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Ben Affleck Pulls Ex-Wife Jennifer Garner From 'Animals
Confirmed
In Short: Ben Affleck decided against casting ex-wife Jennifer Garner in his Netflix film 'Animals' due to scheduling conflicts and the genre overlap with another film.
Ben Affleck, the co-writer, director, and star of Netflix's 'Animals,' initially planned to cast his ex-wife Jennifer Garner in the role of Abigail, the wife of his character Mark Kimball.
However, Affleck pulled the plug on the idea two weeks before production was set to begin, citing a similar kidnapping thriller, A24’s 'Highest 2 Lowest,' as a reason to reconsider.
Affleck explained to Entertainment Weekly, 'I thought, God, Jen Garner would be amazing for this role.' Yet, he later decided that the project's timing and genre overlap made it unfeasible.
Affleck then took over the lead role himself, stating, 'A better actor had to play the part, naturally.
Affleck and Garner ultimately decided that the potential 'baggage' of an on-screen reunion was too much to handle, with Garner reportedly saying, 'We don’t wanna do that. You just get baggage.
What this adds
The decision to cast Garner was reconsidered due to scheduling conflicts and the release of another film in the same genre, leading to the final casting of Ben Affleck in the lead role.
Background
Animals are multicellular, eukaryotic organisms belonging to the biological kingdom Animalia. Animals consume organic material, breathe oxygen, have muscle cells, can reproduce sexually, and grow from a hollow sphere of cells, the blastula, during embryonic development.
What's confirmed
- McIntyre and Billy Ray, Animals stars Affleck as Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, whose son is kidnapped, giving him and wife Abigail (Washington) a few hours to get their hands dirty and come up with the ransom money.
What's still developing
- As Ben Affleck takes the lead in his next directorial outing, he’s recounting the casting game of musical chairs that almost resulted in his onscreen reunion with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.
- A few months later, Affleck’s passion for the project reignited the production, but Damon was busy working with Christopher Nolan.
- “I would love to work with her, frankly,” added Affleck of his ex-wife.
- But because of scheduling conflicts and another film in the same genre slated for a similar release window, Affleck tabled the film two weeks before production was set to begin.
- Affleck stepped in for Damon, and the former couple ultimately decided they didn’t want the “baggage” that would come with the on-screen pairing: “I talked to Jen, and she was like, ‘We don’t wanna do that. You just get baggage,’” he said.
- Ben Affleck originally wanted to cast his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, as the leading lady in his latest directorial effort, “Animals,” until a scheduling conflict meant he’d have to step into the role opposite her.
- When it was time to revive “Animal,” Damon was set to star in another project: “The Odyssey.” Popular on Variety “Matt was unfortunately doing another lesser film, obviously, with Odyssey,” Affleck joked.