Argo, Ben Affleck’s third time directing a feature film, is by far one of the films I’m most looking forward to in 2012. By far. Both of his last films, Gone Baby Gone and The Town, were Oscar-nominated, and both were brilliant. The Town, especially, took the box office a little by storm last year when it went straight to #1 across theAtlantic, in what was one of the best films of 2010.

After directing his brother Casey Affleck in Gone Baby Gone and leading The Town himself, Affleck is once more stepping both behind and in front of the camera in Argo, assembling a fantastic supporting cast that includes Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Kyle Chandler, Alan Arkin, Scoot McNairy, Michael Parks, Taylor Schilling, Clea DuVall, and Tate Donovan.

Warner Bros. have now put out the brilliant first official image from the film, via ComingSoon.net, in which we can see Ben Affleck perfectly looking the part with his suit and his beard, holding a document that bears the face of Scoot McNairy on its front page (which you might recognise if you saw Gareth Edwards’ amazing Monsters last year), playing the character of Joe Stafford.

The film has been written by Chris Terrio, adapted from an article in Wired magazine printed back in April 2007 entitled, How the CIA Used a Fake Sci-Fi Flick to Rescue Americans from Tehran. If you have a few minutes spare, you can read it here; it’s definitely a very interesting read.

The official synopsis looks a little like this:

“Based on true events, “Argo” chronicles the life-or-death covert operation to rescue six Americans, which unfolded behind the scenes of the Iran hostage crisis–the truth of which was unknown by the public for decades. On November 4, 1979, as the Iranian revolution reaches its boiling point, militants storm the U.S. embassy in Tehran, taking 52 Americans hostage. But, in the midst of the chaos, six Americans manage to slip away and find refuge in the home of the Canadian ambassador. Knowing it is only a matter of time before the six are found out and likely killed, a CIA “exfiltration” specialist named Tony Mendez (Affleck) comes up with a risky plan to get them safely out of the country. A plan so incredible, it could only happen in the movies.”

Both Affleck’s directing and acting career to date has been brilliant, and 2012 looks to be another brilliant year for him. We should first be seeing him in the as-yet-untitled Terrence Malick project, opposite Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Javier Bardem, Jessica Chastain, and Michael Sheen, before Argo is released here in the UKon 5th October. I literally cannot wait; every sign points to it being amazing, and this first look is already getting me even more excited than I already was. Here’s to hoping that it will be taking Affleck to the Oscars once more come spring 2013. As usual with this great first image, click to enlarge. Ben Affleck can really do no wrong.