was announced - the Argo star failed to land a directing nomination for his work, even though the project was recognised in seven other categories. It went on to win Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing at Sunday's ceremony.