After initially parting ways with Jennifer Lopez back in the early 2000s, Ben Affleck found his match in his Pearl Harbor costar Jennifer Garner, with whom he would tie the knot before eventually splitting in 2018. However, following their time together, Affleck claimed that Garner helped the actor finding back his footing in the industry after hitting a low point. But despite being fond of each other at the time, the duo wouldn’t collaborate again after their time together in 2003’s Daredevil.
Although the BVS actor expressed his desire to work with Garner again, the Catch Me If You Can actress once brushed off the idea of working with Affleck due to creative differences.
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
Jennifer Garner wasn’t engrossed in Ben Affleck’s style of filmmaking
Even though Ben Affleck once expressed that starring alongside Jennifer Garner during their time together wouldn’t be a great idea at the time, he was adamant about directing a film with her at the forefront. But despite Affleck’s brilliance as a director, who has garnered numerous accolades under his belt for his work behind the camera, his ex-wife wasn’t intrigued by the idea of working with him. Garner later explained her reasoning and differences with the actor’s directing style and stated,
“I don’t want to because he is not the world’s fastest director, and I like to get in and do my work and go home and put the kids to bed. I’m afraid there would be this moment where I would say, ‘OK. You’ve got it. I promise you it is in the can. I’ve got to go home.’ But you know, life is long and I never say never. I think Ben is brilliant at what he does. I am so happy for him and proud of him.”
Another reason behind their decision to stay away from collaborating again might be the previous projects they worked on, which weren’t well received by fans and critics.
Daredevil (2003)
Movies starring Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck together weren’t the biggest successes
Before starring together in 2003’s Daredevil, which was a critical and box-office failure, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner would initially star together in Michael Bay’s Pearl Harbor. Even though the movie followed a similar approach to one of the biggest movies ever made (Titanic) but with Michael Bay behind the lenses, the movie didn’t live up to the expectations. Although the duo would reunite again to work in Daredevil, despite its failure, the movie helped in strengthening their bond. The director later recalled the beautiful vibe that the duo created on the sets and stated,
“It was a wonderful shoot. We were on the rooftops of downtown L.A. or in New York City late at night, and it was just fun. It was its own world that you create around it. Even though there was a lot of pressure on me [as the director], there was an incredible on-set vibe.”
Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck
Although Jennifer Garner eventually parted ways with Affleck, and the actor is now back with his former partner Jennifer Lopez, the duo still shares a friendly relationship after their separation.
