Ben Affleck poised for busy early 2013 as he rules out Senate run

Ben Affleck poses for a photo during a meeting with members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in the U.S. Capitol on Dec. 19, 2012, in Washington. / Getty

Now that Ben Affleck is taking his name off the list of possible candidates for U.S. Sen. John Kerry's seat, what will his film career look like in 2013?

First of all, Affleck will likely spend the early part of the year at awards shows. His critically-acclaimed 2012 movie "Argo" has received a lot of awards buzz -- already up for best motion picture drama at the upcoming Golden Globe Awards. Affleck is also in the running for best director. Oscar nomination buzz is already building, too. Nominees will be announced on Jan. 13.

• Watch: Ben Affleck for Senate?

Next up for Affleck? He stars in the thriller, "Runner, Runner," alongside Justin Timberlake and Gemma Arterton, expected out in September 2013. He's also in talks to adapt Stephen King's novel, "The Stand," into a film.

Affleck, 40, said in a Monday posting on his Facebook page that while he loves the political process, he will not be running for public office.

Speculation about the Cambridge, Mass., native rose slightly when he did not completely rule out a Senate bid during an appearance on CBS' Face The Nation on Sunday.

In his Facebook posting, Affleck says he would continue working with the Eastern Congo Initiative, a nonprofit organization that helps direct humanitarian aid to the war-torn region, and for other causes.

Affleck says Kerry would make a great secretary of state.