Ben Affleck is speaking out in defense of Jennifer Lopez while revealing that he still hopes to work with his other former wife, Jennifer Garner. During an October 7 interview with Variety, the actor praised Lopez’s acting talent and questioned why her performance in Hustlers failed to earn an Oscar nomination. Although he admitted he might be biased because of their past relationship, Affleck emphasized his enormous respect for her abilities, noting that awards do not always reflect an actor’s true talent. Despite their divorce, filed by Lopez in August 2024, their professional relationship continued through Kiss of the Spider Woman, which Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity, helped produce. He also expressed admiration for Garner, whom he originally hoped to cast in his Netflix thriller Animals. However, the production faced delays after Affleck worried its kidnapping storyline might draw comparisons with another film, Highest 2 Lowest. When filming finally moved forward, Matt Damon was unavailable, prompting Affleck to take the leading role himself.
That casting change created an unexpected complication because Garner would have played his wife in a story about a troubled marriage. The former couple discussed the situation, and Garner ultimately decided against participating, recognizing that audiences might struggle to separate their fictional relationship from their real-life history. Affleck later cast Kerry Washington opposite himself, but he has not abandoned the idea of collaborating with Garner. During his interview, he explained that maintaining a believable on-screen illusion was important, while describing Garner as a fabulous actress, good friend, and valued co-parent. His comments reflect the respect he continues to show both former wives. While his professional partnership with Lopez has already survived their separation, a reunion with Garner remains a possibility for the future. Affleck hopes to find the right project—one that showcases their abilities without allowing personal history to overshadow the story.
