Jennifer Garner politely declined ex-husband Ben Affleck’s provide to painting his love curiosity in his new film, “Animals.”
“Jen was like, ‘Nice, however no, I’m not gonna play your spouse in a film,’” Affleck, 54, shared whereas showing as a visitor on “Jimmy Kimmel Dwell!” Thursday evening.
“[It’s] most likely for one of the best. That lesson has been realized,” he joked, as Kimmel, 58, and the viewers laughed.
Affleck and Garner — who met on the set of 2001’s “Pearl Harbor” — famously performed love pursuits within the 2003 Marvel movie “Daredevil.” He portrayed the titular character, whereas she performed Elektra Natchios.
Affleck defined on the late-night present that Garner and his greatest pal, Matt Damon, had been each set to star in “Animals,” however these plans fell aside when the movie’s idea was modified.
“Mainly, we came upon there was one other film with an identical plot mechanic that was additionally being made,” he stated. “I felt like, ‘Oh, I’ve carried out the 2 asteroid films factor. Let’s overlook it. I don’t wanna try this.’”
Affleck stated that Damon, 55, dropped out of the undertaking to do “The Odyssey,” which led to Affleck casting himself because the lead and Kerry Washington as his love curiosity.
Talking to Leisure Weekly on Monday, Affleck defined that he needed Garner in his film as a result of he thought she’d “be wonderful” within the position and it could make co-parenting their three youngsters simpler.
“It additionally has the additional advantage of, like, each of us will see our youngsters extra as a result of we do per week and per week and forwards and backwards. I assumed, ‘Effectively, we will coordinate our schedules round it,’” he stated.
Nevertheless, Affleck stated that he and Garner agreed she ought to be recast as a result of their on-screen reunion would include a number of “baggage.”
Nonetheless, Affleck insisted he’d like to work together with his ex-wife on a future undertaking.
“She’s fabulous, and we’re actually good mates, and I’m profoundly grateful to her, and we now have an ideal factor,” he shared.
Affleck and Garner tied the knot in June 2005 and welcomed three kids throughout their marriage: Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 14.
They cut up in 2015, although they didn’t finalize their divorce till 2018. Nevertheless, they’ve remained shut through the years whereas co-parenting their three kids.
Final 12 months, Web page Six completely reported that the previous couple had been “spending extra time collectively than ever” since Affleck’s 2024 divorce from Jennifer Lopez.
“They actually do have a detailed bond,” our insider stated of the pair.
