Affleck and Garner shelved reunion role in Animals over past relationship baggage
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Ben Affleck has revealed that Jennifer Garner was initially cast as his character’s wife in Animals, but they decided not to work together because their past relationship could distract audiences. Affleck said he would like to collaborate with Garner in future, but felt the “baggage” surrounding their reunion might work against the crime thriller.
The project originally featured Matt Damon in the lead, but production was halted shortly before filming because a similar kidnapping thriller was due to be released. When the film was revived, Damon’s commitments to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey led Affleck to take over as Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, whose son is kidnapped; Kerry Washington was subsequently cast as Abigail. Animals premieres on Netflix on 9 October.
- Garner was nearly cast opposite ex-husband Affleck.
- Their shared history prompted a casting change.
- Kerry Washington replaced Garner in the Netflix thriller.
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Ben Affleck is directing and starring in a new film called Animals, a crime thriller coming to Netflix in October. The story follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped, forcing him and his wife to plan a ransom scheme. The cast also includes Kerry Washington.
The film's development has been marked by significant changes and delays. Affleck originally envisioned actor Matt Damon in the lead role, with his ex-wife Jennifer Garner playing his character's wife. However, scheduling conflicts with another film caused the project to be shelved, and when Affleck revived it months later, Damon was unavailable due to other commitments.
With Affleck taking the lead role himself, Garner would have played his character's wife. Affleck and Garner were married from 2005 to 2018 and have three children together. Both decided against the arrangement, concerned that their shared public history would distract audiences, and Kerry Washington was cast in the role instead.
Full account
Ben Affleck, who is writing, directing, and starring in the forthcoming Netflix crime thriller "Animals" (launching 9 October), has revealed the intricate casting circumstances that nearly brought about a professional reunion with his former spouse Jennifer Garner. Initially, Affleck envisioned Garner inhabiting the role of Abigail, wife to the protagonist Mark Kimball, a part originally intended for his longtime friend Matt Damon. Affleck was attracted to this arrangement for both practical and artistic grounds, observing that it would facilitate better coordination of their shared childcare responsibilities. He additionally believed Garner possessed untapped capacities as a performer, capable of delivering material that had not previously featured in her filmography.
The production encountered considerable disruption, however. Roughly two weeks before principal photography was due to commence, Affleck shelved the project entirely. His justification centred on the impending release of a comparable kidnapping thriller produced by A24 and directed by Spike Lee—"Highest 2 Lowest"—which risked creating an oversaturated marketplace. Affleck contended that achieving cinematic quality was sufficiently demanding without such competitive disadvantages. Months later, having rekindled his enthusiasm for the venture, circumstances had altered significantly: Damon had pledged himself to another film, "The Odyssey," under Christopher Nolan's supervision.
With Damon unavailable, Affleck determined to claim the lead role for himself—a decision that generated an unanticipated complication. Upon broaching the matter with Garner, she expressed reluctance about the pairing, cautioning that the reunion of a former couple on screen would invite audiences to project their own perceptions onto the narrative, potentially compromising the film's dramatic credibility. Whilst Affleck professed genuine enthusiasm for collaborating with Garner in future ventures and spoke warmly of their friendship, both recognised the wisdom in declining to allow external associations to interfere with the storytelling.
Kerry Washington ultimately secured the role of Abigail. Affleck disclosed that he and Washington became acquainted during the 2023 Hollywood labour action, and her blend of sophistication and approachability persuaded him of her suitability. "Animals," co-written by Affleck alongside Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose child is abducted, compelling him and his wife to procure a substantial ransom within an exceedingly narrow window of time.
Where outlets differ
Source 1 explicitly identifies the competing film as "Highest 2 Lowest" by A24 and Spike Lee; Source 2 refers generically to "another film in the same genre" without naming it
Source 1 specifically names Christopher Nolan in connection with Damon's project; Source 2 does not attribute the film to a particular director
Source 1 provides detail about Affleck meeting Kerry Washington during the 2023 strikes and his specific commentary about her qualities; Source 2 omits these details
Source 1 is more detailed overall regarding the competing film circumstances and Affleck's extended commentary; Source 2 presents the shelving more briefly as a straightforward scheduling conflict
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Originally published by Deadline as “Ben Affleck Nearly Cast Ex Jennifer Garner As His Wife In ‘Animals’: “You Just Get Baggage””.