Ben Affleck Defends Jennifer Lopez as He Reveals What He Still Hopes to Do With Jennifer Garner

The situation reminded him of 1998, when he starred in the asteroid disaster film “Armageddon” during the same year that another asteroid thriller, “Deep Impact,” hit theaters. Affleck initially considered postponing “Animals” to avoid another uncomfortablecinematic overlap.

Then came an even more unsettling discovery. Lee’s film was actually a remake of Akira Kurosawa’s 1963 classic “High and Low,” which Affleck admitted he had never seen. Learning about that connection “freaked” him out.

Ben Affleck arrives at the World Premiere of Netflix’s “Animals” at Westwood Village Theater on October 1, 2026. | Source: Getty Images

After discussing the situation with Damon and their producing partners, including Damon’s wife, Luciana Barroso, Affleck made the difficult decision to abandon the version they were preparing to shoot.

“We were two weeks from shooting, and I was like, ‘We’re not doing it,’” he told Entertainment Weekly. Affleck reasoned that making a successful movie was challenging enough without inviting further complications.

But when “Animals” finally returned to production, another obstacle awaited. Damon was no longer available.

Matt Damon, Luciana Barroso, and Ben Affleck pose during the red carpet and fan event ofthe movie “Animals” at Centro Comercial Mitikah on October 4, 2026 in Mexico City. | Source: Getty Images

Matt Damon’s Exit Created an Awkward Problem for Affleck and Garner

By the time “Animals” was ready to move forward, Damon had committed to “The Odyssey.” Affleck jokingly mocked his longtime friend’s decision, calling it a “lesser film” with a smaller director and role before teasing that Damon would regret the choice.

With his original leading man unavailable, Affleck needed a replacement. His solution was to take the role himself. But that seemingly straightforward decision created a deeply personal casting dilemma.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck spotted walking together in Los Angeles on November 19, 2016 | Source: Getty Images

If Garner stayed, Affleck would find himself playing a husband opposite his real-life ex-wife, with their characters trapped in a deteriorating marriage. The potential for audiences to draw uncomfortable parallels with their actual relationshipwas impossible to overlook.