Why Steven Spielberg Refused to Cast Ben Affleck
Steven Spielberg blocked Ben Affleck from a major film, citing personal reasons and past incidents, despite Affleck’s keen interest and early plans for the project.
Ben Affleck has always been surrounded by big names in the film industry, working with directors like John Woo, Michael Bay, and Ridley Scott. Yet, despite his impressive resume and two Oscars under his belt, he’s never teamed up with Steven Spielberg, the bloke behind some of the most iconic blockbusters ever made. That nearly changed, but Spielberg put a stop to it before things got off the ground.
Back 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 life is in shambles, and things only get messier when his private journal falls into the wrong hands. Spielberg was originally set to direct, but he soon pulled out. Binder recalled on the One Bad Movie podcast,
“He called me and said, ‘I got bad news. I’m not making this movie.’”
Apparently, Spielberg’s wife, Kate Capshaw, convinced him it hit a bit too close to home, saying,
“it’s too autobiographical.”
Affleck’s Interest and Spielberg’s Reluctance
Despite Spielberg stepping back, the script was still getting plenty of attention. Affleck, fresh off a string of high-profile roles, was keen to jump on board. Binder shared,
“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.’”
It wasn’t just about box office numbers or tabloid headlines. Spielberg had a more personal reason for keeping Affleck at arm’s length. Years earlier, Affleck had dated Spielberg’s goddaughter, Gwyneth Paltrow. During a family trip to Spain, things got a bit out of hand. Spielberg’s son pushed Affleck into a pool, and Affleck, not taking it lightly, picked up the boy and tossed him back in, leaving the kid in tears. Spielberg’s take on it?
“I just don’t like to work with him. Plus, his last two movies bombed. He’s cold as hell.”
Word Gets Back to Affleck
When Affleck heard about Spielberg’s decision, he didn’t waste time getting to the bottom of it. He rang up Binder and asked,
“Did Steven Spielberg tell you I threw his kid in the water? Is that why I’m not on your movie?”
Binder’s answer was a straightforward yes.
In the end, DreamWorks dropped Man About Town altogether, which meant Affleck was free to take the lead role after all. The whole saga is a reminder that sometimes, it’s not just about talent or timing—personal history can play a big part in who gets cast.
Unexpected Twists in Hollywood
Directors have all sorts of reasons for passing on actors, but making a kid cry at a family holiday is definitely one of the more unusual ones. Years later, when Affleck’s film Argo took out the Best Picture Oscar, it beat Spielberg’s Lincoln for the top prize. Some might call that a bit of poetic justice, but in the world of film, it’s just another twist in a long-running story.