Ben Affleck Explains Why Jennifer Garner Passed on Movie Role
WHO:
E! News - Ben Affleck stated, "I thought, 'God, Jen Garner would be amazing for this role.'"
US Magazine - Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Matt Damon
E! News - Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Matt Damon
WHAT:
E! News - Affleck's plan to cast Garner fell apart when production was pushed back to a later date.
US Magazine - Ben Affleck recast Jennifer Garner in his new movie Animals.
E! News - Affleck's film Animals centers around the kidnapping of a Los Angeles mayoral hopeful's son.
E! News - Garner was originally meant to play the candidate's wife, whose marriage is strained.
WHERE:
E! News - The film Animals is set in Los Angeles.
WHEN:
US Magazine - Production for Animals initially went into production in January 2024.
E! News - An interview with Affleck was published on September 14.
WHY:
E! News - Garner opted not to play the role because she felt it would bring "baggage" to their onscreen relationship, stating, “We don’t wanna do that. You just get baggage.”
E! News - Affleck believed Garner would be amazing for the role and thought they could coordinate their schedules to spend more time with their children.
E! News - Garner opted not to play the role because she felt it would bring "baggage" to their onscreen relationship.
HOW:
E! News - Affleck ultimately decided to step in and replace Matt Damon in the role of the husband.
E! News - Affleck's plan fell apart when production was pushed back, and Matt Damon could no longer play the husband due to his filming schedule for The Odyssey.
(UPDATED September 16, 2026 21:02 UTC)
Ben Affleck recently shared that he initially thought Jennifer Garner would be perfect for a role in his upcoming project, but those plans changed when production was delayed. Garner ultimately chose not to take on the role, expressing concerns that it would bring "baggage" to their onscreen relationship. As a result, Affleck decided to step in and replace Matt Damon as the husband in the film.
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(UPDATED September 16, 2026 20:07 UTC)
In a surprising turn of events, Ben Affleck has recast Jennifer Garner in his upcoming film, Animals, which is set against the backdrop of Los Angeles and revolves around the kidnapping of a mayoral hopeful's son. Originally, Garner was slated to portray the candidate's wife, but she ultimately decided against the role, citing concerns about the potential "baggage" it could bring to their onscreen relationship. The production faced delays, which also affected Matt Damon's availability to play the husband, as he is committed to filming The Odyssey.