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

Affleck explained that he and Garner discussed the situation, and she ultimately decided against the pairing because viewers might struggle to separate the fictional couple from their real-life history.

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck step out in Los Angeles on November 8, 2018 | Source: Getty Images

During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”, Affleck revealed that Garner had initially been willing to join the movie before his decision to replace Damon changed the equation.

He described Garner and Damon as performers he knows, likes, and respects, explaining that his familiarity with them allows him to recognize opportunities to show audiences something unexpected. But once he became the leading man, Garner reconsidered.

Jennifer Garner is photographed upon arrival at the 2026 Golden Globes | Source: Getty Images

“She was like, ‘Yeah. Great, but no, I’m not going to play your wife in a movie.’ Probably for the best.That lesson’s been learned,” he shared. Affleck praised her judgment, adding that Garner was “very wise in many ways.”

With Garner no longer attached, Affleck turned to Kerry Washington, an actress he had wanted to work with for years. Still, Garner’s departure did not mean he had abandoned the possibility of sharing the screen with her again.

Garner and Affleck were married for 10 years before announcing their separation in 2015. Their divorce filing came nearly two years later, with both seeking joint legal and physical custody of their children. | Source: Getty Images

Affleck Makes a Surprising Admission About Working With Garner Again

During his Variety interview, Affleck was asked directly about the casting decision that prevented his reunion with Garner. He agreed that their history could have overshadowed the story. “In a movie, the illusion has to be the thing,” he explained.

Then he made it clear that hishopes of collaborating with Garner were far from over. “And I still want to find something to do with her.” It was a sentiment he had expressed just a month earlier. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Affleck was equally enthusiastic about his former wife’s talent.

“She’s fabulous.” He described Garner as a good friend, expressed profound gratitude toward her, and emphasized their positive relationship. His desire to work with her had never disappeared. The problem was simply the prospect of portraying a troubled married couple when their own relationship was so familiar to audiences.

His remarks also echoed what he told GQ in 2025, when he praised Garner as a “really good co-parent and partner” and said they worked well together. Affleck has repeatedly made clear that he remains open to another collaboration, provided their personal history does not distract from the film itself.