Ben Affleck Explains Recasting Ex-Wife Jennifer Garner in New Film
The director and actor shared that the decision was made to avoid complicating the film with their shared public history.
Ben Affleck has revealed the reasons behind recasting his ex-wife Jennifer Garner from a role in his upcoming crime thriller, "Animals," ultimately casting Kerry Washington instead. Affleck, who is directing himself in the film set for release on October 9, initially considered Garner for the part of his character's wife.
Affleck, 54, shares three children with Garner: Violet, 20, Fin, 17, and Samuel, 14. He told Entertainment Weekly that Garner would have been a great choice for the role, not only for her talent but also for practical reasons. "It also has the added benefit of, like, both of us will see our kids more because we do a week and a week and back and forth," Affleck explained. He also believed the role would offer Garner a chance to explore something new in her career.
The production faced significant shifts, beginning when Affleck learned about Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's competing film project. This led Affleck to reconsider his own film's production timeline. "I didn’t want people to think I was doing a ‘competing version,’ joking, ‘I’ve already been in one of the two asteroid movies,’" he said, referencing his role in "Armageddon."
After a delay, Affleck decided to proceed with the film and even take on the lead role of Mark himself. However, this presented a new challenge: acting out a troubled marriage onscreen with his ex-wife. "I talked to Jen, and she was like, ‘We don’t wanna do that. You just get baggage,’" Affleck shared. He acknowledged their amicable co-parenting relationship and mutual respect, stating, "I would love to work with her, frankly. She’s fabulous, and we’re really good friends, and I’m profoundly grateful to her, and we have a great thing."
However, Affleck concluded that using their shared history as audience baggage could detract from the film. "What you don’t wanna do is take the audience’s baggage and have it work against you, you know?" he stated.
Washington now portrays Mark's wife in "Animals," a movie where a mayoral candidate and his wife take extreme measures to pay their son's ransom, uncovering hidden secrets. The film also experienced a casting change for the lead role, as Affleck's producing and acting partner, Matt Damon, was initially slated to star but became unavailable due to other commitments.
Affleck and Garner first met in 2004 and their relationship evolved on the set of "Daredevil." They married in 2005 and were a prominent Hollywood couple until their separation in 2015, finalizing their divorce in 2018. Despite their divorce, they have maintained a close relationship as co-parents, often attending family events together.