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💡 TLDR
Jennifer Garner shut down Ben Affleck’s attempt at an onscreen reunion because she wasn't about that "baggage" life! She passed on his new movie, *Animals*, to keep their history from overshadowing her performance.
Ben Affleck almost pulled off the ultimate reunion by asking Jennifer Garner to join his new film, Animals, but she wasn’t having it. While we were all collectively hoping for another onscreen moment from our favorite former power couple, Jen decided that some things are better left in the past. The two stars, both 54, haven’t shared the screen since their early career days in Pearl Harbor (2001) and Daredevil (2003). Even though they’ve remained close friends and co-parenting pros since their divorce was finalized in 2018, Jen knew exactly where to draw the line.
Avoiding the Hollywood Baggage
The plot of Animals is intense, focusing on the kidnapping of the son of a Los Angeles mayoral hopeful. Ben actually envisioned Jen playing the politician’s wife, which would have been a total full-circle moment. He even admitted to Entertainment Weekly that he thought it would be an “added benefit” because they could coordinate their busy schedules around the filming to spend more time with their three kids. However, when he pitched the idea, Jen gave him a very blunt reality check. She was like, ‘We don’t wanna do that. You just get baggage.’ It makes so much sense; she didn’t want the audience focusing on their old relationship instead of her performance.
💫 She was like, ‘We don’t wanna do that. You just get baggage.’
A New Leading Lady Steps In
After Jen passed on the role, Kerry Washington stepped up to play the politician’s wife, which is honestly a massive win for the cast. Ben originally had his longtime bestie Matt Damon lined up for the lead role of the politician, but Damon had to exit due to his filming schedule for The Odyssey. When Ben decided to take over the lead himself, the opportunity to work with Jen felt right, but as we learned, the history is too heavy for the screen. Despite the rejection, Ben is still totally obsessed with her talent. He raved that she is fabulous and that they have a great friendship, adding that he would still love to collaborate with her one day in the future.
You can catch Animals hitting Netflix and theaters on October 9.
Do you think Jennifer made the right call by avoiding the “baggage,” or were you low-key rooting for them to act together again?
❓ People Also Ask
Why did Jennifer Garner decline to star in Ben Affleck's new movie Animals?
Jennifer Garner rejected the role because she wanted to avoid the emotional baggage associated with her past relationship with Ben Affleck. She expressed concern that their shared history would distract the audience from her actual performance on screen. While the two stars remain close friends and successful co-parents, Garner felt that working together again would bring too much unnecessary Hollywood baggage into the production of the intense thriller.
What role did Ben Affleck want Jennifer Garner to play in the film Animals?
Ben Affleck envisioned Jennifer Garner playing the role of the wife of a Los Angeles mayoral hopeful. He believed her participation would be an added benefit because it would allow the former couple to coordinate their busy filming schedules to spend more time with their three children. Although he hoped for this full-circle onscreen moment, Garner ultimately passed on the opportunity to portray the politician's spouse.
Who replaced Jennifer Garner in the cast of the movie Animals?
Kerry Washington stepped in to play the role of the politician's wife after Jennifer Garner declined the part. Washington took over the position originally intended for Garner, providing a new dynamic for the film's cast. This casting change occurred after Ben Affleck decided to take over the lead role himself following Matt Damon's departure from the project due to scheduling conflicts with The Odyssey.
When is the movie Animals scheduled to be released?
The film Animals is scheduled to be released on October 9. Viewers will be able to watch the production both in movie theaters and through streaming on Netflix. The movie features an intense plot involving the kidnapping of a mayoral candidate's son and marks a significant new project for Ben Affleck, who took on the lead role after his longtime friend Matt Damon had to exit the film.
💬 What do you think? Let us know in the comments! 👇
📰 Source: Just Jared