Why Steven Spielberg Refused to Cast Ben Affleck
Steven Spielberg blocked Ben Affleck from a leading role, citing personal grievances and recent career setbacks, despite Affleck’s keen interest and initial plans for the project.
Ben Affleck has long admired Matt Damon's collaborations with celebrated directors, not least Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg. Despite Affleck’s own impressive list of partnerships with the likes of John Woo, Michael Bay, David Fincher, and Ridley Scott, he has never worked under Spielberg’s direction. That nearly changed, until Spielberg made a firm decision to keep Affleck out of a particular project.
Behind the Scenes: A Project in Limbo
In the early 2000s, Mike Binder, known for his work as an actor, writer, and director, sold his script for Man About Town to DreamWorks. The story centres on a Hollywood agent whose personal writings, meant to help him process his wife’s infidelity, fall into the hands of a journalist threatening to expose him. Spielberg initially intended to direct, but soon withdrew. Binder recalled Spielberg’s words:
“He called me and said, ‘I got bad news. I’m not making this movie.’”
The director’s wife, Kate Capshaw, reportedly persuaded him against it, feeling the script was
“too autobiographical.”
Affleck’s Interest and Spielberg’s Reluctance
Despite Spielberg’s exit, the script continued to attract attention. Affleck, fresh from watching Binder’s The Upside of Anger, expressed a strong desire to take the lead. Binder recounted,
“Ben Affleck comes to my editing room and watches The Upside of Anger. He says, ‘I want to do your next movie’. I told him it was at DreamWorks, and he said, ‘I want to do it’. So I called Steven, and he said, ‘No, can’t do it with him. We just bombed a movie with him. He’s got that whole JLo thing going on now, and I have other problems with him.’”
The Real Reason: A Family Incident
Spielberg’s reservations went beyond box office performance or media attention. Years earlier, Affleck had dated Spielberg’s goddaughter, Gwyneth Paltrow. During a family trip to Spain, an incident occurred: Spielberg’s son pushed Affleck into a pool, and Affleck, in response, picked up the boy and tossed him back in, leaving the child in tears. Spielberg’s reaction was blunt:
“I just don’t like to work with him. Plus, his last two movies bombed. He’s cold as hell.”
Aftermath and a Twist of Fate
When Affleck learned of Spielberg’s reasoning, he confronted Binder directly:
“Ben calls me up and says, ‘Did Steven Spielberg tell you I threw his kid in the water? Is that why I’m not on your movie?’”
Binder confirmed that was indeed the case. Ultimately, DreamWorks abandoned Man About Town, allowing Affleck to take the lead when the project resurfaced elsewhere. Ironically, when Affleck’s Argo won Best Picture at the Oscars, it triumphed over Spielberg’s Lincoln—a moment that must have felt rather satisfying for Affleck.