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Ben Affleck Pulls Jennifer Garner From 'Animals
Confirmed
In Short: Ben Affleck, the co-writer, director, and star of Netflix's upcoming film 'Animals,' revealed that he initially planned to cast his ex-wife Jennifer Garner in the lead role.
Affleck had originally intended for Garner to play Abigail, the wife of his character Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped.
However, two weeks before production was set to begin, Affleck scrapped the original casting plan due to scheduling conflicts and the release of another kidnapping thriller, Spike Lee's 'Highest 2 Lowest.
Affleck explained, 'I thought, God, Jen Garner would be amazing for this role,' but the decision was ultimately made to avoid the 'baggage' that would come with an on-screen reunion.
Affleck stepped into the role himself, with Garner ultimately deciding not to join the cast.
Affleck expressed his desire to work with Garner again, saying, 'I would love to work with her, frankly.
Despite the change in casting, Affleck emphasized that he and Garner remain close and that he would welcome another opportunity to collaborate with her.
What's confirmed
- “I thought, God, Jen Garner would be amazing for this role,” he told Entertainment Weekly.
- 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
- The co-writer, director and star of Animals, premiering Oct. 9 on Netflix, explained how he came to take over the lead role of Mark Kimball from his pal Matt Damon, after initially casting Garner to play Mark’s wife Abigail in the crime thriller.
- 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.
- 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.
- Ben Affleck is opening up about why his ex-wife Jennifer Garner was nearly cast alongside him in Animals.
- That decision also changed the possibility of Garner joining the cast.