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Ben Affleck
Height: 6' 2"
Birth Name: Benjamin Géza Affleck-Boldt
Birth Date: August 15, 1972
Wife: Jennifer Lopez
Birth Place: Berkeley, CA USA
Raised In: Cambridge, MA USA

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    Plot Thickens Over Matt Damon-Ben Affleck Documentary Ruled Ineligible For Oscars; Filmmakers Insist It Did Qualify, But Academy Claims Otherwise

    (9/24/24) New developments in the Oscar controversy surrounding Kiss the Future, the Matt Damon–Ben Affleck documentary that the Motion Picture Academy ruled ineligible for awards consideration.

    As Deadline reported Monday, the Academy denied an appeal from producers Damon, Affleck and Sarah Anthony, who argued the film’s wide release – at 139 AMC cinemas including screens in the qualifying markets of Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Atlanta – should make it Oscar-eligible. The documentary branch executive committee countered that Kiss the Future only played twice a day in a qualifying market, not three times a day as stipulated under Rule 12 of Oscar guidelines (read it here).

    After our story posted, observers on social media commented that nothing in the rules said a film had to play on a single screen in a qualifying market; taking all the screens in qualifying markets collectively, Kiss the Future played much more than three times a day. The filmmakers investigated further and agreed with the analysis; on that basis, director Nenad Cicin-Sain wrote to the Academy on Monday night stating the documentary should be judged to have properly qualified.

    “There is no specific rule stating that the required three daily screenings for Academy Award qualification must all occur in the same theater within a qualifying city,” Cicin-Sain wrote to Natalie Wade, the Academy’s Senior Director, Member Relations and Awards Administration. “The rule emphasizes that the film must play at least three times a day over a consecutive seven-day period in one of the qualifying U.S. metro areas. These cities include Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Miami, Atlanta, and the San Francisco Bay Area.

    “KISS THE FUTURE played in all those markets for two weeks and far exceeded the minimum requirement of screenings per day (more than 3 times a day).”

    Cicin-Sain continued in his email to Wade, “The rulebook you provided specifies that a film must play **three times daily** in a qualifying city, but it **does not explicitly state** that these screenings must all occur in the *same theater* within the qualifying city… Can you please provide where it says ‘3 times a day in the same theater?’”

    The dispute may come down to which rulebook applies. Under the rules for the 96th Academy Awards (governing documentaries released in 2023), no mention is made of a documentary needing to play in a single location three times a day. Kiss the Future filmmakers say this is the rulebook the Academy pointed them to, and the one that came up for them in internet searches. Sources with the Academy, however, say a rule was added for the 97th Academy Awards (governing documentaries released in 2024) that states, “The seven consecutive days of the theatrical release are required to occur in one venue.”

    There is no indication from the Academy why it would introduce such a narrow parameter for the 97th Oscars. And the existence or non-existence of that rule does not speak to the filmmakers’ larger argument — that if the Academy’s goal is to get people to watch films in theaters, Kiss the Future more than met the mark. Most qualifying documentaries only receive a token “four wall” release, but KTF got what amounts to a wide release for a nonfiction film.

    “What they’re doing is they’re enforcing the letter of the rule and not the spirit of the rule,” Cicin-Sain told Deadline Monday. “And if the spirit of the rule is to put movies in theaters — and that’s what we did by exhibiting it in as many theaters possible… and then you’re not qualifying, something’s wrong.”

    Kiss the Future, which tells the storiy of the siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s and how U2’s music helped inspire the city’s beleaguered residents, premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in 2023 and held its U.S. premiere at Tribeca Festival. It was nominated for the Cinema for Peace Award and won the Audience Award at the Sarajevo Film Festival.

    Cicin-Sain, in an interview with Deadline on Tuesday, said he’s been heartened by the response to the story of Kiss the Future’s effort to preserve its shot at Oscar recognition.

    “Just tremendous support,” he said, “just tremendous support from so many people in the industry and the general public.”

    Matt Damon And Ben Affleck’s Doc ‘Kiss The Future’ Knocked Out Of Oscar Race After Screening Snafu; Academy Rejects Appeal

    (9/23/24) The Motion Picture Academy has rejected a plea from producers Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and fellow makers of Kiss the Future to reconsider its decision ruling the documentary ineligible for Oscar consideration.

    The award-winning film — exploring the 1990s siege of Sarajevo and how the city’s residents took inspiration from U2’s music amid a campaign of extermination — played in more than 130 AMC cinemas nationwide, far surpassing the theatrical distribution of most documentaries (in fact, it had one of the widest releases of any documentary since the pandemic). But, in what filmmakers see as a technicality, the Academy judged the film screened two times a day in a qualifying market, and not the prescribed three times as stipulated by Oscar rules.

    Deadline has reviewed an August 20 letter from producers Damon, Affleck, and Sarah Anthony addressed to the “Awards Committee and the Documentary Branch Executive Committee” asking for a reevaluation of the Academy’s initial eligibility ruling. The producers wrote in part, “The film first premiered in competition at Berlinale in February 2023. It was then selected as the opening film for the Tribeca Film Festival in June 2023, and for the Sarajevo Film Festival in August 2023, where it received the Audience Award. It has screened at numerous other festivals, and in February of 2024 was released theatrically by AMC for a two-week run in 139 theaters across all major markets in the U.S. In some theaters, the film screened three times daily, but… the programmers [AMC] neglected to do a three-times daily screening within New York or Los Angeles.”

    Deadline has reached out to AMC for comment; if we hear back we will update the story.

    The Academy wrote back to Anthony, “The Documentary Branch Executive Committee has reviewed the appeal for KISS THE FUTURE. We regret to inform you that the appeal has been denied, and the film was deemed ineligible. While we know this news is disappointing, we assure you that the situation was thoroughly discussed and evaluated. These difficult decisions are not taken lightly by the Committee, but the process is necessary to be fair and consistent with all entries.

    “All determinations from the Executive Committee are final.”

    Anthony told Deadline, “This was a passion project for everyone involved and they tried to live up to the spirit of the Academy with a wide theatrical release. A film only has to screen theatrically 21 times to qualify, and ours screened hundreds of times. One theater that played the requisite number of screenings was less than 30 miles outside the qualifying area. It is shocking to be rejected for a programming error, and I would hate to see this happen to any other filmmakers.”

    In an interview with Deadline, Kiss the Future director Nenad Cicin-Sain, said, “To be disqualified at this stage… is just devastating.”

    The filmmaker said that, ironically, Kiss the Future had lined up a very limited release in December 2023 at IFC in New York that would have qualified the documentary for Oscar consideration a year ago. But at that point AMC stepped up with a proposal for a dramatically larger release.

    “We decided a wide release was best for the film — this in fact is what the Academy wants to promote,” Cicin-Sain said. “We informed the Academy we wanted to withdraw from the 2024 awards in order to do a wide theatrical and would resubmit for 2025. They wrote it was ok for us to do this.”

    Under “Rule Twelve. Special Rules for the Documentary Feature Film Award,” Academy guidelines say, “The picture must have been publicly exhibited for paid admission in a commercial motion picture theater in one of the six qualifying U.S. metro areas: Los Angeles County; City of New York [five boroughs]; the Bay Area [counties of San Francisco, Marin, Alameda, San Mateo and Contra Costa]; Chicago [Cook County, Illinois]; Dallas-Fort Worth [Dallas County, Tarrant County, Texas]; and Atlanta [Fulton County, Georgia], for a run of at least seven consecutive days. Screenings during the theatrical release must occur at least three times daily, with at least one screening beginning between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. daily.”

    While expressing “great respect” for the Academy, Cicin-Sain said an inflexible reading of the rules in this case ignores the bigger picture.

    “What they’re doing is they’re enforcing the letter of the rule and not the spirit of the rule,” he said. “And if the spirit of the rule is to put movies in theaters — and that’s what we did by exhibiting it in as many theaters possible, and pulling out of the awards when it was just one theater [in favor of] putting it in in 139 theaters — and then you’re not qualifying, something’s wrong.”

    In their August letter to the Academy, Damon, Affleck and Anthony wrote, “AMC would be willing to do another qualifying run in September 2024.” However, according to Cicin-Sain, the documentary branch executive committee dismissed that offer because Kiss the Future premiered on Paramount+ in May of this year, meaning under Academy guidelines it is considered to have debuted on streaming before its qualifying theatrical release.

    Kiss the Future, which contains interviews with Bono and fellow U2 band members, as well as Bosnians who endured the siege of Sarajevo, has a 100% approval rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, and a 98% favorable score from viewers.

    Deadline understands from the Academy that it does not have an “official appeals process” for eligibility questions such as that faced by Kiss the Future, but it nonetheless entertained the filmmakers’ request for an exception.

    Following the Academy’s final rejection notice, Artists Equity, the production company co-founded by Damon and Affleck, with Drew Vinton in the role of EVP, Creative, provided a statement to Deadline saying, “Of course, we love the movie and would love it to be under consideration.”

    Last Wednesday, Natalie Wade, the Academy’s Senior Director, Member Relations and Awards Administration, wrote to Cicin-Sain, “We completely understand your frustration and that this was an honest mistake,” apparently referring to AMC’s programming of Kiss the Future twice a day instead of three times a day in a qualifying market. Wade added, “The film was not ‘under appeal’ – it is not eligible because it did not meet the showtime requirements as outlined in the rules.”

    The following day, September 19, Cicin-Sain wrote to Wade and Academy president Janet Yang, repeating a request to present an appeal. He wrote of Kiss the Future, “At the end of the day this film is an antidote to the division we are facing and promotes pluralism and unity with a message of love and hope. It’s also a very entertaining and moving movie that the academy should support not disqualify because of a mistake made not by the producers or filmmakers but a distributor.”

    That echoes the plea from Damon, Affleck, and Anthony to the Academy in their August 20 letter. They wrote, “With the war in Ukraine already having lasted two years, and with everything that’s happening in Gaza this film could not be more timely as a cautionary tale against the rise of nationalism, an appeal for peace, and a celebration of the best of the human spirit when faced with adversity. We hope you will allow us the opportunity to attempt to draw more attention to the subject matter.”

    Jennifer Lopez Files for Divorce from Ben Affleck, No Prenup

    (8/20/24) (tmz.com) Jennifer Lopez has done what seemed inevitable -- she's filed for divorce from Ben Affleck ... TMZ has learned, but there are major twists, including the symbolism of when she finally decided to do it.

    J Lo filed legal docs Tuesday in L.A. County Superior Court, but they were not filed by a lawyer. Jennifer filed pro per, meaning by herself and without an attorney.

    She lists the date of separation as April 26, 2024. The couple got married in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 ... however, today, August 20, is also very significant in Bennifer lore.

    This marks the 2nd anniversary of the huge, and more traditional, wedding ceremony they held in Georgia. So, it hardly seems like a coincidence Jen filed today.

    Now here's the real shocker -- J Lo does not say in her docs whether there's a prenup, and sources with knowledge tell TMZ there is indeed no prenuptial agreement.

    That would mean whatever earnings, or profit, Ben and Jen made during their nearly 2 years of marriage is community property.

    For instance, since they tied the knot ... Ben's starred in "Air" and "Hypnotic," and produced "The Instigators." He also just wrapped filming "The Accountant 2" a few days ago.

    As for J Lo, during their marriage she had "Shotgun Wedding," "The Mother," 'This Is Me ... Now' and "Atlas."

    What's shocking ... this is J Lo's fourth marriage and Ben's second, and you would think a prenup would be more than obvious. Apparently, they thought this was a forever marriage, but it didn't work out that way.

    According to the docs, Jennifer waived spousal support and is asking the judge to deny Ben such support as well.

    Since they did not have children together, there are no custody issues.

    Now for the final big twist -- you would think everything has been hashed out moneywise before she filed, but our sources say that is not the case.

    TMZ broke the stories ... they put their marital home in Bev Hills up for sale, Ben bought his own house in Brentwood -- and she's currently looking for a new house as well.

    As we reported, they have been trying to hash out a settlement for months, and our sources say those talks are continuing, but they have become increasingly acrimonious ... to the point, at times, they're not even speaking to each other.

    So, why then did J Lo decide to file while they're still battling over money? Well, even though it doesn't matter, legally, who files first in a no-fault state -- sometimes PR concerns are involved when it comes to who files first.

    ‘The Accountant 2’: Ben Affleck Thriller Getting Spring 2025 Theatrical Release From Amazon MGM

    (8/9/24) Amazon MGM Studios, once again, is showing its commitment to the big screen with The Accountant 2, which will make a theatrical splash on April 25, 2025. Until now, no release plans were made public about the sequel starring Ben Affleck and directed by Gavin O’Connor.

    That final April date proved a solid frame for Amazon MGM this year with the Luca Guadagnino-directed, Zendaya-starring Challengers, which opened to $15 million, made $50.1M stateside and $94.2M overall worldwide.

    Currently, Accountant 2 is the only studio wide entry on April 25 next year, the weekend before Marvel Studios kicks off summer with Thunderbolts* on May 2.

    Blurb for Accountant 2: When her former boss is killed by unknown assassins, Treasury Agent Marybeth Medina (Cynthia Addai-Robinson) is forced to contact Christian Wolff (Affleck) to solve the murder. With the help of his estranged but highly lethal brother Brax (Jon Bernthal), Chris applies his brilliant mind and less-than-legal methods to piece together the unsolved puzzle. As they get closer to the truth, the trio draw the attention of some of the most ruthless killers alive — all intent on putting a stop to their search.

    Pic, which was penned by the first installment’s Bill Dubuque, also stars Oscar winner J.K. Simmons, Daniella Pineda, Allison Robertson, Robert Morgan and Grant Harvey.

    The Accountant was released by Warner Bros in 2016, earning $155M at the worldwide box office; it was the most-rented digital film of 2017. It continues to be popular among audiences: following its recent debut on Netflix, the film ranked No. 1 on the service’s Global Top 10 Movies chart.

    Artists Equity, which serves as the studio on The Accountant 2, acquired sequel rights from Warner Bros and brought the movie to Amazon MGM. Artists Equity produces with 51 Entertainment. Producers are Affleck, Matt Damon, Lynette Howell Taylor and Mark Williams.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Publicly List $68 Million Beverly Hills Mansion

    (7/11/24) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck aren't even trying to hide it anymore -- they've now publicly listed their Beverly Hills mansion for a whopping $68 million ... a huge total, but one that might leave them in the red on the deal.

    The 12-bedroom, 24-bathroom house was posted for sale on MLS Thursday afternoon ... and, of course, it was recently renovated -- so you know the buyer's getting the newest accessories.

    The listing for the 38,000 square foot home touts the fact it's had a lot of improvements and renovations to the property in the last 4 months.

    We broke the story that J Lo and Ben were quietly trying to sell the house off-market -- but that clearly didn't work out, and now they're going public with the massive estate.

    It took the couple more than 2 years of searching before settling on this home in 2023, and they paid just over $60 million for it. However, with the cost of renovations and L.A.'s mansion tax, it's unlikely the couple's making much, if any, money on this deal.

    We've followed Bennifer's recent marriage troubles ... telling you back in May the couple was no longer living in the house together.

    While Jen's hit Italy with friends, Ben's stuck around in L.A. -- and is now living in a rental home in Brentwood.

    Santiago Arana of The Agency holds the listing.

    Netflix Lands Artists Equity’s Crime Thriller ‘RIP’ Starring Matt Damon And Ben Affleck With Joe Carnahan Directing

    (7/2/24) Netflix looks to have landed a big fish before everyone bolts for the Fourth of July holiday. Deadline is hearing that the streamer has landed rights to the crime thriller RIP starring Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, with Joe Carnahan directing. Deadline first reported the news that the package had hit the market a couple weeks back, and sources indicated it was only a matter of time before someone scooped it up. Carnahan also penned the script, with Damon and Affleck’s Artists Equity producing.

    Plot details are being kept under wraps other than RIP being described as a crime thriller.

    After launching Artists Equity in November 2022, Damon and Affleck released the company’s first film, Air, in spring 2023 to strong reviews and a solid box office performance. Since then, it has produced the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told for Amazon MGM Studios and Small Things Like These, which opened this year’s Berlin Film Festival and won the Silver Bear for supporting actress Emily Watson. They also have Apple’s The Instigators starring Damon bowing in August and recently finished production on the Amazon MGM Studios pic Unstoppable.

    As for RIP, the package came together pretty quickly in recent weeks. Affleck and Damon were looking for a new project under the banner as Affleck was finishing production on his sequel to The Accountant. Ironically, the two tried to do another crime thriller, Animals, at the top of the year at Netflix, but scheduling with The Accountant 2 couldn’t be worked out and that was put on pause.

    Deadline has since heard that Damon was actually first to read the RIP script and was blown away, and quickly got it into the hands of Affleck. Once both Oscar winners were on board, the package hit the market.

    No stranger to crime thrillers, Carnahan has made a name for himself with such films as Narc and Smokin’ Aces (which Affleck also appeared in), and audiences can expect similar fireworks on this project given the talent involved.

    Affleck and Damon are repped by WME. Carnahan is repped by CAA.

    Matt Damon & Ben Affleck To Star In Crime Thriller ‘RIP’ From Artists Equity And Joe Carnahan

    (6/18/24) Here is a package that certainly will heat up the summer market. Deadline is hearing that Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are attached to star in the thriller RIP, with Joe Carnahan writing and directing. Affleck and Damon’s company Artists Equity are producing with a plan to shoot this fall.

    Reps for Artists Equity could not be reached for comment.

    Plot details are being kept under wraps other than it being described as a crime thriller. The project is expected to find a distributor soon as interest has been drawn from theatrical and streaming buyers.

    Since launching Artists Equity in November 2022, Damon and Affleck have released its first film, Air, in spring 2023 to glowing reviews and a solid box office performance. Since then, the studio has produced the documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told for Amazon MGM Studios and Small Things Like These, which opened this year’s Berlin Film Festival and won the Silver Bear for supporting actress Emily Watson.

    As for RIP, the package came together pretty quickly in recent weeks. Affleck and Damon were looking for a new project under the company banner as Affleck was finishing up production on his sequel to The Accountant. The two tried to do another crime thriller, Animals, at the top of the year, but scheduling with The Accountant 2 couldn’t be worked out and that was put on pause.

    No stranger to crime thrillers, Carnahan has made a name for himself over the years with such films as Narc and Smokin’ Aces (which Affleck also appeared in), and audiences can expect similar fireworks on this project given the talent already involved.

    Affleck and Damon are repped by WME. Carnahan is repped by CAA.

    Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons & Cynthia Addai-Robinson Returning For ‘The Accountant 2’ As Artists Equity Sets Up Sequel At Amazon MGM

    (3/7/24) Ben Affleck, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons, and Cynthia Addai-Robinson have locked deals to return for The Accountant 2, the sequel to the Gavin O’Connor-directed action thriller The Accountant, on which Amazon MGM Studios has teamed with Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity.

    Also set to return is O’Connor, who directs from a script penned by the original film’s screenwriter, Bill Dubuque. Artists Equity serves as the studio for the sequel and set the pic up at Amazon MGM after acquiring sequel rights from Warner Bros. This will be the companies’ fourth project together after the chart-topping Jennifer Lopez doc The Greatest Love Story Never Told, Golden Globe-nominated sports marketing drama Air, and the upcoming Unstoppable, based on the true story of wrestler Anthony Robles.

    Grossing $155M worldwide in its 2016 theatrical release before going on to become the most-rented digital film of the subsequent year, the first Accountant starred Affleck as a highly skilled CPA with autism who leads a double life as a forensic accountant for criminal organizations. When his Christian Wolff uncovers discrepancies in a legitimate robotics company, he must navigate a dangerous web of deceit while staying one step ahead of both the law and his criminal clients.

    Bernthal played Christian’s security company operator brother Brax, with Simmons as Ray King, the Director of the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Addai-Robinson took on the role of Marybeth Medina, an up-and-coming Treasury agent tasked with unearthing The Accountant’s real identity.

    The sequel’s plot is thrust into motion when Medina’s former boss is killed by unknown assassins, and she’s forced to contact Christian to solve the murder. With the help of his estranged but highly lethal brother Brax, Chris applies his brilliant mind and less-than-legal methods to piece together the unsolved puzzle. As they get closer to the truth, the trio draw the attention of some of the most ruthless killers alive — all intent on putting a stop to their search.

    Affleck and Damon are producing for Artists Equity, alongside 51 Entertainment’s Lynette Howell Taylor, and Mark Williams. Exec producers include Artists Equity’s Dani Bernfeld, Kevin Halloran, Michael Joe, and Alison Winter. In addition, Scott Lastaiti and Jamie Patricof serve as EPs.

    Affleck is coming off of Air, the drama examining Nike’s groundbreaking business deal with the NBA’s Michael Jordan on the Air Jordan shoe line. In addition to directing the acclaimed feature for Amazon MGM, he starred opposite Damon as Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Upon the pic’s SXSW world premiere, it went on to gross over $90M, more recently securing Affleck the Gotham Awards’ inaugural Visionary Icon and Creator Tribute. Earlier this year, Affleck found his next project behind the camera in Animals, a kidnapping thriller for Netflix that Damon will lead, with both producing.

    Most recently seen in Ava DuVernay’s Origin and FX’s The Bear, Bernthal has also over the last couple of years led the series American Gigolo and We Own This City. Next, he’ll reprise his role as Frank Castle aka The Punisher in the Marvel series Daredevil: Born Again for Disney+.

    On the film side, Simmons’ most recent notable credits include Spider-Man: No Way Home, STX’s National Champions, and Aaron Sorkin’s Oscar-nominated Amazon pic Being the Ricardos. Upcoming projects for the actor include Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2, Amazon’s holiday event film Red One, and Netflix’s action thriller The Union with Mark Wahlberg and Halle Berry, to name a few.

    In addition to Amazon’s The People We Hate at the Wedding, Addai-Robinson has appeared on The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, as Númenor’s Queen Regent Míriel, as well as shows like Power, Chicago Med, Shooter, and Arrow.

    Most recently, O’Connor directed the sports drama The Way Back, starring Affleck, which drew strong reviews, even if its box office was hampered given its launch during the earliest days of the Covid pandemic.

    Affleck is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham; Bernthal by CAA, Cognition, and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern; Simmons by Gersh; Addai-Robinson by Innovative Artists, Accelerate, Liebman Entertainment, and Felker Toczek Suddleson; O’Connor by WME and Yorn, Levine, Barnes; and Dubuque by CAA and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman.

    Ben Affleck’s Dunkin’ Super Bowl Ad Gets Extended Cut Treatment As He Forms Boy Band With Matt Damon & Tom Brady

    (2/13/24) (Video) An extended cut of Ben Affleck‘s Super Bowl commercial has dropped. The spot for Dunkin’ features the star’s full journey to pop stardom, assembling the boy band The DunKings.

    In the spot, Affleck enlists fellow Bostonian Matt Damon and former New England Patriots star Tom Brady to form a boy band.

    The extended cut begins with Affleck watching the news, where they call him “The Boredest Man In The World,” poking fun at his facial expressions when he’s out at events with his wife, J.Lo.

    Affleck, with donuts in hand, gets inspired to drop some beats and viewers see the whole process the actor took to come up with The DunKings concept.

    Charli D’Amelio makes a cameo as Affleck confronts her with a clip from an interview in which she is asked if she knows who the actor is.

    “Oh! Jennifer Lopez‘s husband, that’s cool,” D’Amelio says.

    Affleck takes some cues from D’Amelio on how to dance to do some “influencing” on social media.

    “She comes by my spot, don’t asks for permission. Now I’m just going to go in there and show her what I can do,” Affleck tells Jack Harlow about his idea of crashing into Jennifer Lopez’s recording session.

    Harlow tries to impede Affleck from doing so by telling him to listen to “the voice of reason,” telling Affleck it’s a bad idea.

    Lopez is then seen in the recording studio working on her latest album titled This Is Me… Now. Affleck then musters up the courage and crashes the session with “the Boston massacre — The DunKings.”

    “Sometimes it’s really hard to be your friend, man,” Damon says after Affleck introduced him.

    The DunKings then perform in front of J.Lo and Fat Joe, leaving Lopez perplexed and telling Affleck, “We’ve talked about this."

    Affleck gives up and leaves the studio but Lopez asks Brady to stay.

    The full song titled “Don’t Dunk Away at My Heart!” will be released on Dunkin’s socials on Valentine’s Day.

    Watch the extended cut of the Dunkin’ Super Bowl commercial above.

    BEN AFFLECK $10 Mil FOR DUNKIN' Super BOWL AD ... Glazed Greenbacks, Baby!!!

    (2/9/24) Ben Affleck's definitely getting the last laugh over his undying love of Dunkin' ... after thousands of memes mocked him for reppin' the coffee and donut shop so hard.

    Turns out the Oscar winner raked in a staggering $10 MILLION for his Super Bowl commercial last year, according to CNN. Remember, Ben appeared as a Dunkin' drive-thru worker in the 30-second clip, and his star power was a major treat for Dunkin'.

    (Video) The company reportedly sold more donuts the day after the Super Bowl than any other day in its history. Capitalizing on that smash hit, Ben then signed on as an official spokesperson -- and will appear in another commercial for them during this year's SB.

    But, it ain't just Ben who made major bucks on Super Sunday -- Larry David also snagged $10M for his now-controversial FTX ad ... and CNN says at least 2 other A-list celebs are making $5M this year for appearing on-camera for less than 20 seconds in ads.

    Keep in mind, companies are also dropping $7M just to air a 30-second spot!

    (Video) As for Ben's new SB spot ... Dunkin's ad men have him trollin' himself for his "miserable" expression at last year’s Grammys.

    Several million bucks for a few seconds of self-deprecation? Sweet gig if you can get it!!!

    2024 Super Bowl Commercial - Dunkin' - Ben Affleck

    (2/5/24) Super Bowl Commercial - Dunkin': Video.

    U2-Themed Documentary ‘Kiss The Future,’ Produced By Matt Damon & Ben Affleck, To Screen Exclusively At AMC Theatres

    (1/31/24) AMC Theatres will be the exclusive cinematic home to Kiss the Future, the award-winning documentary about the siege of Sarajevo and how its people and artistic community drew inspiration from the music of U2.

    Under a deal between AMC and Fifth Season, select AMC locations will debut the film on February 23 for what is described as a full theatrical run. Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, Christiane Amanpour, and former Pres. Bill Clinton are among those who appear in the film directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain and produced by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Sarah Anthony. Kiss the Future will become available to stream later this year exclusively on Paramount+.

    “Kiss the Future, directed by Nenad Cicin-Sain, story by Bill Carter and Cicin-Sain, screenplay by Carter, based on his memoir: Fools Rush In, is the story of defiance amid the 1990s siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War,” notes a release about the documentary. “The film focuses on a vibrant underground community who used music and art to effect change and garner global attention by ultimately inspiring an American aid worker to reach out to the world’s biggest band U2 to help raise awareness of the devastating conflict. Kiss the Future follows the band’s promise to perform a post-war concert that saw U2 play to over 45,000 local fans in a liberated city, a show that lives on as a joyous collective memory for the people of Sarajevo.”

    Cicin-Sain said in a statement, “Even in the darkest times, the people of Sarajevo were able to find purpose through playing music, making art and helping others. They did not just survive, they thrived.”

    Said Damon, “The powerful message of peace is as relevant and important today as it was in September 1997 when Bill Carter and Sarajevan community leaders brought U2 to post-war Sarajevo. Artists Equity is proud to bring Nenad’s wonderful, life-affirming film to theater audiences across the United States.”

    On Wednesday, February 21 at 7 p.m. local time, select AMC Theatres across the country will host an exclusive early screening. “Kiss the Future: A Dolby Special Event” will include an introduction from producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, plus a pre-recorded post-film discussion with Cicin-Sain, Ambassador Vesna Andree Zaimovic (a senior researcher on the film), and Bill Carter in conversation with U2’s The Edge and Adam Clayton, reflecting on “their personal experiences as part of the extraordinary Sarajevan creative community whose commitment to art and life and the City of Sarajevo was, and continues to be, an inspiration to so many.” (Tickets for that special event are now on sale at amctheatres.com and AMC’s mobile app).

    “AMC Theatres has a long-standing commitment to bring powerful and personal stories to the big screen with our AMC Artisan Films program,” said Elizabeth Frank, EVP Worldwide Programming & Chief Content Officer for AMC Theatres.

    Kiss the Future premiered last February at the Berlin Film Festival and held its North American premiere at the Tribeca Festival in June, where it screened as the opening night film. In August, it screened in competition at the Sarajevo Film Festival, winning Best Documentary Feature.

    Fifth Season is handling global distribution on the film, in addition to making the domestic theatrical distribution deal with AMC. Kiss the Future was financed and produced by Fifth Season and is a Fifth Season, Artists Equity, and an In Cahoots Production. WME co-represented the domestic rights with Fifth Season.

    AMC Theatres, headquartered in Leawood, KS, is the largest theatrical exhibitor in the U.S. Among the company’s innovations are pioneering the modern-day multiplex and online ticketing.

    Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Reteaming On Kidnapping Tale ‘Animals’ For Netflix; Makeready, Artists Equity & Fifth Season Producing

    (1/24/25) Following the success of Air, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck are reuniting again on the kidnapping thriller Animals, with Damon starring and Affleck directing. Connor McIntyre penned the script with revisions by Billy Ray. The film will be produced by Affleck, Damon and Dani Bernfeld of Artists Equity and Brad Weston and Collin Creighton of MakeReady, who developed the project in partnership with Fifth Season.

    Plot details are vague outside of it revolving around a kidnapping. Artists Equity’s Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran will serve as executive producers alongside Fifth Season. Damon, Affleck and Artists Equity most recently worked together on Air, which earned rave reviews and is one of Amazon’s biggest theatrical hits in the studio’s history with $90 million at the global box office.

    While Affleck is expected to reprise his role in the sequel to his hit movie The Accountant, the multihyphenate had been weighing a couple of directing options prior to that shoot and ultimately landed on Animals. Once Damon was attached to star, Netflix was quick to board in order to meet Affleck’s busy schedule where he could shoot this film and then follow it up with the Accountant sequel later this year.

    Damon had his own busy year in 2023, not only starring in Air but also appearing in the smash hit Oppenheimer, which just earned 13 Oscar nominations including Best Picture.

    Affleck, Damon and McIntyre are repped by WME.

    AARP Movies For Grownups Nominations

    (1/9/24) Best Director: Ben Affleck (Air), Michael Mann (Ferrari), Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer), Alexander Payne (The Holdovers), Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon)

    The Critics Choice Awards Nominations

    (12/13/23) The 29th annual Critics Choice Awards will air live Sunday January 14, 2024 on The CW from 7-10 pm ET (delayed PT, check local listings).

    BEST ACTING ENSEMBLE
    Air
    Barbie
    The Color Purple
    The Holdovers
    Killers of the Flower Moon
    Oppenheimer

    Nominations For The 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards

    (12/11/23) The awards ceremony will Air Live on CBS and Stream on Paramount+ on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024

    BEST MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
    AIR (Amazon MGM Studios)
    AMERICAN FICTION (Orion Pictures / Amazon MGM Studios)
    BARBIE (Warner Bros. Pictures)
    THE HOLDOVERS (Focus Features)
    MAY DECEMBER (Netflix)
    POOR THINGS (Searchlight Pictures)

    BEST PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – MUSICAL OR COMEDY
    NICOLAS CAGE (DREAM SCENARIO)
    TIMOTHÉE CHALAMET (WONKA)
    MATT DAMON (AIR)
    PAUL GIAMATTI (THE HOLDOVERS)
    JOAQUIN PHOENIX (BEAU IS AFRAID)
    JEFFREY WRIGHT (AMERICAN FICTION)

    ‘Air’ To Receive Tribute At Gotham Awards Recognizing Both The Ben Affleck-Directed Film And The Team Behind Michael Jordan Shoe Phenomenon

    (10/16/23) Air has been set for a special honor at next month’s Gotham Awards.

    The film, which tells the story of the creation of the Air Jordan brand, will receive the Gotham Visionary Icon & Creator Tribute. The newly created award recognizes director Ben Affleck‘s film as well as the real-life collaborators on the Michael Jordan shoe phenomenon.

    The Gotham Film & Media Institute’s ceremony, this year set for November 27 at New York’s Cipriani Wall Street, represents the unofficial kickoff of awards season. Nominees for competitive categories in film and TV will be announced October 24.

    “Both gripping and hilarious, Air is a deeply refreshing reminder to the film industry that audiences respond to smart, original narratives,” said Jeffrey Sharp, the institute’s executive director. “By capturing the dramatic story behind the most monumental partnership in the history of sports marketing, the film highlights the power of knowing your worth and using that knowledge to take the right risks.”

    Air was released theatrically by Amazon last spring and it began streaming on Prime Video in May.

    The film is set in 1984, as Jordan is making the transition from the national college basketball championship team at North Carolina to the NBA’s Chicago Bulls. It depicts the then-unfathomable choice by Jordan and his family to align with Nike rather than rivals Converse or Adidas, who were dominating the marketplace at the time. The decision would alter the future of sports and celebrity.

    Affleck plays Nike founder Phil Knight and the cast also features Matt Damon, Jason Bateman, Chris Messina, Marlon Wayans, Chris Tucker, Julius Tennon and Viola Davis. Air is the first film produced by Affleck and Damon’s production company, Artists Equity, and was also backed by Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures.

    Hollywood Stars Donate $1 Million Each To SAG-AFTRA Foundation To Aid Fellow Performers During Dual Strikes

    (8/2/23) Hollywood’s superstars are answering the call from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, donating $1 million or more each to help their fellow performers during the ongoing actors and writers strikes.

    The foundation said Wednesday that over the past three weeks it has raised more than $15 million from a growing list of $1 million donors to the Foundation’s Emergency Financial Assistance Program, including:

    George and Amal Clooney
    Luciana and Matt Damon
    Leonardo DiCaprio
    Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Furness
    Dwayne Johnson
    Nicole Kidman
    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck
    Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively
    Julia Roberts
    Arnold Schwarzenegger
    Meryl Streep
    Oprah Winfrey

    “Thanks to the support of some of Hollywood’s top-earning stars, the Foundation is preparing to bring aid and hope to thousands of journeymen actors facing tremendous economic hardship,” the foundation said in a release today.

    “The entertainment industry is in crisis and the SAG-AFTRA Foundation is currently processing more than 30 times our usual number of applications for emergency aid,” said SAG-AFTRA Foundation president Courtney B. Vance. “We received 400 applications in the last week alone. Our Emergency Financial Assistance Program is here to ensure that performers in need don’t lose their homes, have the ability to pay for utilities, buy food for their families, purchase life-saving prescriptions, cover medical bills and more. It’s a massive challenge, but we’re determined to meet this moment. For more than 38 years, the Foundation has been a safety net for our community during its most challenging times, and much like the Covid pandemic, this work stoppage magnifies the precarious living conditions and financial distress of many actors living paycheck to paycheck.”

    Johnson helped kick-start the campaign with a seven-figure donation, Vance said, noting that Streep and George Clooney, two longtime supporters of the foundation and leaders of its Actors Council, then “stepped up with $1 million donations, emails, and many calls to action rallying others to give generously. We’ve crushed our initial goal because our people are coming together, but we still aren’t done. Our fundraising will continue in order to meet the overwhelming needs of our community now and in the future.”

    Streep and Clooney called on the companies to end the strikes. The Writers Guild struck the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on May 2, followed by SAG-AFTRA on July 14.

    “I remember my days as a waiter, cleaner, typist, even my time on the unemployment line,” Streep said in a statement. “In this strike action, I am lucky to be able to support those who will struggle in a long action to sustain against Goliath. We will stand strong together against these powerful corporations who are bent on taking the humanity, the human dignity, even the human out of our profession. I am proudest of my fellow actors who have immediately offered to fund the Emergency Financial Assistance Program.”

    “We stand ready to get back to the table and make a fair deal with the AMPTP,” Clooney said. “Until then, I’m proud to be able to support the SAG-AFTRA Foundation and my fellow actors who may be struggling in this historic moment. We’ve stood on the shoulders of the likes of Bette Davis and Jimmy Cagney and it’s time for our generation to give something back. I can’t thank Courtney enough for his determination in putting this effort together by shedding light on the human toll happening right now, and how we can work together to alleviate some of the pain and suffering.”.

    Ben and Jen Finally Seal the Deal on $60 Million Home!!!

    (5/31/23) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are wasting no time now that they've purchased a new home together ... because they're already moving in their stuff, and the house is buzzing with activity.

    Ben and Jen's belongings are piled up high in the driveway ... and there's tons of furniture, paintings, rugs and a bunch of moving boxes.

    Moving crews are hard at work getting everything inside ... and it looks like Jen and Ben will have no problems filling out their massive estate.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have FINALLY bought a house after 2 years of looking ... and it's amazing.

    The house boasts a cinema, wine room, whiskey lounge and a spa with a hair and nail salon, and a sauna and massage room. And get this, there's also a separate, 5,000-square-foot sports facility, which includes an indoor pickleball court, boxing ring and sports lounge. On top of that, there's a 2-bedroom guard house.

    In all, there are 12 bedrooms, 24 bathrooms and 15 fireplaces!

    Ben and Jen paid $60,850,000 ... and they paid in cash. The whole deal took 1 week, start to finish.

    It sounds like a lot of loot, but it turns out they got an incredible deal. The property was listed in 2018 for $135,000,000 and relisted this year for $75M.

    It sits on a 5-acre promontory and the security is unmatched ... the estate is double-gated.

    It's considered the crown jewel of Wallingford, and that's saying something.

    The newlyweds have had several false starts, going into escrow on a few other estates but pulling the plug before closing.

    Ben and Jen were repped by celeb realtor Brett Lawyer. The seller was repped by Ginger Glass.

    ‘Hypnotic’ Trailer: Ben Affleck Stars In Robert Rodriguez’s Long-In-Works Thriller

    (4/3/23) (Video) The trailer for Hypnotic, the thriller directed by Robert Rodriguez and starring Ben Affleck, dropped Monday ahead of its May 12 release. The pic is coming off a work-in-progress screening last month at SXSW.

    Ketchup Entertainment acquired U.S. rights to the big-budget pic earlier this year; the project, which went into production in late 2021 after several pandemic delays and a lawsuit, saw its original financier and U.S. distributor Solstice Studios shut down. Now it will be released via Ketchup on more than 2,000 screens, helped by several former Solstice executives who will assist in getting the film over the finish line.

    Hypnotic got a warm reception at SXSW. The feature centers on a detective (Affleck) who finds himself spiraling down a rabbit hole while investigating a series of reality-bending crimes mysteriously connected to his missing daughter. Aided by a gifted psychic (Alice Braga), he is pursued by a lethal specter (William Fichtner) who he believes holds the key to finding his daughter.

    JD Pardo, Hala Finley, Dayo Okeniyi, Jeff Fahey and Jackie Earle Haley also star.

    In Deadline’s scoop about the release date and strategy, Affleck is keen to support the project but is also doing rounds for his Nike movie Air and DC’s The Flash, which are being released in April and June, respectively. As it stands, Hypnotic launches the week after Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 and the same weekend as Sony’s Love Again and Focus Features’ Book Club the Next Chapter.

    Check above for the Hypnotic trailer, which was unveiled today during an exclusive event on IGN.

    Ben Affleck Dunkin’ On Matt Damon In New Donut Commercial

    (4/3/23) (Video) Following up on his Dunkin’ Super Bowl ad with wife Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck is hitting the donut shop again, this time accompanied by – in spirit anyway – longtime pal and Air co-star Matt Damon.

    In the spot released today, Affleck enters a Dunkin’ shop to film a commercial for the $1 Dunkin Run campaign. The actor, who directed and conceived the ad, is mistaken by two Dunkin’ employees for that other guy.

    When one of the workers thinks she might know who he is – “You know, The Departed,” she says – her coworker has an a-ha moment and praises Matt Damon. “He’s had a really consistent career, I think."

    Best moment: Affleck’s Boston-heavy pronunciation of his pal’s movie, “The De-pahted.”

    Check out the spot above.

    Ben Affleck on ‘Air,’ New CEO Gig and Those Memes: “I Am Who I Am”

    (3/16/23) (hollywoodreporter.com) It’s been 25 years since Ben Affleck became the youngest person to win the Oscar for best original screenplay at age 25 for Good Will Hunting, which he wrote with Matt Damon; 16 years since he directed his critically acclaimed first feature, Gone Baby Gone; and a decade since he won best picture for Argo, a film Affleck directed, starred in and produced. His four features as a director — all thrillers and dramas instead of the kind of franchise films that drive the modern box office — have made nearly $450 million worldwide.

    It’s an enviable filmmaking résumé, and one that pretty much nobody brings up when you say the name Ben Affleck. But while the world has been scrutinizing his marriage, his mood and his coffee order, Affleck has been quietly building a new production company, Artists Equity, with Damon, founded on the premise of profit-sharing among not only directors, producers and actors but also crewmembers such as cinematographers, editors and costume designers.

    Affleck and Damon obtained at least $100 million in financing from investment firm RedBird Capital Partners to start and made their own financial contributions to Artists Equity, with Affleck, 50, serving as CEO, and Damon, 52, as chief creative officer. “Ben and I have both been making movies for over 30 years,” says Damon. “We know the things that actually matter to people — but ask Ben to see the spreadsheets.”

    Their company’s first movie and Affleck’s latest as a director, is Air, the story of how Michael Jordan’s family and a group of executives at Nike revolutionized the business with one historic sneaker deal. Air, which Amazon will premiere at the South by Southwest film festival March 18 before releasing it wide theatrically April 5, stars Viola Davis as Jordan’s mother; Damon, Chris Tucker and Jason Bateman as execs at Nike; and Affleck as Nike co-founder and former CEO Phil Knight. Making Air was “an unbelievable experience that me and my husband and even my hair and makeup team still talk about to this day,” says Davis, whose husband, actor and producer Julius Tennon, plays Jordan’s father in the film. “Ben’s an auteur and so unbelievably kind and respectful. It was one of our top experiences of being treated the way we felt we deserved to be treated.”

    Over the course of two wide-ranging interviews in March, Affleck spoke with THR about what he’s learned from his ups and downs — from a tearful moment in 2007, when he realized his career wasn’t actually over, to the agony of almost wishing that it was, on Justice League. Affleck describes what it was like to wear the Batsuit once more for this summer’s The Flash, how he secured Jordan’s blessing for Air, what advice wife Jennifer Lopez gave him for the movie and this interview, and what it’s like to be a walking meme: “At a certain point,” says Affleck, “I am who I am.”

    You recently had COVID. How are you feeling?

    I’d had it a couple of times and been asymptomatic, and so I got kind of cavalier and a little bit like, “Wow, COVID doesn’t really actually affect me. I’m one of those people.” And then I just got annihilated. I had the no-energy COVID, where it was too much work to pick up the phone to play Octordle.

    To play what?

    Octordle. It’s just Wordle with more words. Don’t be impressed, it’s not harder. I was invited to join a cool little red velvet rope celebrity Wordle group. Matt [Damon]’s one of them. Jason Bateman and Bradley [Cooper], and … Actually, the first rule of Wordle is don’t talk about Wordle. Unless you get it in three guesses. I used to do the crossword compulsively in the mornings and think I was good at word games. And let’s face it, going up against actors, it’s not a high bar. I expected to do fairly well, so I was seriously humbled. You have to do the Wordle, the Quordle and the Octordle, and add up your score, and then whoever gets the lowest score wins for the day. It’s fiercely competitive, and there’s a lot of mockery and derision. So I’m in training.

    You and Matt Damon are starting a company together more than 40 years after you became friends. I’m curious about the longevity of the friendship and the business relationship, and how that works.

    I suppose the reason it works is that I trust him and love him, and I know that this is somebody with integrity. In this business, failure is hard, and success is confusing and can make you lose your bearings. Having that friendship as a touchstone over the years was really meaningful. One of the things we reflected on when we did The Last Duel that caused us to want to do this company together was the fact that we wished we’d kept working together more over the years. We fell prey to this idea that, “Well, if you don’t individuate your careers and do your own things, people will always associate you together. That will be limiting.”

    Was that advice you got?

    That was advice we got. And also just a function of the fact that our goal was to work as actors. The motivation behind making Good Will Hunting was to serve as an acting reel so that we could get jobs as actors, not because we wanted to be writers. So when we became successful and had the opportunity to do movies, we took them. And it’s very hard to let go of that hand-to-mouth mentality you have as an actor. The phone could stop ringing at any time, and especially where Matt and I grew up pretty modestly, it was almost irresponsible to not take a job where they were going to pay you a lot of money. My mother made, I don’t know, $30,000 a year as a public school teacher in Boston. And I remember making $600,000 for Armageddon and thinking, “This is 20 years of my mother’s salary.” It just seemed absurd that you would pass on that opportunity, no matter what it was. A thing that you have to learn — one of many things we helped one another with — is that at a certain point, it becomes very meaningful the things you turn down, in terms of the kind of career that you create.

    There’s a version of your life now where you direct a movie every couple of years, go to your kids’ basketball games and hang out by the pool with your wife. So why are you adding this new role of running a company?

    My wife doesn’t have a lot of downtime. But that does sound great. You’re making assumptions that I wish were true but aren’t, which is … I’ve had a number of movies I wanted to direct that were like, “Yeah, we want to do it in Bulgaria.” And I’m like, “In Bulgaria?”

    One of the reasons I did it was, I’m divorced. I share custody. I don’t want to go to Austin and New Orleans and Georgia anymore and not see my kids. It just doesn’t work. These years are too important. If I miss them, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. And then I thought, “OK, well, if I’m in Los Angeles and I’m in an office and I’m doing this work, I can step out for the basketball game or the jazz performance.” So I protect those things.

    Is that working?

    I’ve found that people are taking me quite seriously. As an actor, people look at you, like, “He doesn’t really mean that.” But [in business] they treat it as sacrosanct. They’ll go, “Yeah, well, we were going to have that meeting with the heads of the Five Families, but you had your kid’s basketball game.” Now, my parents never came to one Little League game ever, once. But in the modern era of raising children, with three kids, 11, 14, and 17, and three schools with their individual activities, it turns out that is in and of itself a total full-time job.

    You’re launching this company at a time when the movie business is changing.

    When The Way Back came out, I knew. It came out the weekend they shut the theaters down with COVID. But that’s not an excuse. Because I knew as it was coming out, just the tracking, I was like, “OK, here’s a movie about a guy, son dies, gets divorced, alcoholic. Nobody’s going to go to the theater to see this fucking movie. They’re just not.” I felt it. Succession is on. Ozark. Narcos. Game of Thrones. You’re not competing with [1980s crime drama] Simon & Simon on an 11-inch black-and-white TV. There’s really beautiful stuff being made. My daughter is 17. She lives her life largely in opposition to the work her parents have spent their lives dedicated to, where she’ll say things like, “I’m not sure film is really … Do you think it’s a genuine art form?” I like the fact that she has this silver rapier tongue. But anyway, I went into it going, “OK, these movies aren’t fucking working anymore. And these are the ones I like.”

    As opposed to —

    The Justice League experience, the fact that those stories became somewhat repetitive to me and less interesting. Yeah, I did finally figure out how to play that character [Batman], and I nailed it in The Flash. For the five minutes I’m there, it’s really great. A lot of it’s just tone. You’ve got to figure out, what’s your version of the person? Who is the guy that fits what you can do? I tried to fit myself into a Batman. And by the way, I like a lot of the stuff we did, especially the first one [Batman v Superman].

    But not Justice League. What went wrong there?

    Justice League … You could teach a seminar on all the reasons why this is how not to do it. Ranging from production to bad decisions to horrible personal tragedy, and just ending with the most monstrous taste in my mouth. The genius, and the silver lining, is that Zack Snyder eventually went to AT&T and was like, “Look, I can get you four hours of content.” And it’s principally just all the slow motion that he shot in black-and-white. And one day of shooting with me and him. He was like, “Do you want to come shoot in my backyard?” I was like, “I think there are unions, Zack. I think we have to make a deal.” But I went and did it. And now [Zack Snyder’s Justice League] is my highest-rated movie on IMDb.

    Isn’t that because Zack Snyder’s fans are so intense online?

    Say what you want, it is my highest-rated career movie. I’ve never had one that went from nadir to pinnacle. Retroactively, it’s a hit. All of a sudden I was getting congratulated for the bomb I’m in. But I was going to direct a Batman, and [Justice League] made me go, “I’m out. I never want to do any of this again. I’m not suited.” That was the worst experience I’ve ever seen in a business which is full of some shitty experiences. It broke my heart. There was an idea of someone [Joss Whedon] coming in, like, “I’ll rescue you and we’ll do 60 days of shooting and I’ll write a whole thing around what you have. I’ve got the secret.” And it wasn’t the secret. That was hard. And I started to drink too much. I was back at the hotel in London, it was either that or jump out the window. And I just thought, “This isn’t the life I want. My kids aren’t here. I’m miserable.” You want to go to work and find something interesting to hang onto, rather than just wearing a rubber suit, and most of it you’re just standing against the computer screen going, “If this nuclear waste gets loose, we’ll …” That’s fine. I don’t condescend to that or put it down, but I got to a point where I found it creatively not satisfying. Also just, you’re sweaty and exhausted. And I thought, “I don’t want to participate in this in any way. And I don’t want to squander any more of my life, of which I have a limited amount.”

    So if DC came to you now and said, “Do you want to direct something?”

    I would not direct something for the [James] Gunn DC. Absolutely not. I have nothing against James Gunn. Nice guy, sure he’s going to do a great job. I just wouldn’t want to go in and direct in the way they’re doing that. I’m not interested in that.

    I heard you say recently, “Fifteen percent of movie budgets are waste.” Which 15 percent are you talking about?

    I don’t believe in the whole “I get paid even in failure” thing. It always struck me as bizarre that I walked away with so much money from Gigli and everyone else got flattened. Seems a little bit like I was not aligned quite with the investors in that regard.

    The studios and the people who make the movies are increasingly separate, from different worlds. They don’t understand one another’s values, and there’s suspicion. And it creates conflict. I was on [my 2016 movie] Live by Night, and they were dressing an extra — it must have cost $700 to dress this extra in the period. Five hundred feet away from the camera. And we were waiting while they did the touch-ups. And it was just like, “Guys. This is not meaningful, but it’s taking away from the time and the resources we have to do something authentically enough that it moves the audience. They don’t care if the curls are 1930 or 1920.”

    How did you approach Michael Jordan about the story you’re telling in Air? Did you know each other?

    I periodically play cards sometimes with Michael, and we’ve got mutual friends, and … None of it sounds good, OK? And it’s not like he’d be like, “Oh yeah, Ben’s my boy.” (Imitating Jordan’s voice.) He’d be like, “Yeah, I know him.” Jordan is — he’s a hero to me. And I know how important and meaningful a figure he is, in particular in the African American community. If you’re going to fuck around with talking about Michael Jordan, do it respectfully. Nobody’s asking you to do a hagiography, but get it fucking right. I’ve never known anybody with that kind of charisma and power who walks into a room and it just reverberates. And is it him or is it the way people treat him? Is it your memories of him? I don’t know, but it’s powerful. I said, “Please, can I come out?” And he was great. “Yeah, no problem. Come to the golf course.” Went out, met with him. I waited for him to finish playing. I don’t golf myself. Because I just feel like it eats people’s lives up.

    Golf?

    I look at golf like meth. They have better teeth, but it doesn’t seem like people ever come out of that. Once they start golfing, you just don’t ever see them again. So anyway, I waited. I have to be very clear, this is not the authorized Michael Jordan story. He was not compensated in a way that would be appropriate if this were that. If you’re going to do a Michael Jordan story, they should back the fucking truck up. This was me saying, “Mike, I’m not going to make the movie if you’re not cool with something about it. I just won’t do it. I want to know what’s important to you.” He was very clear. He was the one who told me about [Nike executive] Howard White, who wasn’t in the original script, who’s played by Chris Tucker. And I said, “Any anecdotes about your dad?” And without going into any more detail, he actually talked about his mom, who wasn’t really in the script. That’s when I understood what the movie was. Talking to him about his mom was incredibly moving, and I realized, “Oh, this isn’t about Nike.”

    Damon with Viola Davis, Michael Jordan’s choice to play his mother in Air, which chronicles Nike’s quest to sign the basketball superstar.

    I said, “So, do you have any ideas about who would …?” And immediately I was like, “Oh, fuck.” Because I’m about to ask him who to cast. And if I don’t get them, it’s going to look to him like I ignored him. It’s actually hard to get actors. And I knew who he was going to say because it was the same person that I’ve wanted to direct for so long, who I think is … I don’t think there’s an objective best actor. But I do think there’s a group of people who you can say, “These are the best actors in the world.” And Viola’s quite obviously among them. And [Jordan] looked at me real straight and — by the way, there’s one line for the mother character in the movie at this point — and I’m thinking, “Oh my God, he wants me to offer this to Viola Davis. How am I going to offer Viola Davis a movie with one line? That’s not going to happen.” But he was like, “That’s my mom.” He was dead serious. “Viola Davis, that’s my mom.” And that was it. Discussion was over. However it happened, it wasn’t his problem, but it was going to fucking happen. And I was like, “OK, Mike.”

    How did you get Viola Davis?

    Begging. I’m sure it was because I said, “Michael Jordan wants you to play his mom.” It certainly wasn’t “Ben Affleck wants you to be in his movie.” She’s not comfortable with sycophancy or obsequiousness. You can tell it chafes her. I just treated her with respect, which is to say, “When you’re ready, let me know. We’ll be here.” I want what she does in the movie to be a surprise — because as I started writing and working with Matt, and Jen [Lopez] gave me some great lines too — it just started getting better.

    What was Jen’s input on the script?

    Oh my God, she’s brilliant. She is incredibly knowledgeable about the way fashion evolves through the culture as a confluence of music, sports, entertainment and dance. She helped me in talking about the way in which a part of the reason why Jordans [the shoes] were so meaningful is because culture and style in America is 90 percent driven by Black culture. Black culture has historically pioneered music, dance, fashion, and it’s then been stolen, appropriated, remarketed as Elvis or whatever. And in this case, [Nike], a white-run corporate entity, was starting to do business with African American athletes in an identity affiliation sales thing. They were really taking value from what Michael Jordan represents and who he is. I don’t think the meaning can be overstated. They’re going to switch from “Hey, guys, we are a nice shoe,” to “If Mike has it, you want it.”

    I love making movies. Me and Matt have something really good coming. We’re doing better than I thought we would ever do, says Affleck. Ralph Lauren jacket, Billy Reid shirt.

    What you expressed about white America using Black culture, as a white filmmaker telling this story, do you risk replicating that dynamic?

    I wouldn’t make a movie whose central premise is the appropriation of Black culture for profit by white Americans. That’s not my film to make. I’m telling a story that’s about a combination of things, and this is one aspect of it. I’m not going to omit it because to omit it would further compound the disrespect. What I am going to do is talk to people who understand it better than I do and who can help me contextualize it, and that was [costume designer] Charlese [Antoinette Jones], that was Viola. Chris [Tucker], he gave me monologues, he gave me scenes, and it was very organic. And that’s why I was like, “I want Chris paid as a writer also. I want to be very clear that he is a contributing voice to this movie.” We [Affleck, Damon and Tucker] didn’t end up asking for [writing] credit on the movie. But it’s important for me to say Chris Tucker is a fucking really good writer.

    Why did you make the choice to never show Michael Jordan’s face in this movie? You cast a body double and you shot him from behind or in profile.

    Jordan is too big. He exists above and around the story, but if you ever concretize him, if you ever say, “Yes, that’s Michael Jordan,” we know it’s not, really. It’s fake. I thought if the audience brought everything they thought and remembered about him and what he meant to them to the movie and projected it onto the movie, it worked better.

    What kind of conversation did you have with Nike about how you would portray the company?

    I did not have a conversation with Nike because I didn’t feel the same sense of personal responsibility [as I did to Michael Jordan] because it’s not a history of Nike. There’s interviews and books about that.

    The operating principle of Artists Equity is that people who work on a film have an ownership stake in it. How did that work on Air?

    I was talking to [cinematographer] Bob Richardson. He’s a genius. And I said, “Bob, what if I gave you a million bucks to save me five [million]? Could you do it?” And he goes, “Fuck, I’ll save you 10.” There are people who just have their hand on the wheel in ways people don’t understand. Your editor, producer, DP, first AD, production designer. The idea is you get really good people, and you say to them, “Look, if we’re able to accomplish what we set out to accomplish, you’re going to participate in a very significant way in the delta between what the movie costs to make and what we sell it for.” The people who were bonused on this movie, like Bob and all the crew, their bonus was a piece of the pool of the sale [to Amazon]. Almost all of them are, on a weekly basis now, the highest-paid crewpeople in history, by a multiple.

    Loro Piana sweater, Levi’s vintage jeans, Nike Air Jordan sneakers.

    Do you want Artists Equity to stay independent or do you want a studio deal?

    The first-look deal is going to be a dinosaur very soon. It’s a horrendous deal. You’re restricting yourself in unimaginably disastrous ways for a few shiny trinkets. The experiment for me is to say [to the studio], “Don’t worry about what the budget is. That’s my job. I’m going to do my best with the budget. I’m going to guarantee you and cover all the overages. And, by the way, director, actor, company, all on the hook for overage.”

    So is there a scenario where your DP would have to pay money if you went over budget? Crews usually don’t assume that kind of risk.

    They’d make much less because we’d go, “We went over, guys, so you’re going to get paid like a scale movie.” So the compensation is, if we do very well, Bob should do galactically well, so should our first AD, and so should Chris Tucker, Viola Davis, Matt Damon, who are driving the value. At studios, historically you’d go in, pitch, and then they’d quietly go back to marketing and distribution and say, “Well, let’s run the numbers.” And they’d go to the territories and talk about genre and stars. Now, it’s a much more coarse process. They say, “Well, we have 118 categories [for content]. We know X works and Y, and so we’ll pay Z for that.” But there’s no formula for something being good. At Artists Equity, we have a joint venture with a data research AI-modeling company that has a lot of consumer information. We can reach out to people and go, “What are you watching? Do you like this?” The inscrutability around the streamers is very frustrating because you go, “Are people watching this or not?”

    Do the streamers give you data on your movies?

    No, they won’t.

    Let’s say one of your old movies is a hit on a streaming service and —

    Well, last year, [my 2010 movie] The Town licensed for $15 million again. Because it streams. That’s the other big tenet of our company: We seek to retain the negative, to be the copyright holder, which we share with the artist. Being the copyright holder, even if it’s in 15 years when it reverts — and it should revert — you should own it because if it works, if it’s Shawshank Redemption, they’re still fucking watching it. The biggest thing on Netflix is Friends. There’s enormous value in libraries. And the streamers have overreached and recaptured too much value. The old gross days, you could really make money. They’ve taken away some of that value, so I need at least to be able to know, “Hey, look, I know people are watching. I know what this is worth to you.”

    Amazon is releasing Air in theaters. When you started on this movie, did you envision it for streaming or theaters?

    I assumed it would be a streaming movie because I thought maybe dramas would never come out again in theaters. The Way Back, when they pulled it, I was so heartbroken. And then [former Warner Bros. Pictures chairman Toby Emmerich] was like, “We’re going to rush it onto iTunes.” And then I got all these emails and calls and people saw it. That was the day I thought, “Well, shit, I’d rather people see the movie. I like a theater as much as the next guy, but a tree falling in the woods.” And now there’s an enormous pressure that I feel here. I mean, I hope that it works.

    Why aren‘t you on Instagram? Your wife is very good at it.

    My wife’s a genius at that. I don’t know if there’s anybody who understands Instagram better than her. In fact, she gave me a talk this morning before this interview. She thinks that because of experiences that I’ve had, I’ve become very guarded. And she’s right. I view these things as land mines, where if you say one wrong thing, your career might be over. I had a really painful experience where I did an interview where I was really vulnerable, and the entire pickup was something that was not only not right, it was actually the opposite of what I meant.

    Affleck with wife Jennifer Lopez, who gave him a pep talk for this interview. She thinks that because of experiences that I’ve had, I’ve become very guarded, he says. And she’s right.

    This is when you were on Howard Stern and you talked about drinking toward the end of your marriage to Jennifer Garner?

    The idea that I was blaming my wife for my drinking. To be clear, my behavior is my responsibility entirely. The point that I was trying to make was a sad one. Anyone who’s been through divorce makes that calculus of, How much do we try? We loved each other. We care about each other. We have respect for each other. I was trying to say, “Hey, look, I was drinking too much, and the less happy you become, whether it’s your job, your marriage, it’s just that as your life becomes more difficult, if you’re doing things to fill a hole that aren’t healthy, you’re going to start doing more of those things.” I think I was pretty articulate about that. It was the New York Post who deliberately mischaracterized it in order to make it clickbait, and everyone else then picked it up, and it didn’t matter how many times I said, “I do not feel this way. I’m telling you, I don’t blame my ex-wife for my alcoholism.” So, yeah. It’s hard. But anyway, so [Jennifer Lopez] tells me today, “Relax, be yourself. Have fun. You’re actually a fun guy who is real and genuine and you just seem so serious.” Do I seem serious? But as in many things, she’s really right. And she loves me. She’s looking out for me. She’s trying to help me. So it’s like, maybe I ought to fucking listen to her.

    Yesterday there was a news cycle devoted to your parallel parking.

    Dude, you know how many people can get in that spot? That was world-class Boston finesse. Granted, I did decide maybe I’m not going to bump these people anymore because it’s the Pacific Palisades and they may view bumping the bumper differently than we did back home, but it was so fucking snug. I’ve never gotten a spot that good. It was not parking assist either. It wasn’t blocking anything, but I’m sure it was like, “Ben Affleck blocks traffic.”

    Did you mind the “Ben Affleck having a bad time at the Grammys” meme?

    No. I had a good time at the Grammys. My wife was going, and I thought, “Well, there’ll be good music. It might be fun.” At movie award shows, it’s speeches and, like, sound-mixing webinars. But I thought this would be fun. I saw [Grammy host Trevor Noah approach] and I was like, “Oh, God.” They were framing us in this shot, but I didn’t know they were rolling. I leaned into her and I was like, “As soon they start rolling, I’m going to slide away from you and leave you sitting next to Trevor.” She goes, “You better fucking not leave.” That’s a husband-and-wife thing. I mean, some of it is, I’m like, “All right, who is this act?” Like, I don’t keep up. My wife does, obviously. And yeah, it is your wife’s work event. And I’ve gone to events and been pissed off. I’ve gone and been bored. I’ve gone to award shows and been drunk, a bunch. Nobody ever once said I’m drunk. [But at the Grammys] they were like, “He’s drunk.” And I thought, that’s interesting. That raises a whole other thing about whether or not it’s wise to acknowledge addiction because there’s a lot of compassion, but there is still a tremendous stigma, which is often quite inhibiting. I do think it disincentivizes people from making their lives better.

    How has talking publicly about your alcoholism impacted you?

    I became — out of no desire of my own — one of the poster boys for actor alcoholism and recovery and the whole thing. And the best part about that is that sometimes people call me up and they’re like, “Hey, can you help me out?” And it makes me feel so good to do that. The big trick of 12-step is the reason they want you to help other people is because it actually helps you more. And often what I’ll say to people is, I would avoid [your addiction] coming out if I were you. You don’t need to be anybody’s poster child. You don’t need to fucking tell anybody. That’s why there’s two words on the front of the book. They’re just as important, both of them: Alcoholics Anonymous. It’s always anonymous.

    Can you tell me about your performance in Air as Nike founder Phil Knight?

    Phil is an interesting guy. I got really interested in Buddhism because I have a difficult time with the theistic aspects of AA. I’ve just always been a skeptic. One of the things I like about Buddhism is it’s like, believe what you believe. If this doesn’t seem true to you, don’t believe. We’re not going to burn you alive. Anyway, so here’s this guy [Phil Knight]. He talks about Buddhism, Eastern philosophy. He also talks about being a ruthless capitalist. So right there, I think this is a guy of many contradictions, which is fun to play. There’s a tension between having once been the entrepreneur, the guy selling shoes out of your car, and now running a big company, being responsible for everyone’s jobs. That’s a real change. And how do you reconcile that? The way he vacillates [about spending to sign Michael Jordan] but in the end goes for it. When we tested the movie in Vegas, people cheered. I was happy because I thought, “Good, they get it.” But I did not expect the audience to stand up and cheer for Phil Knight. I think it speaks to the fact that in this culture, we venerate capitalists. It’s our version of the divine right of kings.

    I showed it to Paul [Thomas] Anderson, my favorite director of all time. He knows I really look up to him. And he was like, “This is just a fun movie. I like this movie.” And I’m thinking, “Is it a masterpiece?” Because I think he really is a genius. This guy knows how to do this. Sometimes I get a sort of a [Antonio] Salieri feeling around him. Yeah, I’m good enough to know how great you really are. See, this is me being myself. Let’s find out if it becomes clickbait.

    This story first appeared in the March 16 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

    Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck settle on prominent $64M LA billionaire’s mansion

    (3/8/23) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have been wishy-washy when it comes to finding their perfect home.

    Last month, the newlyweds were in escrow for a $34.5 million California home in affluent Pacific Palisades. But at the last second, they pulled out of buying it.

    Instead, it looks like they may have finally settled on prime real estate from one of the most prominent families in Los Angeles.

    Owned by Gregory Milken — one of the city’s wealthiest residents — along with his wife, EJ, the 1.13-acre property in Pacific Palisades listed not even a week ago before the couple scooped it up.

    Hitting the market for $64 million, Gregory, EJ and their five children have lived in the home for more than a decade, purchasing the property back in 2009 for $14.5 million.

    The home spans over 13,000 square feet and comes with a 3,000-square-foot guest house.

    Gregory’s father, Michael Milken, was one of Wall Street’s most powerful financiers during the 1980s — and gained distinction for the development of high-yield bonds, sometimes called “junk bonds.”

    Made up of six bedrooms and 10 baths, the property spans a colossal 13,000 square feet and comes with a 3,000-square-foot two-bedroom, four-bathroom guest house.

    Features include two studies, a media room, an expansive game room that opens out to the backyard, two playrooms, an expansive kitchen and a family room.

    Additionally, there’s an 800-square-foot gym for Lopez to get her sweat on.

    The grounds feature a long driveway that opens to a large motor court, the listing says.

    Outdoor amenities includes a resort-style pool and spa, and a fire feature.

    Fred Bernstein with Westside Estate Agency holds the listing.

    Lopez, 53, and Affleck, 50, have been touring homes since the summer of 2021. Last March, they were also in contract to buy a $50 million mansion before ultimately deciding against it.

    Meanwhile, Lopez has already found a buyer for her French-style, nine-bedroom Bel-Air property of six years that she listed for $42.5 million last month.

    With 'Air,' Affleck tells lesser-known Michael Jordan story

    (2/18/23) Ben Affleck was 12 years old in 1984 and growing up in the Boston area. The Celtics were NBA champions. The Red Sox and Patriots were respectable. The Bruins got swept in the first round of the playoffs.

    And that also was when Nike was betting much of its future on Michael Jordan.

    Part of that tale will be told in the upcoming film “Air,” which Affleck directed and stars in alongside Matt Damon, Viola Davis, Jason Bateman and more. Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight, and Damon plays then-Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro — who was tasked with finding a way of saving what was then the company’s fledgling basketball division.

    Affleck did it with one key character absent: Jordan is not shown in the movie.

    “What I wanted to try to accomplish was to have Michael Jordan have the effect in the story that he has in the world, which is that obviously the vast majority of people don’t know and have never met Michael Jordan — and yet they know about him, and they know what he means and they might talk about him,” Affleck said. “So, in a way, he’s like a presence that’s felt and discussed and everybody else around him is there. But you never see his face.”

    Nike wound up signing Jordan — who had yet to play an NBA game — to a $2.5 million, five-year deal.

    It was a huge gamble.

    Spoiler alert, with apologies to the movie that gets released April 5: It worked out.

    Jordan Brand generated $4.7 billion in revenue in 2021, the Jumpman logo is iconic, Nike has become one of the world’s most powerful and recognizable companies, and Jordan won six NBA championships, became a billionaire, and now owns the Charlotte Hornets.

    And since most viewers will already know all those things, Affleck took on the challenge of telling lesser-known parts of the story.

    “The movie has to do realistic, it has to do authentic, and it has to surprise the audience,” Affleck said. “Because if what happens is something that the audience can predict, even if they like it, they go along with it, it’s ordinary, it’s boring. It’s just not what I want to do.”

    The trailer, released last week, is up to 6 million views. Affleck was at All-Star weekend to help promote Friday’s celebrity game, and ads for the film were shown on the jumbo scoreboards over the court.

    Affleck said he has met with Jordan about the movie.

    “Somebody asked me what you’re doing from Boston and making a movie about the Chicago guy,” Affleck said in an interview with a number of media outlets. “Michael Jordan sort of transcends, I think, rivalry.”

    Jennifer Lopez Catches Ben Affleck Working At Dunkin’ In Super Bowl Commercial

    (2/12/23) (Video) Ben Affleck is all smiles working the drive-thru window at Dunkin’ for a Super Bowl commercial.

    The actor stars in the donut shop ad where he is seen interacting with customers ordering donuts and drinks. Affleck is seen manning the window taking orders at the Dunkin’ in Medford, MA. Some customers recognized the Oscar winner who didn’t doubt taking a selfie with him, while others seemingly just wanted their Munchkins order.

    By the end of the 30-second ad, his real-life wife Jennifer Lopez rolls through and surprises him at the window.

    “What are you doing here?” J.Lo asks Affleck then follows up with, “Is this what you do when you say you’re going to work all day?”

    Affleck tells the Dunkin’s crew that he now has to go but the “Play” singer asks him to grab her a glazed donut before he leaves.

    Check out the commercial in the video posted above.

    ‘Air’ Trailer: Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Court Michael Jordan In Nike Dramedy

    (2/9/23) (Video) We’re getting the first look at Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in the Affleck-directed dramedy film Air about the creation of Nike’s Air Jordans.

    Damon stars as Sonny Vaccaro, the Nike marketing executive who signed Michael Jordan for a deal with the company, leading to the development of the iconic shoe. Affleck directs and portrays Nike co-founder Phil Knight in the story surrounding Nike’s longshot effort to sign Jordan to its shoe company in the mid-’80s, an endorsement that seemed impossible at the time but which would become the most significant relationship between an athletic brand and an athlete and launched the global, multibillion-dollar contemporary sneaker industry. Sonny’s relentless quest to sign Jordan to what was then the third-place shoe company takes him to Jordan’s parents, and in particular his powerful, dynamic mother, as well as to former coaches, advisors, friends and those close to Michael. Jordan himself is a giant mythic figure hovering above the movie and never seen, while Sonny tries to reach him by gaining access to those close to him and around him.

    Viola Davis also stars as Deloris Jordan, Michael’s mother, a fierce advocate for her son, who was instrumental in negotiating this unprecedented deal, and was committed to ensuring her son’s legacy. Additional cast includes Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler, and Julius Tennon as James Jordan.

    Air reunites Affleck and Damon, marking the first time Affleck has directed his longtime friend and collaborator.

    The pic from Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures, is written by Alex Convery and produced by David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, and Jason Michael Berman.

    Air hits theaters on April 5.

    Watch the trailer above.

    Amazon Studios Returns To Wide Theatrical With Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Nike Movie ‘Air’ In Spring

    (1/23/23) Some great news for exhibition Monday morning: Amazon Studios is getting back into the wide theatrical-release business with Ben Affleck’s Nike movie Air, starring his fellow Good Will Hunting co-Oscar winner Matt Damon.

    Air will get a global theatrical release on Wednesday, April 5, heading into the lucrative Easter weekend. This is the first wide theatrical release from Amazon since its Sundance acquisition, Mindy Kaling’s Late Night, which had a wide summer release in 2019.

    I hear Air will have a longer theatrical window than Amazon Studios’ recent limited theatrical releases, before hitting Prime Video in more than 240 countries and territories. It truly is a first-of-its-kind arrangement for the studio as Amazon will distribute the film globally, with Warner Bros. Pictures handling international as part of its distribution pact with Amazon’s MGM. Amazon Studios only had U.S. on Late Night, not global rights.

    Air reveals the unbelievable game-changing partnership between then-rookie Michael Jordan and Nike’s fledgling basketball division, which revolutionized the world of sports and contemporary culture with the Air Jordan brand. The story follows the career-defining gamble of an unconventional team with everything on the line, the uncompromising vision of a mother who knows the worth of her son’s immense talent and the basketball phenom who would become the greatest of all time.

    Damon plays maverick Nike executive Sonny Vaccaro and Affleck plays Nike co-founder Phil Knight with Jason Bateman as Rob Strasser, Chris Messina as David Falk, Matthew Maher as Peter Moore, Marlon Wayans as George Raveling, Chris Tucker as Howard White, Viola Davis as Deloris Jordan, Gustaf Skarsgård as Horst Dassler and Julius Tennon as James Jordan – among others. While Damon and Affleck starred in such movies together such as Good Will Hunting and Dogma, Air reps the first time that Affleck has directed his longtime friend.

    “Ben, Matt and this all-star cast have delivered a fantastic film that will move, inspire, and entertain audiences around the globe,” said Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon and MGM Studios. “With Ben’s incredible direction, the film delivers a nostalgic look back at a culture-defining moment that absolutely lends itself to a global theatrical event.”

    Said Affleck: “Matt and I are very excited for audiences to see Air and proud that it’s the first release from Artists Equity. The movie was an extraordinary experience where we had the honor of working with some of the best cast and crew in the business, all of whom brought passion, persistence, and creativity to a collective effort at recreating a remarkable and aspirational story. I appreciate and value Jen Salke’s faith in our ability to execute on and deliver a movie we are proud of, as well as her and Sue Kroll’s incredible ongoing support of the film. Amazon Studios, Skydance, and Mandalay were all critical to getting this done, and the film couldn’t have been made without them. We value the steps it took on each of their parts to make it happen and want to thank them. This was the best creative and personal experience of our lives and we look forward to many more like it.”

    Alex Convery wrote the screenplay; David Ellison, Jesse Sisgold, Jon Weinbach, Affleck, Damon, Madison Ainley, Jeff Robinov, Peter Guber, and Jason Michael Berman produce. EPs are Dana Goldberg, Don Granger, Kevin Halloran, Michael Joe, Drew Vinton, John Graham, Peter E. Strauss, and Jordan Moldo.

    Production companies in addition to Amazon Studios include Skydance Sports, Mandalay Pictures, and Affleck and Damon’s Artists Equity.

    Air debuts over an Easter frame that includes Universal/Illumination’s The Super Mario Bros Movie and Sony’s The Pope’s Exorcist.

    Starting in the fall of 2019, Amazon began turning to a short limited theatrical window for its titles before segueing them onto their OTT service, i.e. the Adam Driver movie The Report and the Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones movie The Aeronauts. They’ve maintained that model for quite some time, even for the big pricey movies they acquired during the pandemic, i.e. Coming 2 America, Cinderella, and The Tomorrow War.

    New ‘Superman’ Pic In The Works With James Gunn Penning, Henry Cavill Not To Star; Ben Affleck In Talks To Helm A Future DC Pic

    (12/14/22) Effective tonight, DC bosses Peter Safran and James Gunn have officially made known their plans for their first movie under their regime: It’s Superman, a script that the latter is currently writing about the Man of Steel’s early days. It’s not an origins story. However, a new actor will be sought to play Superman.

    As for Henry Cavill — while the DC bosses, would like to work with him, he’s been informed he’s not part of the next iteration of Superman given its new direction.

    Meanwhile, we hear with sources familiar to the scene, that Gunn and Safran are in talks with Ben Affleck to stay in the DC universe, but as a director. Affleck is set to reprise his Batman in The Flash which opens on June 16.

    Gunn and Safran plan to unveil their full DC plan in January, but are taking meetings with various talent connected to the universe to share their vision as they sort out a more cohesive plan for the comic book brand stretching across all mediums.

    In a tweet tonight, Gunn writes, “Peter and I have a DC slate ready to go, which we couldn’t be more over-the-moon about; we’ll be able to share some exciting information about our first projects at the beginning of the new year.”

    He continues, “

    “Among those on the slate is Superman. In the initial stages, our story will be focusing on an earlier part of Superman’s life, so the character will not be played by Henry Cavill.”

    “But we just had a great meeting with Henry and we’re big fans and we talked about a number of exciting possibilities to work together in the future,” added Gunn.

    Studio insiders emphasized tonight that Cavill didn’t go rogue in posting about his return as the Man of Steel. It was a plan hatched by the previous regime before Safran and Gunn to their exec seats at DC. However, no Cavill puts in question whether we can expect another Black Adam.

    Ben Affleck Calls Netflix An “Assembly Line”, Says His And Matt Damon’s New Production Company To Blend “Quality” & “Commercial” Fare

    (11/30/22) Ben Affleck says his newly minted studio Artists Equity, in partnership with Matt Damon, is going for films that are commercial but smart, that acknowledge popular tastes, but that “people remember 20 years later.”

    He thinks/hopes his latest project due out next year fits the bill. Affleck directs, Damon stars in the true story behind the creation of the iconic Air Jordan brand slated for release in 2023 in partnership with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures. Artists Equity anticipates releasing three projects next year, with plans to scale up to a minimum of five per year in the future.

    “I see no difference between commercial and quality,” Affleck said during a wide ranging Q&A at the New York Times’ DealBook Summit in NYC alongside Artists Equity’s investor partner Gerry Cardinale of Redbird Capital.

    Deadline broke the story of the formation of Artists Equity back in June.

    Quality takes time. “If you ask Reed Hastings … I’m sure there’s some risk in that, and I’m sure they had a great strategy, but I would have said, ‘How are we going to make 50 great movies?! How is that possible? There’s no committee big enough. There aren’t enough — you just can’t do it. It’s a thing that requires attention and dedication and work and resists the assembly line process. Scott Stuber is a really talented, smart guy who I really like… but it’s an impossible job,” Affleck said, referring to the giant streamer’s founder and co-CEO and to its head of original films.

    “There’s bigger audience for action movies than there is for small dramas – I get that. Certain genres play more broadly and you can’t not be mindful of that. But let’s do a good one, let’s surprise the audience, let’s make them care about it,” he added.

    “The first wave of streaming was about volume,” said Cardinale. “The second wave is about quality.”

    The pair joined an eclectic roster at the daylong event set to feature execs from Hastings and Amazon CEO Andy Jassy along with video Q&As with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of collapsed crypto exchange FTX.

    Affleck, Damon and Cardinale, Redbird’s founder and managing partner, formally announced the launch of their artist-led studio earlier this month, planning to partner with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation through “entrepreneurial partnerships” with filmmakers.

    Michael Joe, former COO of STX Films and former EVP at Universal Pictures is chief operating officer.

    Its founders called Artists Equity an intellectual property monetization platform anchored by three core principles: broadening access to profit participation; fueling IP monetization through creator partnerships; and leveraging a data-driven approach to distribution.

    Jennifer Lopez reveals special message Ben Affleck engraved on engagement ring

    (11/29/22) Bennifer’s love is here to stay.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are still firmly in the honeymoon phase after two lavish weddings this year, and Lopez, 53, revealed in a new interview yesterday that her sparkling green diamond engagement ring has a hidden message.

    Speaking with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, the “Jenny From the Block” singer shared that the inside of her band is engraved with the words “Not. Going. Anywhere.”

    “That’s how he would sign his emails when we started talking again,” Lopez said of Affleck, 50. “Like, ‘Don’t worry, I’m not going anywhere.'”

    The words are so special to her that the singer wrote a track named “Not. Going. Anywhere” on her upcoming album titled “This Is Me… Now” — her first studio album since 2014 and a nod to the 20th anniversary of her third record, “This Is Me…Then.”

    The whopper of a ring — which experts told Page Six Style could be worth up to $10 million — isn’t the only sentimental piece of jewelry the “Let’s Get Loud” singer owns related to Affleck.

    Earlier this month, Lopez sported a custom “Jennifer & Ben” necklace from Jennifer Zeuner ($176) and she also has worn a “Ben” necklace as well as one that reads “Mrs.”

    Along with the beautiful message on her ring, the chart-topper also discussed the pain she experienced after her first breakup with Affleck in 2002 and how that impacted her life and music career.

    “Once we called off that wedding 20 years ago, I was … it was the biggest heartbreak of my life. I honestly felt like I was going to die. It sent me on a spiral for the next 18 years.”

    Luckily, the two reconnected and married in an intimate Las Vegas ceremony this summer, followed by a splashy wedding at Affleck’s Georgia home — a year the “Marry Me” star called a “would never happen in Hollywood ending.”

    With so many sweet tributes to their rekindled love, we can only imagine what Affleck will put under the Christmas tree this year.

    Ben Affleck And Matt Damon Launch Production Company With RedBird Capital’s Gerry Cardinale

    (11/20/22) As Deadline’s Mike Fleming reported back in June of this year, Redbird Capital Partners has today confirmed details in that story. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale are launching an artist-led studio that partners with filmmakers to empower creative vision and broaden access to profit participation.

    The new studio, Artists Equity, will seek to create “entrepreneurial partnerships” with filmmakers.

    Terms were not disclosed. RedBird Capital is making what’s termed “a significant financial commitment in launching the company, providing strategic capital and operational expertise to accelerate its development and production pipeline.

    Affleck and Damon combined have generated more than $10.7 billion in worldwide box office sales, 110+ feature films as star or costar, six produced screenplays, eight TV series as executive producer or writer, and earned three Academy Awards. They will lead the company.

    Artists Equity is an intellectual property monetization platform anchored by three core principles, the announcment stated:

    • Broaden Access to Profit Participation: Provide performance-based incentives to creators and crew that allow all participants in the prodution value chain to share in profits;

    • Fuel IP Monetization Through Creator Partnerships: Focus on partnering with both established and emerging filmmakers who want to work in a talent-friendly environment with management that understands and supports their creative vision;

    • Leverage a Data-Driven Approach to Distribution: Utilize insights derived from proprietary databases to better inform decision-making around distribution strategy, optimizing reach and valuation of content.

    Artists Equity’s first project will feature Affleck as the director and star Damon and a cast including Affleck in the true story behind the creation of the iconic Air Jordan brand, which is slated for release in 2023 in partnership with Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports, and Mandalay Pictures.

    The company anticipates releasing three projects in 2023, with plans to scale and release a minimum of five projects per year in the future.

    “Artists Equity was conceived from Matt’s and my longtime passion for the art of storytelling and our shared desire to help creators deliver on their vision, as we have been fortunate to do throughout our careers,” said Affleck, who will hold the title chief executive officer. “The entertainment industry is defined by great partnerships – writers, directors, producers, crew, actors – and throughout my career I have learned that collaboration is what drives success. Our goal with Artists Equity is to build a creatorfocused studio that can optimize the production process with shared participation in the commercial success of projects. We are thrilled to partner with Gerry Cardinale and the RedBird team, who have a long track record of building notable scaled platform businesses around unique IP. Matt and I are looking forward to working together to empower the current and future creative minds in the entertainment industry.”

    “Historically, the success of a film was based on its box office performance. Now, with the rise of streaming, the business behind filmmaking has intrinsically changed. However, Ben and I know that the power will continue to be in the hands of the creators, no matter which direction the industry evolves,” said Damon, who will be chief content officer. “Artists Equity enables these visionaries to take ownership of their creative power, providing a platform for both established and emerging filmmakers to streamline the development of their content. Ben and I are lucky to have worked with some of the best in the business, and our partnership with Gerry Cardinale and the team at RedBird continues us on that trajectory as we look to innovate and empower through the Artists Equity platform.”

    “Ben and Matt are two of the most talented entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry, and now we can add founders to their long list of accomplishments,” added Gerry Cardinale, founder and managing partner of RedBird Capital. “The investment thesis behind Artists Equity is consistent with RedBird’s track record in backing proven founders and entrepreneurs with scalable solutions-based capital to create innovative intellectual property monetization platforms. Over the last 20 years since Ben, Matt and I first met, we have participated in the evolution of content monetization in our respective careers, culminating most recently in the streaming phenomenon and its current evolution from volume to quality. Artists Equity is an independently capitalized studio that will enable content creators to navigate this evolving landscape and maximize value for their visionary storytelling. The premium today is shifting more towards quality which plays extremely well to Ben and Matt’s track record as filmmakers across writing, directing, producing and acting. Under their curation, Artists Equity will deliver projects that meet the growing demand for critically acclaimed content while also enabling broader profit participation throughout the production value chain.”

    Artists Equity will be headquartered in Los Angeles and led by Affleck, Damon and chief operating officer Michael Joe, the former COO of STX Films and former EVP at Universal Pictures.

    Jennifer Lopez describes co-parenting with Ben Affleck’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner

    (11/8/22) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have an “amazing” co-parenting relationship with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.

    The singer told “Vogue” in her December cover story, published Tuesday, that her husband and Garner “work well together” while raising Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10.

    The former couple finalized their divorce in 2018, with Lopez, 53, and Affleck, 50, tying the knot four years later.

    The Grammy winner shares two children of her own — twins Emme and Maximilian, 14 — with her ex-husband Marc Anthony.

    Blending their families since their July wedding “needs to be handled with so much care,” Lopez went on to tell the magazine.

    “They have so many feelings. They’re teens,” the songwriter explained. “But it’s going really well so far.

    “What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him, someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up,” she continued.

    The duo got engaged for the second time in April, two decades after Affleck first got down on one knee.

    The dancer was previously engaged to Alex Rodriguez from 2019 to 2021. The former MLB player is the father of daughters Natasha, 17, and Ella, 14, and the exes blended their families before calling it quits.

    “I was so loving to his kids and he was so loving and accepting of mine, and they embraced each other right away,” Lopez told People in December 2018.

    “[It was] ‘I get a new bonus brother and sisters to hang out with all the time and it’s nice,'” she added at the time.

    Rodriguez chimed in, “Our kids have become best friends and that keeps us both grounded and appreciative. We couldn’t have asked for anything better than the four of them getting along.”

    The retired athlete has since shared his support for Lopez’s marriage to Affleck, telling Chris Wallace in September that he wishes Lopez the “very best.”

    As for Garner, the actress has put on a united front with Affleck and his partner over the years, including trick-or-treating with the pair in October 2021.

    The “13 Going on 30” star, for her part, has been dating John Miller on and off since 2018.

    Jennifer Lopez reveals what led to her and ‘real love’ Ben Affleck’s reunion

    (11/8/22) Jennifer Lopez revealed that her now-husband Ben Affleck was the one to make the first move in rekindling their love.

    “Obviously we weren’t trying to go out in public. But I never shied away from the fact that for me, I always felt like there was a real love there, a true love there,” the singer told Vogue in her November cover story, published Tuesday.

    ”People in my life know that he was a very, very special person in my life. When we reconnected, those feelings for me were still very real.”

    Lopez, 53, said that Affleck, 50, emailed her after his split from Ana De Armas to let her know he had raved about her in an interview. From there, they kept talking and they started hanging out.

    The “Let’s Get Loud” singer noted that reconnecting with an ex isn’t always a good idea, however.

    “I don’t know that I recommend this for everybody,” she told the magazine. “Sometimes you outgrow each other, or you just grow differently.”

    Lopez explained that she and Affleck “lost each other” and then “found each other” again.

    “Not to discredit anything in between that happened, because all those things were real too,” she elaborated. “All we’ve ever wanted was to kind of come to a place of peace in our lives where we really felt that type of love that you feel when you’re very young and wonder if you can have that again. Does it exist? Is it real? All those questions that I think everyone has.”

    She continued, “You go through all these relationships, and you’re searching and you’re connecting and you’re disconnecting with people, and you’re like, ‘God, is this just what life is? Like a carousel, roller coaster, carnival ride?’ And then it settles. But the journey to that is the mystery for everybody.”

    Lopez, who called off her engagement to Alex Rodriguez amid cheating rumors prior to reuniting with Affleck, also reflected on how she’s working on herself to recover from failed relationships in the past.

    “I have to forgive myself for the things that I did that I’m not proud of, the choices that I made that worked against me,” she said. “Self-love is really about boundaries. Learning what you’re comfortable with and putting up the boundaries, not being afraid of the consequences.”

    The “Hustlers” actress added that the best way to make sure things work out is to “take care” of yourself.

    “Knowing that in taking care of yourself, everything will turn out OK, that people will treat you the way you want to be treated and your life will feel good to you,” she said. “For a long time, I was just like, ‘Yes, do whatever you want! I can take it, I’ll be here, because I’m really strong, and I’ll be fine.’ Little by little, it chips away at your self-worth, your self-esteem, your soul.”

    Lopez tied the knot with Affleck in July 2022 in Las Vegas and again at his Georgia estate in August. She said that blending their families has been a “process.”

    The singer shares 14-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with ex-husband Marc Anthony, while Affleck and his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, share three kids: Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10.

    Lopez called Affleck “an amazing co-parent” and said they “work really well together,” but that their teen children are still adjusting.

    “The transition is a process that needs to be handled with so much care,” Lopez said. “They have so many feelings. They’re teens. But it’s going really well so far.”

    She continued, “What I hope to cultivate with our family is that his kids have a new ally in me and my kids have a new ally in him, someone who really loves and cares about them but can have a different perspective and help me see things that I can’t see with my kids because I’m so emotionally tied up.”

    Lopez and Affleck got engaged for the second time in April. The pair, dubbed “Bennifer,” initially started dating in 2002 and showcased their love with plenty of PDA.

    In November of that year, Affleck proposed with a 6.1-carat Harry Winston pink diamond ring that reportedly cost $2.5 million.

    But massive media attention surrounding their engagement caused tension for the couple and they postponed their 2003 wedding. By 2004, Lopez and Affleck ended things, and she married Anthony by June of the same year.

    Meanwhile, Affleck married Garner in 2005. Both Affleck and Lopez went on to welcome children with their respective spouses before things ended in divorce.

    Lopez then moved on with Rodriguez while Affleck briefly dated De Armas. But when things ended for Lopez and the former MLB pro in 2021, Affleck swiftly swooped in and the pair have been going strong ever since.

    Ben Affleck Finds Buyer For $30 Million Mansion

    (8/30/22) Ben Affleck is having a great month ... on the heels of his second wedding to Jennifer Lopez and honeymoon in Italy, he's found a buyer for his Pacific Palisades home.

    Real estate sources tell TMZ ... Ben accepted an offer Tuesday on his 7-bedroom estate, which he listed for $29,995,000.

    The home is 13,453 square feet of pure luxury ... it's got all the bells and whistles, including a pool, spa, walk-in wine cellar, theater and gym.

    As we first reported ... Ben listed the house 3 weeks ago, and he and J Lo are planning to move into her Bel-Air home once a massive remodel is complete. In the meantime, Ben and Jen are renting James Packer's $60 million Bev Hills compound.

    Ben and Jen just got back from their Italian honeymoon, taking a private jet back to Los Angeles Monday, so he's returning to a bit of good news.

    Santiago Arana and Amir Mostame of The Agency held Ben's listing.

    Jennifer Lopez serenaded Ben Affleck with sexy wedding performance

    (8/26/22) (Video) Jennifer Lopez couldn’t take a night off from her superstardom and performed for attendees at her wedding to Ben Affleck.

    The “On the Floor” singer “engaged in an exclusive performance for her guests,” a press release from jewelry designer Mikimoto sent earlier this week read.

    The release noted that Lopez, 53, wore the brand’s Prestige White South Sea Cultured Pearl Earrings with Diamonds set in Platinum ($53,000).

    But when asked for further comment, a rep for the pearl company claimed their release was incorrect, and Lopez did not perform.

    A rep for Lopez also said she was not aware of the performance.

    However, TMZ reported Friday that the “Selena” actress did, in fact, perform for their guests. The outlet posted video showing Lopez, along with backup dancer and singers, performing a new song for Affleck, who sat alone in a chair as she serenaded him.

    For the reception, the “Hustlers” star changed into a chandelier-inspired gown by Ralph Lauren that was adorned with thousands of cascading strings of pearls.

    Thirty artisans spent 700 hours hand-embroidering the garment with micro-pleats of silk tulle, tiny pearl embellishments and Swarovski crystals.

    The jaw-dropping gown was just one of three Ralph Lauren dresses she wore to the nuptials, which took place on Affleck’s plantation-style estate in Georgia.

    The first, which Lopez wore to walk down the aisle, was an updated version of the designer’s classic turtleneck column dress.

    More than 1,000 handkerchiefs and 500 meters of fabric were cut into ruffles and attached by hand to create the voluminous, romantic skirt, according to Ralph Lauren’s press release. The look was paired with a cathedral-length veil for an added dose of drama.

    Last, but certainly not least, the singer and actress switched it up with a sleek mermaid-style gown with a Swarovski crystal-embellished keyhole and full skirt topped with a hood-like organza overlay.

    Days after the lavish three-day bash, the couple jetted off to Italy for a second honeymoon, where Affleck was caught swooning over his wife’s wedding dress pics.

    Inside Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s lavish, all-white Georgia wedding

    (8/21/22) “Love Never Fails.”

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck said “I do” for the second time in a lavish ceremony at Affleck’s estate in Riceboro, Ga., on Saturday.

    The lovebirds – who initially tied the knot in Las Vegas last month – welcomed A-listers like Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel, along with talent agent Patrick Whitesell, Australian model Pia Miller and “Jay and Silent Bob” stars Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.

    Damon took a private jet to Georgia with wife Luciana Barroso on Friday, a source previously shared with Page Six, while Affleck’s younger brother, Casey, and ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, were both no-shows at the three-day event, despite receiving invites.

    Inside the reception, a neon “Mr. and Mrs. Affleck” sign adorned one wall, while several wooden boards were placed on the floor, reading, “Love always hopes and always preserves,” “Love never fails,” and “Love always protects, it always trusts.”

    A fourth sign read, “Love is not easily angered and keeps no record of wrongs.”

    Miller shared a series of clips to her Instagram Story throughout the night, featuring a stunning fireworks display, and a brief video of herself on the dance floor.

    The wedding even served as a reunion for Mewes and Smith, who posed for a snap with their respective wives, Jordan Monsanto and Jennifer Schwalbach Smith.

    “Dressy as f—… @jenschwalbach, @jaymewes & @jordanmonsanto out on the town,” Smith captioned a snap of the group in their all-white ensembles.

    “This is as formal as I’ve been dressed since maybe my First Communion when I was 7,” the director joked.

    Meanwhile, former Mrs. Affleck, Garner, was all smiles as she skipped the celebration in favor of a visit to Sam’s Club.

    The actress was photographed at the store in South Charleston, W.Va., just before 4 p.m. on Saturday, TMZ reported.

    Photos obtained by the outlet showed the actress rocking a casual ensemble while shopping with her father and her businessman boyfriend, John Miller.

    Garner’s kids, Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10, weren’t in tow, as they spent the weekend celebrating their dad’s rekindled romance with the “Let’s Get Loud” singer.

    The Afflecks first said “I do” in a low-key, Las Vegas ceremony back in July after obtaining a marriage license from Clark County, NV. The following day, Lopez took to her “On The JLo” newsletter to share details from the big day with fans.

    “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” the “Marry Me” actress gushed at the time.

    “Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world.”

    She continued, “Behind us two men held hands and held each other. In front of us, a young couple who made the three hour drive from Victorville on their daughter’s second birthday — all of us wanting the same thing — for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage.”

    Lopez added that she wore “a dress from an old movie” for her special day, tying the knot in a “little chapel.”

    The Bronx native met the Boston heartthrob in 2001 on the set of their movie “Gigli” while Lopez was still married to her second husband, Cris Judd.

    Following their June 2002 separation, “Bennifer” came to be, with Affleck first proposing in 2002. Unfortunately, they never made it down the aisle the first time around.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck get married again in lavish Georgia wedding

    (8/20/22) Bennifer 2.0 said their “I dos” at wedding 2.0.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck tied the knot again — this time in front of A-list friends and family — at the actor’s 87-acre property in Georgia on Saturday evening after eloping in July, a source tells Page Six.

    Guests — including Affleck’s longtime pal Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso — wore white to match the extravagant light-hued decorations and floral arrangements.

    “Clerks” director Kevin Smith and actor Jason Mewes and their wives also attended the ceremony.

    Guests wore white to watch Bennifer 2.0 say "I do" for a second time.

    Page Six reported that the couple would be tying the knot for the second time in a much grander way at the Riceboro estate following their surprise Las Vegas wedding on July 16.

    The singer confirmed their quickie wedding in her “On The JLo” newsletter to fans, writing, “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” referencing their first engagement in the early aughts.

    The Bronx native detailed how their Vegas wedding came together, saying they stood in line with four other couples also tying the knot.

    “We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight,” she wrote. “They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed).”

    The duo was then spotted honeymooning in Paris where they enjoyed plenty of PDA.

    A source previously told us Lopez and Affleck’s wedding festivities would be a multi-day affair. And as Page Six exclusively reported, their wedding was being planned by Colin Cowie.

    J.Lo and Affleck got engaged for the second time in April with the “Argo” actor presenting Lopez with an 8.5-carat green diamond ring estimated to be worth up to $10 million.

    The pair rekindled their romance in April 2021 shortly after she broke things off with fiancé Alex Rodriguez amid rumors he had cheated on her.

    She and Affleck first started dating in 2002, with the public dubbing them “Bennifer,” and were quickly engaged. But they called things off two years later due to the media hysteria surrounding their relationship.

    Lopez went on to marry singer Marc Anthony in June of the same year. She and Anthony share 14-year-old twins Max and Emme.

    Affleck, for his part, married Jennifer Garner in 2005 and they welcomed three children: daughters Violet and Seraphina, and son Samuel.

    Both marriages ended in divorce and they both had high-profile relationships before reuniting as a couple. Lopez was engaged to A-Rod while Affleck dated “Knives Out” star Ana De Armas until they split in January 2021.

    Prior to their wedding, Affleck and J.Lo clearly knew things were getting serious as they purchased a $50M on a Bel Air mansion together in March.

    Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck’s wedding to feature fireworks and live music

    (8/19/22) A wedding for the ages.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are set to seal the deal with an elaborate fireworks show at their wedding this weekend.

    The couple will say “I do” for the second time at Afflecks’ riverside estate in Georgia in front of their famous friends and family.

    New images from the “plantation” home show a large barge floating near what looks like their reception area equipped with dozens of fireworks to celebrate the newlyweds.

    Tables and chairs are already set up under a waterside gazebo, including two pink chairs for the bride and groom to have some alone time while enjoying the live music.

    People have been working around the clock at the sprawling 87-acre Riceboro estate getting ready for the star-studded event.

    On Thursday, employees were seen constructing a marquee near the main home for the three-day festivities.

    The celebrations will kick off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday night, followed by a Jay Shetty-officiated ceremony at the estate on Saturday. The next day, guests are invited to stay for a send-off barbecue to finish the weekend off strong.

    While workers prepared for the lavish nuptials, guests were welcomed with ATV rides and a bonfire, according to the Daily Mail.

    However, plans were thrown off course on Friday when the groom’s mother, Christopher Anne Boldt, was rushed to the hospital after falling off the dock and cutting her leg, the Daily Mail also reported.

    Pictures showed an ambulance departing the actor’s property to head to St. Joseph Candler children’s hospital in Savannah where the “Argo” actor and Lopez rushed to check on Boldt.

    Aside from the mayhem Friday morning, Lopez, 53, and Affleck, 50 seemed relaxed in the days leading up to the big event.

    The couple was seen shopping in town and going on a stroll with their blended family.

    Affleck kept things casual in a tan button-up shirt with the same color cap, jeans and sneakers while his bride matched in a beige crop top, wide-leg linen pants and wedges.

    Lopez will step things up when she walks down the aisle in a custom Ralph Lauren gown.

    The “Wedding Planner” actress already wore two dresses — a simple Alexander McQueen style that she saved “for so many years” and an elaborate lace Zuhair Murad wedding gown — for their surprise Las Vegas wedding in July.

    Matt Damon, wife land in Georgia for BFF Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s wedding

    (8/19/22) Matt Damon and his wife, Luciana Barroso, arrived in Georgia on Friday ahead of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s wedding.

    In photos exclusively obtained by Page Six, paparazzi caught the couple — who flew in via private jet — at an airfield close to Affleck’s estate, where he the actor, 50, is set to exchange vows with Lopez, 53.

    Damon, 51 — Affleck’s longtime best friend and “Good Will Hunting” collaborator — touched down in loose-fitting khakis, a white T-shirt and a black button-down.

    He accessorized his look with aviator sunglasses and a black baseball cap.

    Meanwhile, Barroso, 46 — who shares daughters Isabella, 16, Gia, 13, and Stella, 11, with Damon — sported a white jumpsuit, oversized shades and animal-print sneakers.

    It’s no surprise that Damon made the effort to be there for Affleck’s second set of “I dos.” (He was previously wed to Jennifer Garner from 2005 until 2018.)

    During a 2016 interview with “Entertainment Tonight,” Damon explained that he and Affleck shared an unbreakable bond.

    “I’ve known him for 35 years, and we grew up together,” he said at the time. “We were both in love with the same thing — acting and filmmaking. I think we fed on each other’s obsession during really formative, important years and that bonded us for life.”

    Damon and Barroso’s arrival came hours after the Daily Mail reported that Affleck’s mom, Christopher Anne Boldt, was rushed to the hospital following a fall from the dock of her famous son’s Southern estate.

    The outlet obtained photos of Lopez and Affleck at the hospital with his mother.

    Prior to Boldt’s accident, the bride and groom arrived in Georgia to prepare for their nuptials.

    The couple were photographed with their kids shopping in Savannah ahead of the big day. The “Argo” star’s brother, Casey Affleck, was also seen arriving in town and, of course, stopping at Dunkin’ for a caffeine fix before the weekend’s festivities.

    As Page Six exclusively reported, Lopez and Affleck’s ceremony will be officiated by celebrity life coach Jay Shetty.

    Lopez — who has appeared on Shetty’s “On Purpose” podcast — previously invited him to officiate four weddings as promotion for her latest movie, “Marry Me,” in February.

    As preparations remain underway at Affleck’s home Thursday, Page Six has learned that Lopez is expected to walk down the aisle in a custom Ralph Lauren gown.

    The A-list pair already made things official during a surprise Las Vegas wedding in July, during which Lopez wore two looks: a simple Alexander McQueen dress that she saved “for so many years” and an elaborate lace gown by Zuhair Murad.

    Ben Affleck’s mom injured, rushed to hospital ahead of Jennifer Lopez wedding

    (8/19/22) No “Wedding Planner” could have prepared for this.

    Ben Affleck’s mom was rushed to the hospital on Friday after falling off a dock at the actor’s Georgia home where he and Jennifer Lopez are planning to marry for the second time this weekend, the Daily Mail reported.

    Pictures show an ambulance departing the “Argo” star’s property with his mother, who was taken to St. Joseph Candler children’s hospital in Savannah, according to the report.

    A source told Daily Mail that his mother, Christopher Anne Boldt, fell and cut her leg. The outlet originally reported it was a child who was injured.

    The outlet obtained photos of Lopez and Affleck at the hospital with his mother.

    Lopez was snapped wearing an Alice McCall gingham sundress and a Dior bag, while Affleck was photographed smoking and wearing a purple T-shirt and a backwards cap.

    Reps for Lopez and Affleck didn’t immediately return Page Six’s request for comment.

    The “Hustlers” star, 53, and Affleck, 50, arrived in Georgia earlier this week ahead of their nuptials. The couple were photographed with their kids shopping in Savannah ahead of the big day. The “Deep Water” actor’s brother, Casey Affleck, was also seen arriving in town and, of course, stopping at Dunkin’ for a fresh brew to energize before the weekend’s festivities.

    As Page Six exclusively reported, the couple’s ceremony will be officiated by celebrity life coach Jay Shetty. Like many stars, Lopez has appeared on his “On Purpose” podcast, and she invited him to officiate four weddings that she orchestrated as part of a PR stunt for her latest movie, “Marry Me,” in February.

    While preparations were already underway at the home Thursday, Page Six has learned that Lopez is expected to walk down the aisle in a custom Ralph Lauren gown.

    She already wore two dresses — a simple Alexander McQueen style that she saved “for so many years” and an elaborate lace Zuhair Murad wedding gown — for their surprise Las Vegas wedding in July.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s wedding officiant revealed

    (8/17/22) Celebrity life coach and big-time podcaster Jay Shetty is expected to officiate the wedding between Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck in Georgia this weekend, Page Six has learned.

    It seems Shetty — who has hosted a ton of stars including Kobe Bryant, Will Smith and Gwyneth Paltrow on his “On Purpose” podcast — has been close with the superstar singer for a couple of years.

    Lopez has also appeared on the show, and she invited him to officiate four weddings that she orchestrated as part of a PR stunt for her latest movie, “Marry Me,” in February.

    The British spiritual star, who is a former Hindu monk and Accenture strategist, also officiated the wedding of Lily Collins and director Charlie McDowell in Colorado September last year.

    When she appeared on his YouTube series, “Coach Conversations,” last summer, Lopez discussed her relationship struggles over the years.

    She said that when she was doing therapy in her 30s, “there [was] a lot of talk about loving yourself and I was like ‘I love myself!’ But obviously I was doing all of these things in my personal relationship that didn’t seem like I was loving myself but I didn’t even understand the concept of it.” She added, “I took time and it’s a journey and it’s still a journey for me.”

    Shetty is also the author of the bestselling book “Think Like a Monk.”

    To promote their rom-com, Lopez and Maluma performed a special concert in Los Angeles, and had four couples get married by Shetty on the stage.

    Shetty said on social media at the time, “When Jennifer Lopez asks you to officiate 4 weddings and speak on the power of love during her ‘Marry Me’ Special Performance you say yes. What an incredible experience it was seeing 4 beautiful couples take their vows and having Jennifer Lopez and Maluma as their wedding singers! Their stories and journeys brought tears to everyone’s eyes and I’m so grateful I got to be a part of it.”

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck to throw three-day wedding this weekend

    (8/15/22) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are having their dream wedding celebration one month after tying the knot in Las Vegas.

    The couple will celebrate their nuptials this weekend, and it’ll be a wedding party fit for the pages of Vogue, we hear.

    “It’s going to be all about J.Lo. Ben wants all of the focus to be on her for their big day,” an insider exclusively tells Page Six.

    Their three-day “intimate celebration for family and friends” will kick off with a rehearsal dinner on Friday, our insider shares.

    The actual ceremony will take place on Saturday, and the couple will close out their weekend with a barbecue and picnic on Sunday.

    Lopez, 53, is expected to wear a custom couture Ralph Lauren dress made in Italy, and Vogue magazine is expected to document her fashion journey for the weekend.

    Page Six previously reported that A-list event planner to the stars Colin Cowie is behind all of the details for their lavish celebration. Cowie’s price tag ranges from $25,000 to $25 million, and he’s produced events for the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jordan and even Lopez in the past.

    Sources told us Matt Damon, Jimmy Kimmel, Casey Affleck and Drea de Matteo are a few of the stars who made the couple’s guest list. TMZ reported last month that the event will take place on Affleck’s estate in Riceboro, Georgia.

    Our source tells us to expect updates from Lopez through her On the Jlo newsletter — via which she also confirmed their Las Vegas marriage.

    “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” she wrote last month.

    Reps for the couple did not immediately get back to us.

    Ben Affleck Back As Batman For ‘Aquaman’ Sequel With Jason Momoa

    (7/28/22) Reunited and it feels so good.

    Ben Affleck is ready to don the Batsuit yet again for the Warner Bros/DC sequel Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom. Sea god Jason Momoa spilled the news on social media today.

    “REUNITED bruce and arthur,” Momoa wrote on Instagram today, along with a photo of him and Affleck (see it below). “love u and miss u Ben WB studio tours just explored the backlot alright. busted on set all great things coming AQUAMAN 2 all my aloha j”

    Deadline has reached out to Warner Bros for more details about Affleck’s Bat-return.

    He most recently played Bruce Wayne/Batman in 2017’s superhero mashup Justice League (and in last year’s Zack Snyder director’s cut of the pic) and in 2016’s Suicide Squad. The two-time Oscar winner played the dual role in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and its is set to reprise for next year’s The Flash. Momoa played Aquaman in Batman v Superman and Justice League.

    No word yet on how big Affleck’s role will be in the next Aquaman pic, which is set to hit theaters March 17. Momoa is back as the waterlogged title hero aka Arthur Curry, and James Wan returns as director. Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is written by David Leslie Johnson-McGoldrick. Plot details remain submerged, but Amber Heard is back for more, alongside Patrick Wilson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Dolph Lundgren, Nicole Kidman, Randall Park and others.

    Ben Affleck ‘gasped’ as Jennifer Lopez walked down the aisle, minister says

    (7/21/22) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s Las Vegas wedding at the A Little White Chapel was full of “laughs, smiles and tears,” according to the minister who wed them.

    Ryan Wolfe exclusively told Page Six in a new interview that Affleck, 49, “gasped” as Lopez, 52, strut down the aisle – “like only Jennifer Lopez can” – to “Here Comes the Bride.”

    “He watched her walk down the aisle and you could just tell he was like, ‘Wow, woah,’” Wolfe shared. “He let out a little gasp. You could tell he was definitely just in the moment.”

    Wolfe – who “truly believes” Affleck and Lopez are “soulmates” – added that he could “absolutely tell their love is real” and genuine based on how they acted around each other during the intimate ceremony.

    Recalling how it all started, Wolfe told Page Six that it seemed like a normal Saturday night at his job. Then, all of a sudden, the A-list couple pulled up to the venue in a black SUV around 9 p.m asking the lead pastor of the Grace Christian Center and his coordinator, Kenosha Portis, if they “had time for one more” wedding.

    “Jennifer had a white dress on. She looked beautiful and stunning, as always. And Ben was looking nice and smooth, as he always does,” Wolfe said, adding that the actor kept things casual arriving in “jeans and a white T-shirt”

    Wolfe told us he made small talk with Affleck while directing him to the men’s bathroom to change as the “Argo” actor insisted he “didn’t need anything fancy.” While Affleck was quick to slip into his tux, his leading lady took a bit longer changing out of her vintage white dress and into a Zuhair Murad gown.

    “They came back in through the doors and they just have a presence about them. You know they are somebody,” Wolfe said of the moment the stars entered the chapel.

    The pair insisted they wanted “nothing fancy,” and only requested that they say their own vows and to add “a little bit of God” to the ceremony.

    “Their vows were beautiful, they were special. And I know they were very important to them. You could tell it was something between them that they wanted to share with each other,” the pastor said. “It was a really special, emotional ceremony and moment that they shared. And their kids were absolutely into it.”

    The only other people in the room aside from the couple, Wolfe and Portis were Lopez’s 14-year-old daughter, Emme, and Affleck’s 13-year-old daughter, Seraphina, who acted as the sole photographers for the event. Even though the wedding was small, Wolfe says the two children brought all the excitement.

    “You can tell Jennifer’s kid and Ben’s kid definitely have a good relationship. They’re close,” Wolfe said, adding that after he announced Lopez and Affleck as husband and wife, the two teenagers burst with “excitement” and hugged one another.

    Once Bennifer 2.0 said their “I do’s,” the couple sealed the deal with a kiss meant for the movies. The smooch at the altar wasn’t “too long” but “very, very special,” with Wolfe joking that he needed to “take some notes from Ben.”

    After their nuptials, Wolfe switched from minister to photographer as he helped the happy couple take pictures in Elvis’ pink Cadillac and in the tunnel of love drive-through.

    Throughout his ministry career, the pastor estimates he’s officiated over 10,000 weddings and can “feel” when a couple will make it. Apparently, the vibes were right in the A Little White Chapel that night as he’s sure “this is it for them.”

    But Wolfe isn’t the one one who would bet money on the newlyweds. According to “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin, Lopez’s mom, Guadalupe Rodríguez, “always said that Ben is her [Jennifer’s] true love.”

    The two stars rekindled their romance last year after the “Marry Me” actress ended her four-year relationship with former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. A year after the pair started dating, the actor popped the question for the second time with a massive green sparkler.

    The pair had previously gotten engaged in 2002. They postponed their 2003 wedding after it drew too much attention from the media and ultimately went their separate ways before getting back together in 2021. After the difficulty of trying to plan their first wedding, sources told Page Six that the couple would elope and celebrate with friends and family after.

    While the pair enjoyed an intimate Sin City ceremony, the newlyweds are planning a much larger “multi-day party” on Affleck’s 87-acre property in Riceboro, Ga. The big event will double as a birthday party for Jennifer, who turns 53 on July 24.

    Lopez confirmed her marriage to Affleck in the July 17 edition of her “On The JLo” newsletter, saying it was “exactly what we wanted.”

    “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” she gushed.

    “Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive-thru in Las Vegas at 12:30 a.m. in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things — and worth waiting for.”

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s Las Vegas wedding at the A Little White Chapel was full of “laughs, smiles and tears,” according to the minister who wed them.

    Ryan Wolfe exclusively told Page Six in a new interview that Affleck, 49, “gasped” as Lopez, 52, strut down the aisle – “like only Jennifer Lopez can” – to “Here Comes the Bride.”

    “He watched her walk down the aisle and you could just tell he was like, ‘Wow, woah,’” Wolfe shared. “He let out a little gasp. You could tell he was definitely just in the moment.”

    Wolfe – who “truly believes” Affleck and Lopez are “soulmates” – added that he could “absolutely tell their love is real” and genuine based on how they acted around each other during the intimate ceremony.

    Recalling how it all started, Wolfe told Page Six that it seemed like a normal Saturday night at his job. Then, all of a sudden, the A-list couple pulled up to the venue in a black SUV around 9 p.m asking the lead pastor of the Grace Christian Center and his coordinator, Kenosha Portis, if they “had time for one more” wedding.

    “Jennifer had a white dress on. She looked beautiful and stunning, as always. And Ben was looking nice and smooth, as he always does,” Wolfe said, adding that the actor kept things casual arriving in “jeans and a white T-shirt”

    Wolfe told us he made small talk with Affleck while directing him to the men’s bathroom to change as the “Argo” actor insisted he “didn’t need anything fancy.” While Affleck was quick to slip into his tux, his leading lady took a bit longer changing out of her vintage white dress and into a Zuhair Murad gown.

    “They came back in through the doors and they just have a presence about them. You know they are somebody,” Wolfe said of the moment the stars entered the chapel.

    The pair insisted they wanted “nothing fancy,” and only requested that they say their own vows and to add “a little bit of God” to the ceremony.

    “Their vows were beautiful, they were special. And I know they were very important to them. You could tell it was something between them that they wanted to share with each other,” the pastor said. “It was a really special, emotional ceremony and moment that they shared. And their kids were absolutely into it.”

    The only other people in the room aside from the couple, Wolfe and Portis were Lopez’s 14-year-old daughter, Emme, and Affleck’s 13-year-old daughter, Seraphina, who acted as the sole photographers for the event. Even though the wedding was small, Wolfe says the two children brought all the excitement.

    “You can tell Jennifer’s kid and Ben’s kid definitely have a good relationship. They’re close,” Wolfe said, adding that after he announced Lopez and Affleck as husband and wife, the two teenagers burst with “excitement” and hugged one another.

    Once Bennifer 2.0 said their “I do’s,” the couple sealed the deal with a kiss meant for the movies. The smooch at the altar wasn’t “too long” but “very, very special,” with Wolfe joking that he needed to “take some notes from Ben.”

    After their nuptials, Wolfe switched from minister to photographer as he helped the happy couple take pictures in Elvis’ pink Cadillac and in the tunnel of love drive-through.

    Throughout his ministry career, the pastor estimates he’s officiated over 10,000 weddings and can “feel” when a couple will make it. Apparently, the vibes were right in the A Little White Chapel that night as he’s sure “this is it for them.”

    But Wolfe isn’t the one one who would bet money on the newlyweds. According to “The View” co-host Sunny Hostin, Lopez’s mom, Guadalupe Rodríguez, “always said that Ben is her [Jennifer’s] true love.”

    The two stars rekindled their romance last year after the “Marry Me” actress ended her four-year relationship with former MLB star Alex Rodriguez. A year after the pair started dating, the actor popped the question for the second time with a massive green sparkler.

    The pair had previously gotten engaged in 2002. They postponed their 2003 wedding after it drew too much attention from the media and ultimately went their separate ways before getting back together in 2021. After the difficulty of trying to plan their first wedding, sources told Page Six that the couple would elope and celebrate with friends and family after.

    While the pair enjoyed an intimate Sin City ceremony, the newlyweds are planning a much larger “multi-day party” on Affleck’s 87-acre property in Riceboro, Ga. The big event will double as a birthday party for Jennifer, who turns 53 on July 24.

    Lopez confirmed her marriage to Affleck in the July 17 edition of her “On The JLo” newsletter, saying it was “exactly what we wanted.”

    “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” she gushed.

    “Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive-thru in Las Vegas at 12:30 a.m. in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things — and worth waiting for.”

    Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck honeymoon in Paris following Las Vegas wedding

    (7/21/22) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez have taken their first international trip as Mr. and Mrs.

    The newlyweds were photographed honeymooning in Paris, France, on Thursday, just days after tying the knot in Las Vegas.

    In pics obtained by Page Six, the couple looked smitten as they held hands while strolling through the City of Love.

    Lopez, 52, dazzled in a flowy red dress with a plunging neckline, while her new husband donned a dark suit and flashed his new wedding band.

    Earlier in the day, the “Jenny From the Block” singer was photographed in a much more casual getup.

    She rocked a simple T-shirt with jeans and a fedora, while the “Argo” star, 49, arrived in a blue button-up and matching dress pants.

    The trip to France marked their first getaway since Lopez confirmed she and Affleck secretly said “I do” over the weekend.

    The Hollywood couple – who rekindled their romance last year nearly two decades after calling off their first engagement – “flew to [Las] Vegas” and “stood in line for a [marriage] license,” according to Lopez’s July 17 edition of her “On The JLo” newsletter.

    Lopez told fans she wore “a dress from an old movie” as she and the actor “gave one another the rings [they’ll] wear for the rest of [their] lives” at A Little White Chapel.

    The man who officiated the ceremony, Ryan Wolfe, told Page Six exclusively that Affleck “gasped” when his bride made her way down the aisle. He told us the pair even asked to exchange their own vows.

    Kenosha Portis, another chapel employee, also revealed that Lopez and Affleck “cried to each other” while their children stood “right behind them” in an interview with “Today.”

    Affleck shares Violet, 16, Seraphina, 13, and Samuel, 10, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, while Lopez co-parents twins Emme and Maximilian, 14, with ex-husband Marc Anthony.

    A source told Page Six that Seraphina and Emme were the only kids in attendance Saturday, describing the nuptials as “very minimally planned” and “spur-of-the-moment.”

    The happy couple is reportedly planning to throw a more extravagant wedding bash at the actor’s Georgia estate in the coming weeks.

    Jennifer Lopez rushed to marry Ben Affleck before he got ‘cold feet’: source

    (7/18/22) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are still on cloud nine after their surprise wedding in Las Vegas.

    The lovebirds celebrated, Page Six is told, with pizza and Diet Coke on a private jet back to LA in the early hours of Sunday morning.

    And while J.Lo posted on her OnTheJLo newsletter Sunday that they were joined by their kids at the shock nuptials at a drive-through wedding chapel, Page Six is told that the only ones in attendance were Lopez’s child, Emme, 14, and Affleck’s Sera, 13.

    They have five kids in total between them. Emme has a twin brother, Max, and Affleck also shares Violet, 16, and Sam, 10, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

    While they were tying the knot Garner was soaking up the sun in Lake Tahoe over the weekend — and gave no clue as to how she was feeling about it all.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s nuptials are said to have been rather last minute.

    “Ben did tell Jen about the wedding, but I’m told that it was only Friday at the earliest. It was very, very minimally planned in advance and was largely spur of the moment. Violet stayed home because she’s extremely loyal to her mom,” one well-placed Hollywood source told The Post.

    As for why now, the Hollywood source added: “[Lopez] has been ready to get married since the night that Ben proposed. She wanted to lock this down and remove any chance for cold feet ASAP!”

    Garner, 50, and Affleck, 49, were married from 2005 to 2018. She has maintained her silence as her ex has enjoyed publicized romances with “Saturday Night Live” producer Lindsay Shookus and Cuban actress Ana de Armas, who recently revealed that she quit LA over the attention surrounding their relationship. She told Elle magazine: “It became a little bit too much. There’s no escape. There’s no way out.” She’s now living in NYC with her Tinder exec boyfriend Paul Boukadakis.

    But Garner has also stood by the Oscar winner through his battles with addiction. Friends were left furious on her behalf back in December after Affleck told shock jock Howard Stern he would still probably be drinking if he was still married to Garner.

    At the time, one industry insider who knows both Affleck and Garner well told The Post: “It’s disgusting … Jen has been the only one picking him up time and time again when he’s done horrible things — fallen off the wagon or worse.”

    Another industry source told The Post on Monday: “Ben’s comments were ridiculous and you could see that fans of Jen were so upset too. But, of course, she has never wanted him to be anything other than happy and sober and I’m sure she wishes him well [on his new marriage].”

    A rep for Garner could not be reached for comment.

    Garner is currently filming the Apple+ thriller “The Last Thing He Told Me,” based on the best-selling book by Laura Dave, which follows a wife whose husband disappears.

    One thing is clear: J.Lo hopes this is her happy ending. As those who know her well previously told Page Six, Affleck is the love of her life.

    After posing for photos in a pink Cadillac, the 52-year-old singer and actress wrote: “Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things — and worth waiting for.” She signed off as Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.

    Reps for the newlyweds declined to comment on who attended the wedding.

    The Hollywood source said that Lopez and Affleck will host a party to celebrate with friends and family — but not another wedding: “There may be another white dress, but they won’t be saying their vows again.”

    Jen & Ben Affleck Vegas Wasn't Final Stop ... Wedding Party to Continue in GA

    (7/18/22) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck might've gone low-key by exchanging vows in Vegas ... but they're still taking things up to A-list level with a big private party to celebrate their love.

    Sources close to the couple tell TMZ there's a massive bash set to take place in the next few weeks at a home Ben owns in the coastal town of Riceboro, Georgia. We're told the party's guest list will, of course, include family members -- but close friends and celeb pals are also expected to fly out to celebrate with the newlyweds.

    We're told Jen recently went to the home a few weeks ago with her manager to party plan, and we believe Ben was there as well.

    Ben's home, about an hour outside Savannah, comes with plenty of room to have fun -- the property is 87 acres and the main house has 3 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms and 6,000 sq ft of living space. Ben tried selling the home for about $8 million in 2019 before pulling it off the market.

    TMZ broke the story ... Ben and Jen tied the knot early Saturday morning in Sin City.

    Following the news, Jen posted a series of photos from the ceremony -- which included their kids -- with a note that read, "We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient."

    She signed the message, "Jennifer Lynn Affleck."

    While Jennifer admitted, they had hoped to be married by an Elvis impersonator -- who was unavailable at the time -- it was still her dream wedding.

    Now, they'll get to continue the dream wedding across the country with some of their closest friends and family.

    Jennifer Lopez confirms marriage to Ben Affleck: Inside the Vegas ceremony

    (7/17/22) Jennifer Lopez has confirmed her marriage to Ben Affleck in the July 17 edition of her “On The JLo” newsletter.

    “We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,” the “Marry Me” actress began as she gushed over her nuptials.

    Calling the Vegas ceremony “Exactly what we wanted,” the star detailed their trip down the aisle.

    “Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world. Behind us two men held hands and held each other. In front of us, a young couple who made the three hour drive from Victorville on their daughter’s second birthday—all of us wanting the same thing— for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage.

    “We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight,” she revealed. “They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed).”

    Lopez added that she wore “a dress from an old movie” as they exchanged vows in the “little chapel” and “gave one another the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives.”

    The couple met in 2001 on the set of their movie “Gigli” while Lopez was still married to her second husband Cris Judd. Following their June 2002 separation, “Bennifer” was born, with Affleck initially proposing in 2002. Unfortunately, they would never make it down the aisle.

    Following failed marriages for both stars, the pair reunited in 2021.

    “But in the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very long last.”

    The “Let’s Get Loud” singer also added photos from the ceremony, including shots of Affleck in a white tux jacket and black slacks. There’s even a clip of the groom getting ready in a small bathroom with pink walls and scratched mirrors.

    A snap of Lopez’s daughter, Emme, was also included, as the teen sat in the backseat of their marital convertible.

    “They were right when they said, ‘all you need is love.'” Lopez continued. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to. Stick around long enough and maybe you’ll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you’ll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.”

    She then signed off by her married name, writing, “With love, Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck.”

    Jennifer Lopez wears wedding dress from ‘old movie’ to marry Ben Affleck

    (7/17/22) Jennifer Lopez made sure she had her “something old” at her low-key Las Vegas wedding to Ben Affleck this weekend.

    The “Marry Me” star confirmed her marriage to the “Gone Girl” actor in her “On The JLo” newsletter Sunday, revealing that she said “I do” wearing “a dress from an old movie.”

    Lopez, 52, actually appeared to have two different looks for her nuptials, one of which was a white lace off-the-shoulder gown with long sleeves, a sweetheart neckline, corset bodice and fishtail train along with a matching lace-trimmed veil from Zuhair Murad’s bridal collection.

    Photos included in her newsletter also show the superstar modeling a white sleeveless boatneck gown with a quilted texture — presumably the vintage find.

    Affleck wore a white tux from his own closet, as Lopez wrote, as the couple exchanged “the rings we’ll wear for the rest of our lives” at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

    J.Lo and Affleck, 49, met in 2001 on the set of their movie “Gigli,” making the Old Hollywood-inspired bridal gown a fitting choice.

    They got engaged for the first time the following year, with the “Argo” director popping the question with a 6.10-carat radiant-cut pink Harry Winston diamond worth an estimated $2.5 million.

    While they never made it down the aisle, Affleck managed to outdo that sparkler the second time around; in April, he proposed with an 8.5-carat natural green diamond flanked by a duo of trapezoid-shaped white diamonds.

    “A green diamond of that size is incredibly rare and would dwarf the value of their previous engagement ring,” The Diamond Pro CEO Mike Fried told Page Six Style at the time. “I would value the ring well over $5 million and [it] could be worth more than $10 million.”

    Wrote Lopez in her newsletter, “Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient.”

    Ben & Jen We're Hitched ... Vegas-Style, Baby!!!

    (7/17/22) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are married -- and wouldn't you know it ... they did it like a couple of kids looking to elope, saying "I do" out in the desert.

    According to court records, obtained by TMZ, the couple got a marriage license in Clark County, NV -- which was taken out and processed on Saturday, July 16. It's in both of their names -- their legal ones at that ... Benjamin Geza Affleck and Jennifer Lynn Lopez.

    A source connected to Bennifer tells TMZ ... they did, indeed, get hitched ... and the license is a signal they are now man and wife.

    TMZ broke the story ... earlier this year, J Lo was spotted wearing an engagement ring when furniture shopping with her 14-year-old child, Emme.

    Soon after, Jennifer shared the news with her fans via a video message on her newsletter, she's teary-eyed and simply says, "You're perfect" before you can catch a glimpse of her beautiful green diamond ring.

    Ben and Jen first got engaged in late 2002, but called things off in 2004 before they got married. They both went on to have separate relationships, including marriages and kids, but the exes reunited almost a year ago ... and have been seemingly inseparable ever since.

    The signs of them tying the knot have been there all along -- as we've reported ... they've been house hunting together -- often bringing their kids along -- and signaled they were aiming for a blended family situation. Despite some of their real estate deals falling through, the couple seems to have settled down in a Beverly Hills estate.

    Last month, Jen's car was spotted at a massive estate in Beverly Hills. There were also 4 moving trucks outside the estate -- plus, moving trucks at both Ben and Jen's current homes in the L.A. area.

    The house was not listed for sale -- we're told he bought it for around $60 million. It was previously owned by Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman. Now, they're moving in as bride and groom.

    Congrats!!!

    Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Launching Production Company With RedBird Capital’s Gerry Cardinale Funding & Jeff Robinov Circling

    (6/8/22) Ben Affleck just started Monday directing the untitled drama starring Matt Damon as maverick sneaker salesman Sonny Vaccaro, about his dogged pursuit to get Michael Jordan to lace up in Nike shoes, and now Affleck and Damon are getting traction on their own groundbreaking endeavor.

    They are negotiating to launch a new monied production company that is in talks to be funded by RedBird Capital’s Gerry Cardinale. Deadline hears that Studio 8 CEO Jeff Robinov is circling a significant substantial role. Robinov has a long history with both Affleck (Argo and The Town) and Damon (Ocean’s Eleven franchise) during his days running Warner Bros. The intention is to generate big-time content.

    The untitled Nike movie is being done for Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and Mandalay Pictures, but sources said that the new company likely will have a producing role on the film as well. It’s based on a 2021 Black List script called Air Jordan by Alex Convery, and Good Will Hunting scribes Affleck and Damon took a pass on that script about how Nike co-founder Phil Knight (played by Affleck) sent Vaccaro on a quest to sign Jordan in what became the most important athlete-product intertwining ever. It turned Nike, and Jordan, into billion-dollar global enterprises.

    The production company might take awhile to coalesce, and it isn’t done because the principals are busy making this movie, but it is one of the more promising-sounding entrepreneurial ventures to come along in a bit. Damon and Affleck won Oscars for Good Will Hunting, and Affleck directed the Best Picture winner Argo. They most recently teamed on the Ridley Scott-directed The Last Duel.

    Cardinale’s RedBird Capital manages more than $6 billion in assets across multiple sectors including sports, media and entertainment. Cardinale is known to be a deal architect and business builder, and the firm’s investment portfolio includes many of the world’s most iconic entrepreneurs, properties and brands across the sports and media ecosystems – including Fenway Sports Group (Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, Pittsburgh Penguins and New England Sports Network); Skydance Media (Larry and David Ellison); the Springhill Company (LeBron James and Maverick Carter); the XFL with Dwayne Johnson and his partner Dany Garcia; and most recently European football’s A.C. Milan, which recently won Italy’s Serie A Championship.

    Affleck and Damon are represented by WME and Ziffren Brittenham.

    Stay tuned.

    Ben Affleck To Direct Nike Drama For Amazon, Skydance Sports; Will Star Alongside Matt Damon

    (4/19/22) Ben Affleck and Matt Damon are reteaming for a Nike drama that Affleck will direct for Amazon Studios, Skydance Sports and the duo’s banner Mandalay Pictures, Deadline can confirm.

    The as-yet-untitled sports marketing film will tell the incredible story of how Sonny Vaccaro (Damon), a maverick sneaker salesman, led a fledgling running shoe company called Nike in its pursuit of the most transformative athlete in the history of sports: Michael Jordan. Affleck will portray Nike co-founder Phil Knight in the story surrounding Nike’s longshot effort to sign Jordan to its shoe company in the mid-’80s, an endorsement that seemed impossible at the time but which would become the most significant relationship between an athletic brand and an athlete and launched the global, multibillion-dollar contemporary sneaker industry.

    Sonny’s relentless quest to sign Jordan to what was then the third-place shoe company takes him to Jordan’s parents, and in particular his powerful, dynamic mother, as well as to former coaches, advisors, friends and those close to Michael. Jordan himself is a giant mythic figure hovering above the movie and never seen, while Sonny tries to reach him by gaining access to those close to him and around him.

    Alex Convery wrote the original script, titled Air Jordan, which was named to the 2021 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays. Mandalay brought it to Skydance Sports president Jon Weinbach, who then secured Vaccarro’s life rights. Affleck and Damon are doing a new pass on the script and will produce.

    While Affleck has never before directed Damon, the pair famously co-wrote and starred together in Gus Van Sant’s 1997 film Good Will Hunting, which won them an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. They also recently reteamed for Ridley Scott’s film The Last Duel, starring there alongside Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and more.

    Affleck previously directed films including Gone Baby Gone, The Town, Best Picture Oscar winner Argo and Live by Night. He recently starred opposite Ana de Armas in the erotic thriller Deep Water and will next be seen in The Flash and Robert Rodriguez’s thriller Hypnotic. Other upcoming films featuring Damon include Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder and Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

    Regularly featuring on the Black List, Convery has been behind such screenplays as Bag Mag, Excelsior! and Wild Things. Affleck and Damon are represented by WME and Ziffren Brittenham; Convery is repped by UTA and Grandview.

    Jennifer Lopez, Ben Affleck keep mum on wedding plans to avoid press

    (4/12/22) Don’t hold your breath for Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s ‘Save the Date’ cards.

    A source tells us of the newly engaged pair, “After the last time [they got engaged], there won’t be any announcements of when and where they are getting married. They will just do it and then announce.”

    The couple — dubbed “Bennifer” — were first engaged way back in 2002, but split in 2004, before linking up again last year.

    Back in 2002 they faced unprecedented media interest. They even had to postpone their first planned wedding in 2003 after they were forced to go so far as considering having “decoy brides.”

    They released a statement the day before the nuptials, stating “Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date.

    “When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate ‘decoy brides’ at three different locations, we realized that something was awry. We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised.”

    According to our source, this time they aren’t taking any chances of wedding news being leaked to the press and paparazzi.

    “Friends will be invited to something like a birthday and then it will turn out to be a wedding and they will get married in front of like 30, 40 people,” says the source, adding that Lopez — who also had a broken engagement to Alex Rodriguez — is not going to “jinx” things this time around.

    Affleck recently told Howard Stern that his initial relationship with the “Marry Me,” star suffered due to the pressure of the spotlight, saying “I would say [media attention] was about 50 percent [of what destroyed our relationship],” the first time around.

    The “Let’s Get Loud,” singer announced her engagement to Affleck on social media Friday after being photographed wearing a huge, 8.5 carat green wedding ring. They are currently house hunting. On Tuesday, Lopez revealed she was taking a bubble bath when he popped the question.

    Jennifer Lopez: I was taking a bubble bath when ‘beautiful’ Ben Affleck proposed

    (4/12/22) She was bubbling over with joy – literally.

    Jennifer Lopez revealed that she was taking a bubble bath when Ben Affleck proposed.

    “Saturday night while at my favorite place on earth (in the bubble bath), my beautiful love got on one knee and proposed,” the singer wrote via her “On The JLo” newsletter on Tuesday.

    Titled “How It Went Down,” Lopez admitted that she was “taken totally off guard” in the moment.

    “[I] just looked in his eyes smiling and crying at the same time trying hard to get my head around the fact that after 20 years this was happening all over again,” she explained.

    “I was quite literally speechless and he said, ‘Is that a yes?’ I said ‘YES of course that’s a YES.’”

    Lopez, 52, said she was crying when Affleck, 49, asked her to marry him and that the simplicity of it all made it that much more romantic.

    En“I was smiling so big and tears were coming down my face, feeling so incredibly happy and whole. It was nothing fancy at all, but it was the most romantic thing I could’ve ever imagined,” she said.

    ”Just a quiet Saturday night at home, two people promising to always be there for each other. Two very lucky people. Who got a second chance at true love.”

    In a video accompanying the newsletter, Lopez shared that the proposal was “totally unexpected.”

    “I’M ENGAGED! It was totally unexpected. My love came in, Ben came in and he got down on one knee and he said some things that I’ll never forget and he pulled out a ring and he said, ‘Will you marry me?’ And it was the most perfect moment,” she gushed.

    She also touched on the significance of the green diamond in her engagement ring, explaining that the color has always been “lucky” for her.

    “He hands me a ring and he says it’s a green diamond. [Green is] my favorite color, it’s also my lucky color,” she said in the video. “Obviously it’ll be my lucky color forever now. It means so much when somebody thinks about you and loves you and sees you. And it was just the most perfect moment.”

    She added, “I feel so lucky. It’s not often you get a second chance at true love.”

    Lopez and Affleck rekindled their love in April 2021. The two then made their red carpet debut as a couple (again) at the Venice Film Festival in September of that year.

    Jennifer Lopez posts ‘special story,’ an engagement ring

    (4/9/22) Jennifer Lopez has an engagement ring on her finger, and Ben Affleck may be the one who put it there.

    “So, I have a really exciting and special story to share,” a giggling Lopez said in a video posted Friday on her Twitter feed. She said more could be found on the website for her “inner circle,” OnTheJLo.com, which requires visitors to sign up.

    A video posted there showed an emotional Lopez gazing at the left-hand ring, which held a large green gem that matched her tank top.

    Lopez’s representatives declined to confirm an engagement, directing inquiries to the actor-singer’s online post. A representative for Affleck didn’t respond to a request for comment Saturday.

    Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance 17 years after they broke off their engagement in 2004. The pair, who met making the 2003 movie “Gigli,” had moved on to other marriages and divorce before going public with their reunion last year.

    J Lo and Ben In Escrow for Insanely Expensive Estate ... Families are About to Blend!

    (3/19/22) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are taking the next step in their relationship, and it's a big one ... they're plunking down more than $50 MILLION on a spectacular estate ... real estate sources tell TMZ.

    We've learned they're buying a 20,000 square foot estate in the ritzy Bel-Air area of Los Angeles. The home has 10 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms!!! It has multiple kitchens, a theatre, gym, his and hers bath, and on and on. Oh, of course, a pool.

    The house is super private ... tucked away in a forest of trees. It has an incredible city view.

    We're told they sealed the deal in the mid-$50 million range.

    Our sources say it's not a done deal because there are still contingencies that must be satisfied.

    It's a big move, and we're told the entire brood from both sides will be living there. It certainly seems like a precursor to marriage.

    The home is listed for $65 million, so the seller went down in price. And, speaking of the seller, his name is Todd Lemkin, a Texas billionaire.

    ‘Deep Water’ Trailer: Ben Affleck & Ana De Armas Lead Hulu Thriller From ‘Fatal Attraction’s Adrian Lyne

    (3/7/22) (Video) Hulu today unveiled a trailer and first-look photos for its psychological thriller Deep Water, starring Ben Affleck (Gone Girl) and Ana de Armas (Knives Out), which is set to debut in the U.S. on March 18.

    The film helmed by Oscar nominee Adrian Lyne (Fatal Attraction, Indecent Proposal) is based on the novel of the same name by famed mystery writer Patricia Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley). It takes us inside the marriage of picture-perfect Vic (Affleck) and Melinda (de Armas) Van Allen to discover the dangerous mind games they play and what happens to the people that get caught up in them.

    Zach Helm (Stranger Than Fiction) and Euphoria creator Sam Levinson adapted the screenplay for the pic, with Arnon Milchan, Guymon Casady, Benjamin Forkner and Anthony Katagas producing. Tracy Letts, Lil Rel Howery, Dash Mihok, Finn Wittrock, Kristen Connolly, Jacob Elordi, Rachel Blanchard, Michael Braun, Jade Fernandez, Grace Jenkins, Brendan C. Miller, Devyn Tyler and Jeff Pope round out the cast.

    Check out the trailer for Deep Water above.

    Critics Choice Super Awards Nominations

    (2/22/22) Winners will be revealed on Thursday, March 17. The Super Awards, which will not be telecast this year.

    BEST VILLAIN IN A MOVIE
    Ben Affleck – The Last Duel
    Willem Dafoe – Spider-Man: No Way Home
    Idris Elba – The Harder They Fall
    Tony Leung – Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
    Marina Mazepa (performer) & Ray Chase (voice) – Malignant
    Tony Todd – Candyman

    ‘Deep Water’ Teaser: There’s Something Wrong With Ben Affleck & Ana de Armas

    (2/14/22) (Video) “Do you love me?” she asks.

    “Of course,” he replies.

    “There’s something wrong with me,” she warns.

    “There’s something wrong with me too,” he affirms.

    The love story is never the whole story.

    Here is our first look at Deep Water, the psychological thriller starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas that marks Oscar-nominated Fatal Attraction director Adrian Lyne’s first film since Unfaithful in 2002. Check out the teaser above.

    No one will complain about too much plot being revealed in the atmospheric and steamy initial teaser clip. But the logline describes Vic and Melinda Van Allen as an affluent New Orleans couple whose marriage is crumbling under the weight of resentment, jealousy and mistrust. As their mutual provocations and mind games escalate, things quickly turn into a deadly game of cat and mouse as Melinda’s extramarital dalliances start going missing.

    Production on the pic began way back in November 2019, when Affleck and de Armas were dating. Tracy Letts, Rachel Blanchard, Dash Mihok, Lil Rel Howery, Jacob Elordi, Finn Wittrock, and Kristen Connolly also star in the pic penned by Zack Helm and Euphoria creator-writer Sam Levinson based Patricia Highsmith novel.

    Garrett Basch and Steven Zaillian produced the pic with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady and Ben Forkner, and Anthony Katagas. Arnon Milchan also is a producer.

    Disney had planned to release the 20th Century Studios/New Regency movie in theaters last month but pulled it from the schedule in December. Days later, it was moved to Hulu and now will premiere March 18 exclusively on the streamer.

    SAG Awards Nominations

    (1/12/22) The awards ceremony is set to air on TNT and TBS on February 27 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica.

    BEN AFFLECK / Uncle Charlie
    THE TENDER BAR

    BRADLEY COOPER / Jon Peters
    LICORICE PIZZA

    TROY KOTSUR / Frank Rossi
    CODA

    JARED LETO / Paolo Gucci
    HOUSE OF GUCCI

    KODI SMIT-McPHEE / Peter
    THE POWER OF THE DOG

    Ben Affleck: I would’ve ‘still’ been drinking if I’d stayed married to Jennifer Garner

    (12/14/21) Ben Affleck felt “trapped” in his marriage to Jennifer Garner — and thinks he wouldn’t have gotten sober had he stayed.

    “We probably would’ve ended up at each other’s throats. I probably still would’ve been drinking,” Affleck, 49, recently said on SiriusXM’s “The Howard Stern Show.”

    “Part of why I started drinking was because I was trapped.”

    Affleck, who went to rehab for alcoholism in 2018, continued, “I was like, ‘I can’t leave because of my kids, but I’m not happy, what do I do?’ And what I did was [I] drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, which turned out not to be the solution.”

    The actor added that he and 49-year-old Garner, who were married from 2005 to 2018, tried to work on their marriage for the sake of their three children: Violet, 16, Seraphina, 12, and 9-year-old Samuel.

    “Ultimately, we tried, we tried, we tried because we had kids, but both of us felt like we didn’t want this to be the model that our kids see of marriage,” he said.

    He explained that the tabloids had it wrong about their breakup.

    “Everything you read [in the news about the divorce] was bulls–t. The truth was we took our time, we made our decision … We grew apart,” he said. “We had a marriage that didn’t work. This happens. She’s somebody I love and respect, but to whom I shouldn’t be married any longer.”

    The “Argo” actor said his marriage to Garner ended on good terms.

    “We did it amicably. We did our best. Did we have moments of tension? Did we have disagreements over custody? Was stuff difficult for us? Did we get angry? Yes, but fundamentally it was always underpinned with a respect,” he said, adding, “I knew she was a good mom. I always hoped she knew I was a good dad. I knew I was.”

    Affleck also revealed that once he hit rock bottom, it took a year and a half to get sober.

    “The cure for addiction is suffering, you suffer enough, that something inside you goes, ‘I’m done,'” he said of getting clean. “I’m lucky because I hit that point before I lost the things that were most important. Not my career or money — it was my relationship with my kids, and when I felt as if it impacted them, I recognized it.”

    Affleck added, “It was the worst day of my life. I made amends … But since that day, I swear to Christ, I have not ever wanted to drink once.”

    The “Gone Girl” star admitted the public dissolution of his marriage to Garner briefly gave him pause when it came to rekindling his aughts-era romance with Jennifer Lopez.

    “It crossed my mind for sure … My responsibility to my children is the highest responsibility I have, so I’m not going to do anything that’s painful or destructive to them if I can help it,” he said. “That being said, I know that my life affects them.”

    He added, “Me and their mom are celebrities and that’s hard. Let’s not bulls–t each other, right? That’s a f–king cross to bear, that’s an albatross already … and then during the divorce, you know they printed horrible lies.”

    Affleck and Lopez, who were engaged in the early 2000s, started dating again in April 2021.

    Golden Globes Nominations

    (12/13/21) BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN ANY MOTION PICTURE

    BEN AFFLECK
    THE TENDER BAR

    JAMIE DORNAN
    BELFAST

    CIARÁN HINDS
    BELFAST

    TROY KOTSUR
    CODA

    KODI SMIT-MCPHEE
    THE POWER OF THE DOG

    Ben Affleck-Ana De Armas Movie ‘Deep Water’ Heading To Streaming

    (12/13/21) We hear that the Adrian Lyne-directed erotic thriller Deep Water is going to streaming after the 20th Century Studios/New Regency movie was pulled from the Disney theatrical release calendar last week. We understand that Hulu will get domestic play of the Ben Affleck-Ana de Armas movie while Amazon will have streaming for the picture overseas. The movie was originally set to hit theaters on Jan. 14, 2022. We’ll update you with a streaming release date.

    Deep Water, based on the Patricia Highsmith novel, reps Lyne’s first directorial since 2002’s Unfaithful. He was Oscar nominated in 1988 for Best Director for Paramount’s Fatal Attraction starring Glenn Close and Michael Douglas which was a huge hit at the time grossing over $320M WW.

    We also hear that Deep Water is being sent to streaming given the feeble theatrical marketplace for adult fare right now; Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story being the latest to underperform with a $10.5M opening. To date, and boosted by the Thanksgiving holiday, MGM/UAR’s star-studded House of Gucci is the only drama to break through with a current running domestic B.O. of $41M. Meanwhile, fanboy fare is king with Sony/Disney/Marvel’s Spider-Man: No Way Home eyeing a $135M-$155M opening weekend.

    Affleck and de Armas star as Vic and Melinda Van Allen, a married couple whose mind games with each other take a twisted turn when people around them start turning up dead. The couple staves off divorce in a loveless marriage by allowing each to take lovers, but it becomes messy as Highsmith exposed the surface façade of American suburban life.

    Zach Helm and Sam Levinson adapted the book. Tracy Letts, Rachel Blanchard, Dash Mihok, Lil Rel Howery, Jacob Elordi, Kristen Connolly and Jade Fernandez also star.

    Today, New Regency hammered a new global theatrical distribution deal with Disney. The production company, originally housed at 20th Century Fox, segued over to Disney after the 2019 merger of the rival studio.

    Reps for New Regency, Amazon and Disney were unable to be reached.

    Ben Affleck calls reignited romance with Jennifer Lopez ‘beautiful’

    (12/9/21) Disney said Thursday that Deep Water, the 20th Century Studios erotic thriller starring Ben Affleck and Ana de Armas and directed by Adrian Lyne, has been pulled from the release schedule. It had been slated to hit theaters on January 14, 2022.

    The studio did not give a reason for the move on the pic, which is the first movie from the Indecent Proposal and Fatal Attraction director in almost two decades and is based on the Patricia Highsmith novel. Deadline has reached out for comment.

    Affleck and de Armas star as Vic and Melinda Van Allen, a married couple whose mind games with each other take a twisted turn when people around them start turning up dead. The couple staves off divorce in a loveless marriage by allowing each to take lovers, but it becomes messy as Highsmith exposed the surface façade of American suburban life.

    Zack Helm and Sam Levinson adapted the book. Tracy Letts, Rachel Blanchard, Dash Mihok, Lil Rel Howery, Jacob Elordi, Kristen Connolly and Jade Fernandez also star.

    Affleck and de Armas were dating during the making of the movie (production began in November 2019 in New Orleans), but they are no longer together.

    No word on whether Deep Water will be rescheduled.

    Disney also said today that the untitled Disney Animation movie that was slated for a November 23, 2022 release date will be Strange World, an action adventure film directed by Don Hall (Big Hero 6, Raya and the Last Dragon) and co-director/writer Qui Nguyen (Raya and the Last Dragon).

    The pic journeys into an uncharted and treacherous land where fantastical creatures await the legendary Clades, a family of explorers whose differences threaten to topple their latest—and by far— most crucial mission. Roy Conli (Big Hero 6, Tangled) is producing.

    Ben Affleck calls reignited romance with Jennifer Lopez ‘beautiful’

    (12/1/21) Ben Affleck couldn’t be more “grateful” for his reconciliation with Jennifer Lopez.

    The actor — who’s been dating his ex-fiancé since April — was asked to share the story behind what led to their reignited romance that practically broke the internet in 2021.

    “I can say that it’s definitely beautiful to me,” Affleck, 49, told WSJ. Magazine, playing coy. “And, you know, one of the things I really value across all facets of my life now is that it was handled in a way that reflected that.”

    “It’s a good story. It’s a great story. And, you know, maybe one day I’ll tell it,” he continued. “I’ll write it all out … and then I’ll light it on fire.”

    The A-lister also got candid about receiving a “second chance” not only in his career and personal life, but “as a human being.”

    “Life is difficult, and we are always failing and hopefully learning from those failures,” he said.

    “The one thing you really need to avail yourself of the opportunities provided from that growth is the second chance.”

    Affleck said that his life now reflects “not just the person that I want to be, but the person that I really feel like I am.”

    “Which is not perfect, but somebody who tries very hard and cares very much about being honest and authentic and accountable,” he explained. “It’s hard to say who benefits more, without going into gossipy detail.”

    Meanwhile, Lopez told “Today” last month that she still believes in marriage, despite having been divorced three times — from Ojani Noa, Cris Judd and Marc Anthony.

    “I don’t know, yeah, I guess,” the singer, 52, replied, when asked if she would consider saying “I do” again. “I still believe in happily ever after, for sure, 100 percent.”

    Jennifer Garner joins Ben Affleck, Jennifer Lopez for trick-or-treating

    (11/1/21) Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck dressed up as happy exes for Halloween.

    The “Way Back” star and girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were taking their respective kids trick-or-treating in Malibu, Calif., Sunday when his ex-wife, Garner, joined them for the festivities.

    “Everyone gets along, and the focus is always on the kids. Jennifer, Ben and Jen Garner all wanted the kids to have an amazing Halloween,” a source told People. “The kids are friends and wanted to go trick-or-treating together. It made sense that they all went together.”

    The source added that the actor had to work Monday, so “they wanted to enjoy a family weekend.”

    A source confirmed to Page Six that Affleck and Garner had spent time together with their kids at Huckleberry café in Santa Monica earlier in the morning, too.

    Affleck and Garner, both 49, share three children: Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. They wed in June 2005 and announced their separation in June 2015. They settled their divorce in October 2018.

    Lopez, 52, shares 13-year-old twins Max and Emme with ex-husband Marc Anthony, to whom she was married from June 2004 to July 2011.

    The “Jenny From the Block” singer and the “Gone Girl” star rekindled their romance in April following her breakup from fiancé Alex Rodriguez. The pair, who were engaged in the early 2000s, have been going strong ever since, packing on the PDA around the world at high-profile events and strolls around New York City.

    “We can do anything with love,” she said while appearing at Global Citizen Live. “Love makes miracles, trust me. I guess you could say, I don’t know, I got love on the brain. Have love on my mind lately, I don’t know what it is.”

    Garner, for her part, reignited her on-again, off-again relationship with boyfriend John Miller once more earlier this year.

    ‘The Tender Bar’ Trailer: First Look At Ben Affleck In George Clooney’s Amazon Coming-Of-Age Film

    (10/14/20) (Video) “In life, you’ve gotta have ‘it,'” two-time Oscar winner Ben Affleck says in the first trailer for director George Clooney’s The Tender Bar, released by Amazon today. “If you don’t have ‘it, you’ll never get it—and I say you got it.”

    Clooney’s follow-up to Netflix sci-fi pic The Midnight Sky is an adaptation of Pulitzer Prize winner J.R. Moehringer’s bestselling memoir of the same name. It tells the story of J.R. (Tye Sheridan), a boy growing up in Long Island who seeks out father figures among the patrons at his uncle Charlie’s (Affleck) bar. As his mother (Lily Rabe) struggles to provide her son with opportunities denied to her—and to leave the rundown home of her father (Christopher Lloyd)—J.R. begins to pursue his romantic and professional dreams.

    In the trailer, we’re introduced to a young J.R.’s (newcomer Daniel Ranieri) mother and eccentric grandfather watching as Charlie bonds with his nephew.

    “I’m gonna always tell you the truth,” Affleck’s Charlie says. “Your father is a deadbeat. I’ll take care of ya—teach you the male sciences.”

    Sheridan picks up the role of J.R. in later scenes, in which we see him be accepted into Yale and pursue his passion for writing.

    Oscar winner William Monahan (The Departed, The Gambler) penned the script for The Tender Bar, which also stars Max Casella, Sondra James, Max Martini, Michael Braun, Matthew Delamater, Rhenzy Feliz, Ivan Leung, and Briana Middleton.

    Clooney and Grant Heslov produced the coming-of-age drama through their company Smokehouse Pictures, alongside Ted Hope, with Moehringer and Barbara A. Hall serving as executive producers.

    The film hits L.A. and NY theaters in limited release on December 17, before opening nationwide on December 22, becoming available globally for streaming via Amazon Prime Video on January 7.

    Check out the trailer above.

    Ben Affleck says he is ‘in awe’ of girlfriend Jennifer Lopez

    (9/20/21) Ben Affleck is gushing publicly about his girlfriend, Jennifer Lopez, for the first time since rekindling their romance after nearly 20 years.

    “I am in awe of what Jennifer’s effect on the world is,” the Oscar winner, 43, told Adweek in an interview published Sunday. “At most, as an artist, I can make movies that move people. Jennifer has inspired a massive group of people to feel they have a seat at the table in this country.”

    He added, “That is an effect few people throughout history have had, one I will never know and one I can only stand by and admire with respect.”

    Affleck continued to praise Lopez, who is of Puerto Rican descent, for being a role model for women of color in the industry.

    “All I can tell you is that I have seen firsthand the difference representation makes because I have seen, over and over and over and over, women of color approach Jennifer and tell her what her example as a strong woman and a woman succeeding and demanding her fair share in the business world means to them,” he noted.

    According to Adweek, Lopez, 52, and her philanthropic project, Limitless Labs, are partnering with Goldman Sachs and its 10,000 Small Businesses program in support of Latinx entrepreneurs.

    While Affleck is clearly proud of his multi-hyphenate girlfriend, the “Jenny From the Block” singer also feels the same way about her beau.

    After attending the Venice Film Festival with Affleck earlier this month — where the couple made their grand return to the red carpet — J.Lo commended her boyfriend on social media for his new film, “The Last Duel.”

    “I had such a beautiful time!! And I’m so excited for you guys to see this movie!!” she captioned a montage video from their time in Italy. “It’s the first script Matt and Ben have written together along with Nicole Holofcener since Good Will Hunting!! And it’s amazing!! The acting by the whole cast is fantastic.”

    Lopez and Affleck started dating again in April, soon after J.Lo’s split from fiancé Alex Rodriguez.

    The couple previously got engaged in November 2002 but called it quits by January 2004 and never walked down the aisle.

    However, their second time around appears to be going well as they were recently rumored to be shopping around for a mansion together in Los Angeles.

    The pair have also hung out with each other’s kids and engaged in any number of PDA moments.

    ‘The Last Duel’: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Ridley Scott, Jodie Comer & Nicole Holofcener Talk Historical Drama’s Modern-Day Relevance

    (9/10/21) “I do consider myself a feminist,” said Ben Affleck to the Venice Film Festival press corps this afternoon. The actor was in town with to talk about his latest pic The Last Duel, along with co-stars Matt Damon and Jodie Comer, director Ridley Scott and co-writer Nicole Holofcener about the 14th century title, based on the book by Eric Jager, which is screening out of competition at the festival tonight.

    “The movie principally was really exciting to me because of the character of Marguerite [played by Comer],” said Affleck. “Her extraordinary strength and bravery seemed very obvious when I read the book.” He added: “This is a true story, one that people didn’t know. This is an incredible woman from history who is an early-known recorded person who spoke out against a powerful man who assaulted her. Naturally, that seemed relevant and also incredibly thrilling, and a story that could generate a lot of catharsis and empathy and one that I hoped would develop in the viewer a sense of compassion and, we hope, the idea that we might look at one another in a different way.”

    The title, which is co-written by Damon, Affleck and Holofcener, also stars Adam Driver and chronicles one of France’s last legally sanctioned duels. Set in 1386, it sees King Charles VI (Affleck) declare that the knight Jean de Carrouges (Damon) settle his dispute with his friend and squire, Jacques LeGris (Driver), over a claim of sexual assault by the knight’s wife (Comer). After a duel to the death, the one left alive would be declared the winner as a sign of God’s will – and if de Carrouges loses, his wife will be burned at the stake as punishment for her false accusation.

    Speaking about why he chose to direct the title, Scott, who is being awarded the Cartier Glory to the Filmmaker Award at Venice tonight, said he couldn’t say no to Damon after working with him on The Martian.

    “When you get a call from Matt Damon who says, ‘hey dude – you’ve done a duel before but we’ve got another duel – do you want to read it?’ and I said, ‘yes.’ You don’t say no.”

    Scott added: “I enjoyed working with Matt tremendously on The Martian so I thought, why not let’s go again. I got the script in six weeks…and that’s quick because normally you have this kind of thing proposed and 10 years later you still haven’t made it.”

    Talking about the writing process, Damon said, “Ben and I did the male sections – the first two acts. Nicole did the third act, which is primarily Jodie’s story, although Jodie obviously enters both of our stories. The idea was that in the male stories, the women are kind of manifested when the men need them. For something other than that, they’re ignored…they are their property and they’re kind of seen of as that.”

    Holofcener noted that they were, of course, all aware of the #metoo movement and how “similar this experience” Marguerite went through was.

    “The last thing we all wanted was to be on a soapbox and say, ‘look how relevant this is today’ because I think people get that without us having to write it,” she said.

    Comer added: “Coming into this part, the sense of a duty of care was always very present. I think there’s going to be so many women who watch this film and relate to it in some way.”

    The Last Duel is released by 20th Century Studios and is produced by Scott and Kevin Walsh for Scott Free, with Damon and Affleck producing through their Pearl Street banner. It opens in theaters October 15.

    Ben Affleck & Matt Damon’s Pearl Street Films Teams With Portal A On Scripted Sci-Fi Series As Wheelhouse-Backed Digital Producer Steps Up Originals Drive

    (7/29/21) Portal A, the production company backed by Brent Montgomery’s Wheelhouse, has been producing digitally native content for over ten years.

    The company, founded by Nate Houghteling, Zach Blume and Kai Hasson, now hopes that a deal with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s Pearl Street Films and producing one of Snapchat’s biggest originals to date can help take it to the next level.

    It has partnered with Pearl Street, the company behind films such as Manchester By The Sea and Ridley Scott’s upcoming The Last Duel and series including City on a Hill, on scripted series Reaver X Specter. The series is a sci-fi action horror drama, set in Atlanta, against the backdrop of an insidious alien invasion disguised as an epidemic. Created by The Haunting of Hill House writer Jeff Howard and writer/director Kholi Hicks, it follows two rival sisters on the front lines — a paramedic and a CDC microbiologist — who uncover the true nature of the outbreak and must put aside their personal baggage in order to stop the invasion from spreading

    Portal A and Pearl Street are out now pitching it to broadcasters and streaming platforms.

    Houghteling told Deadline that the project is a “perfect encapsulation” of how the firm, which has produced for digital platforms including YouTube and Snapchat, can help attract the attention of younger audiences.

    “It is about these timely subjects and about this younger generation and it really resonates with buyers. The savvy production companies from the traditional world understand that when it comes to speaking to this new generation, often times on platforms that are new to them, you can’t fake it,” he added.

    Similarly, Action Royale, which is a scripted short-form series for Snapchat starring Sons of Anarchy’s Kim Coates. The series, which Houghteling describes as “Rounders for videogames” is a thriller following a teenager who starts an underground e-sports gambling ring to pay off his father’s debts, but he and his gaming phenom best friend soon find themselves in over their heads in a dangerous, high-stakes world. It is thought to be one of the tech platform’s biggest bets in the original space and is slated to air in early fall.

    Portal A received investment from Wheelhouse in 2019 and this gave it the resources and connections to ramp up its ambitions, particularly in the premium, scripted space.

    “We wanted to move faster and level up on a number of fronts and that’s where the Wheelhouse investment came in to play. It’s been a perfect fit for us. We’ve seen the market shifting and now buyers are really interested in reaching this younger audience, which is one that we’ve been talking to for years. We have that secret sauce in a lot of ways, having grown up on the internet and social platforms and understanding the voice of that generation,” Houghteling said.

    Montgomery told Deadline, “It’s refreshing to see Hollywood A-listers seek out and promote storytellers from newer platforms. Matt and Ben had global success before they could put rental cars under their own names so it’s not surprising that their company would want to collaborate with young, maverick talent. Portal A are producing ninjas with an amazing track record creating for and speaking to a new generation – they are great partners for us and for this new universe.”

    Portal A started out in 2010 with series such as Huge in Asia and White Collar Brawler.

    “We recognised that we had this superpower that was reaching this younger generation in a very direct way and going through these new platforms and around traditional gatekeepers,” Houghteling said. “We staked our company on the idea that you can reach this generation through premium storytelling in a way that was neither playing down from traditional entertainment and dabbling in social platforms, nor just the disposable route.”

    The Wheelhouse partnership made sense given the Jimmy Kimmel-partnered company’s drive to work with more online influencers and its upcoming Hype House docuseries for Netflix. “Wheelhouse aims to be a bridge between creators and long-form content, and Portal A finds and develops a lot of meaningful talent before they really break through as stars; those folks often remember who bet on them when it was a riskier move. We believe the next wave of creative talent is coming from places like YouTube, Tik Tok, Patreon and Snap, and no one knows this generation of storytellers better than Portal A,” Montgomery added.

    In addition to its scripted projects, Portal A, which has around 30 staff split between LA and San Francisco, produces a number of docuseries and podcasts including feature doc State of Pride for YouTube Originals that premiered at SXSW.

    Also on the books is Catalyst, a docuseries explores the world of modeling agency Community New York, which represents next-gen cultural icons like trans advocate and Euphoria star Hunter Schafer as well as Aaron Rose Philip, the first black, transgender and physically disabled model repped by a major agency.

    On the podcast front, it makes Charges with Rex Chapman featuring the former NBA star talking to athletes who have gotten in trouble with the law and is working on What It’s Like with Molly Burke, featuring the YouTuber and motivational speaker who is legally blind interviewing people who have a one-in-a million story.

    Houghteling said for both of these projects, he also hopes to add television adaptations in time. “We see [podcasts] as a really important development step to establish the IP. Also not every project is ready to get stood up on day one. Some projects you have to experiment with and feel your way into, and get real feedback from fans and talent,” he added.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck get cozy at Leah Remini’s birthday party

    (7/23/21) They’ve officially gone public.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck subtly made their Instagram debut as a couple after attending her longtime friend Leah Remini’s 51st birthday party together.

    The “King of Queens” alum shared a slideshow of photos Thursday from her star-studded bash in June and snuck in one black-and-white snap of herself posing beside Lopez and Affleck.

    The “Dinero” singer, 51, was seen snuggling up to her actor boyfriend, 48, in a photo booth while he wrapped his arm tightly around her shoulder. To Affleck’s left, Remini third-wheeled as she puts her hand against his chest.

    Neither Lopez nor Affleck have publicly shared any photos with each other on social media, making Remini’s post their social media debut as a couple.

    “Wanted to share a little video from my birthday with you all because I got so much love from you on my birthday but also everyday,” the “Scientology and the Aftermath” host captioned the throwback post. “I consider myself to have the best support system here on social media. Also, I can’t thank my family & friends enough for coming, for celebrating with me in a way that was very special to me.”

    Several fans commented on the photo of Bennifer 2.0 with excitement.

    “OMG Bennifer. Thank you for posting. Your Birthday Party was beautiful. Belated Happy Birthday!” one person wrote.

    “Omg was Jennifer Lopez there and Ben afflec[k]?” another fan commented.

    “How beautiful everything and seeing Ben and Jennifer awesome,” a third added.

    Lopez and Affleck rekindled their romance in April, just a month after she ended her two-year engagement to Alex Rodriguez over his scandal with “Southern Charm” star Madison LeCroy.

    Things have since gotten serious between J.Lo and Affleck, as they’ve been spending time with each other’s family members, traveling the country together and showing plenty of PDA.

    They were previously engaged from 2002 to 2004.

    Lopez shares twins Max and Emme, 13, with ex-husband Marc Anthony, while Affleck is dad to Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

    ‘The Last Duel’ Trailer: Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer & Ben Affleck In Ridley Scott’s Historical Drama

    (7/20/21) (Video) “There is only one question that matters,” the young woman is told: “Do you swear on your life that what you say is true?”

    Here is the first trailer for The Last Duel, Ridley Scott’s period drama starring Matt Damon, Adam Driver, Jodie Comer and Ben Affleck. Based on the book by Eric Jager, it chronicles one of France’s last legally sanctioned duels.

    Set in 1386, the pic sees King Charles VI (Affleck) declare that the knight Jean de Carrouges (Damon) settle his dispute with his friend and squire, Jacques LeGris (Driver), over a claim of sexual assault by the knight’s wife (Comer). After a duel to the death, the one left alive would be declared the winner as a sign of God’s will — and if de Carrouges loses, his wife will be burned at the stake as punishment for her false accusation. The 20th Century Studios film had been in production for more than a month when it — and just about everything else — was halted amid the Covid-19 outbreak in mid-March 2020.

    Scott and Kevin Walsh produced The Last Duel for Scott Free, with Damon and Affleck producing through their Pearl Street banner. It opens in theaters October 15. Check out the trailer above.

    J Lo & Ben PDA While Mansion Hunting in L.A. ... Scoping $65 Mil Pad!!!

    (7/15/21) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez like it, and they're about to put a ring on it -- a housekey ring ... because the couple's jumping to the house hunting stage of their reunion!!!

    Bennifer 2.0 was out and about Thursday in L.A.'s upscale Holmby Hills neighborhood, and they had a high-end realtor escorting them to check out a few mansions. J Lo and Ben followed in their own vehicle, stealing a few kisses along the route ... perhaps to celebrate finding their dream home.

    We know one of the pads they toured is a $65 million, 31,000 square-foot palace with 8 bedrooms and 12 bathrooms. That's tons of room for them and their 4 kids ... who we're sure would love some of its fun features.

    The pad's got a freakin' bowling alley!

    Our sources say the couple checked out at least 3 mansions during the shopping trip, which comes a little more than 2 months after they grabbed headlines again by hanging out in Montana ... shortly after J Lo's split from A-Rod.

    They've been pretty inseparable ever since ... including a romantic hook-up in Miami, date night in Beverly Hills ... and a trip to the Hamptons with Jen's kids.

    Ben even had his children hanging with J Lo's daughter, Emme, last weekend at Universal City Walk for some modern family fun.

    All that, along with Jennifer visiting schools in L.A., and ya gotta think it's only a matter a time before they're all living under one roof. And, what a luxurious roof it will be.

    Moving in with Ben? Jennifer Lopez tours school in Los Angeles

    (6/6/21) Jennifer Lopez’s children could soon be making the journey west, as the multi-hyphenate was spotted touring schools in Los Angeles while running in the city with Ben Affleck.

    TMZ reports that the Bronx-born superstar visited at least one school in Los Angeles Friday after spending time with the Oscar-winner at his Brentwood home.

    Lopez’s children, 13-year-old twins Max and Emme whom she shares with ex Mark Anthony, have been attending school in Miami for years, TMZ reports, attending in-person classes before the pandemic.

    Scouting out new schools could be a sign that Lopez and Affleck are serious about uniting their familes, though neither party has confirmed a move is on the way.

    The “Hustlers” star makes it a point to consider her children when making big decisions.

    “She has to ensure that she is taking her children into account,” a source told PageSix about the “Jenny from the Block” performer. “They are her priority.”

    Affleck, for his part, is also apparently is putting his kids high on his priority list, as he was photographed this week spending time with 12-year-old daughter Seraphina and 9-year-old son Samuel. He also shares a 15-year-old daughter named Violet with ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

    Affleck was first spotted going into Lopez’s home in April, in the midst of her split with Alex Rodriguez. A source at the time told us, “They are friends … they’ve never not been.”

    In May, Bennifer took a trip to the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana.

    They have since spent time together in Miami, enjoying the sunshine and hitting the gym, with a source confirming to Page Six that they were seen kissing “in between sets” during a recent workout session. An eyewitness told us the pair were “affectionate and looking very much in love” as they left the building.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are ‘discussing summer plans’ amid rekindled romance

    (6/4/21) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are hot and heavy once again, and looking forward to making lasting memories this summer.

    Sources at People claim the newly rekindled pair are “discussing summer plans,” as they “want to spend as much time together as possible.”

    The pair is also looking forward to taking a major trip together, according to the snitch.

    Lopez is reportedly “incredibly happy” with Bennifer 2.0, the source adding, “They are both acting very comfortable in their relationship.”

    The couple were most recently spotted out at a cozy dinner date at Wolfgang Puck’s new restaurant at the Pendry hotel in West Hollywood.

    On Tuesday, Affleck appears to have spent the night as he was photographed leaving J.Lo’s LA pad on Wednesday morning.

    Affleck and Lopez, 51, who reunited after she and fiancé Alex Rodriguez broke up, were spotted in LA after being holed up together in Miami last week.

    Before that, they enjoyed a romantic rendezvous at the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana, where a source said they spent much of their time going for walks, swimming and taking dips in the hot tub.

    The twosome got engaged in 2002 but never made it down the aisle, calling off their wedding in early 2004.

    Ben Affleck welcomes rekindled flame Jennifer Lopez to Brentwood home

    (6/4/21) Date night at Ben’s!

    After spending the night at Jennifer Lopez’s Los Angeles home, Ben Affleck invited the beauty to his own digs in the tony Brentwood neighborhood.

    New photos show 51-year-old Lopez hopping out of the passenger’s side of Affleck’s Mercedes on his property. Photogs confirmed that Affleck, 48, drove, choosing to remain in his vehicle until the gate fully closed and he was out of sight.

    While Affleck’s look remains a mystery, J. Lo wore a causal sweatsuit and sneakers for the visit.

    Just Wednesday, the “Way Back” star was photographed in his car with quite the smirk on his face as he departed Lopez’s pad.

    The couple’s apparent sleepover happened just one day after their cuddly Monday night date, so it seems their rekindled relationship — which they haven’t yet confirmed themselves — is progressing nicely.

    The duo dined at Wolfgang Puck’s Merois and were joined by Lopez’s longtime manager, Benny Medina, and her producing partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas.

    Affleck and Lopez, 51, who reunited after she and fiancé Alex Rodriguez broke up, were spotted in LA after being holed up together in Miami last week.

    Before that, they enjoyed a romantic rendezvous at the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club in Montana, where a source said they spent much of their time walking, swimming and hot-tubbing.

    The fun is slated to continue this summer, as the pair are reportedly making plans for the season that include “[spending] as much time together as possible.”

    The twosome got engaged in 2002 but never made it down the aisle, calling off their wedding in early 2004.

    Robert Rodriguez & Solstice Studios’ Ben Affleck Pic ‘Hypnotic’ Slated To Start In September, Alice Braga Joins

    (6/1/21) Robert Rodriguez’s Ben Affleck thriller Hypnotic is gearing back up to start production in September, with Alice Braga (Queen Of The South) joining the cast.

    Cameras are due to roll from September 20, in Austin, Texas, after the film’s original start date in April 2020 was delayed due to the pandemic and then insurance issues.

    The action thriller will follow a detective who becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program while investigating a string of high-end crimes.

    Pic is written by Sin City and Alita: Battle Angel filmmaker Rodriguez and Max Borenstein (Kong: Skull Island). Rodriguez, Studio 8 CEO Jeff Robinov and Studio8’s Guy Danella and John Graham are producing with Solstice.

    Solstice has already sold the film well into international markets and is due to release in the U.S. We hear the Covid insurance issues have been resolved.

    Braga will next be seen in The Suicide Squad, alongside Margo Robbie, Idris Elba and Viola Davis. She is known for recently starring in ongoing USA Network series Queen Of The South, Luca Guadagnino’s limited series We Are Who We Are, and was one of the lead voices in Oscar-winning Pixar film Soul.

    Oscar winner Affleck is in production on DC’s The Flash, and is in post-production on George Clooney’s Tender Bar, Ridley Scott’s The Last Duel and Adrian Lyne’s Deep Water.

    U.S. mini studio Solstice has been in the news of late with high-profile titles Joe Bell and The Plane moving off the company’s distribution slate, largely due to Covid-related constraints. However, we hear there is at least one more project beyond Hypnotic that could be greenlit this year.

    The firm’s first and only film released to date was Russell Crowe thriller Unhinged, which was the first new movie back in U.S. theaters last summer.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck had IG debut as couple planned, source says

    (5/26/21) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s public comeback romance was in the works before he was spotted in her Escalade last month.

    Sources told Page Six that the stars planned to announce their reunion in a more tightly controlled way before pics emerged of Affleck riding solo in Lopez’s car to allegedly visit her home. But the paparazzi shots of Affleck stealthily dropping off his car at the Hotel Bel-Air and then traveling to JLo’s nearby home beat them to the punch.

    “He stayed at her house [in April], and she was planning to make an announcement that they are back together on Instagram. It’s all about timing with her,” a source told Page Six.

    The alleged couple has yet to officially announce that they’re back together — but they continue to drop hints that Bennifer 2.0 is in full swing, with getaways to Montana and Miami.

    They were recently snapped together at a Miami rental property. JLo appeared to be meditating on the waterfront, while Affleck was puffing on a cigarette. Additionally, they’ve been spotted hitting the gym together, and even allegedly smooching between sets.

    Still, some insiders remain mystified as to just how serious they are. One source told us, “These are people who don’t like to be alone, and she really likes him. They have a long history there.”

    Lopez cryptically gave fans the impression that she’s back with Affleck — when she reportedly liked a post from life coach Jay Shetty about “finally being loved effortlessly.” The “If You Had My Love” songstress clearly wants to keep us guessing. Instagram account Deux Moi pointed out she quickly removed the like.

    Reps for Affleck and Lopez did not comment.

    The duo first started dating in 2002, and got engaged shortly thereafter. But they called off their wedding in 2003 and broke up the next year. The renewed relationship with Affleck comes on the heels of Lopez’s breakup with fiancé Alex Rodriguez.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck kissed ‘in between sets’ on Miami gym outing

    (5/25/21) Bennifer 2.0 is feeling the burn.

    Building on the news that Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck’s rekindled romance recently included a gym outing while in Miami together, the two were seen kissing “in between sets,” Page Six can confirm.

    Though the couple arrived at Anatomy Fitness separately Monday, once they were inside, they “were not trying to hide their relationship by any means,” Entertainment Tonight reported Tuesday.

    “They stayed close to each other while working out and were hugging, being playful together,” ET’s source added. “It was clear to everyone that they have intense chemistry and were having fun together.”

    Other details dovetail with Page Six’s reporting on the couple’s Monday outing, namely that LoFleck’s intense gym chemistry has yet to extend to sharing a trainer, as they worked out with different Anatomy personnel while there.

    An eyewitness told us the pair were “affectionate and looking very much in love” as they left the building.

    Much has already been made of the speed with which Lopez, 51, converted Affleck, 48, back to a gym-goer following his well-documented daily Dunkin’ Donuts habit.

    Lopez, on the other hand, has been “training five or six days a week at Anatomy Miami Beach,” Page Six’s source explained. “Her workouts are extremely tough and she seems to really be pushing herself hard. A few models work out while she is there, and they have all started working out harder because they see how hard J.Lo works out!”

    Lopez and her most recent ex, former Yankee Alex Rodriguez, 45, found a shared interest in working out, stay-at-home pandemic orders be damned. But their relationship couldn’t stand the reps, and they confirmed in mid-April that they’d called off their two-year engagement after Page Six broke the news.

    Lopez and Affleck brought fans back to the heady days of the early Aughts by relighting their flame in May after 17 years apart, first with a getaway to Montana, and now, apparently, with upscale gyms.

    Ben Affleck appears to wear watch Jennifer Lopez gifted him in 2002

    (5/24/21) He’s still Benny from the Block.

    Nearly two decades after ending their engagement, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are continuing to fuel rumors that they’ve rekindled their romance — with the actor even revisiting a special early-aughts accessory.

    When the pair reunited in Miami on Sunday, one fan account noticed that Affleck, 48, appeared to be sporting the same silver watch he wore while filming the “Jenny From the Block” music video with then-fiancée Lopez, 51.

    The silver timepiece features a distinctive chunky chain band and a narrow face, and can be seen on his wrist in the video as well as in a number of paparazzi photos of the couple from the early 2000s.

    It’s unclear whether Lopez or Affleck has been holding onto the stylish memento for all these years.

    “Do you think he has a box with like… ‘JLo things’ and is the pink ring in there,” one person tweeted. “The way he kept that all this time is shocking to me he must really had hope they’ll reconnect,” another said.

    Affleck is no stranger to celebrating his relationships with jewelry; last year he wore matching heart necklaces with then-girlfriend Ana de Armas, sparking plenty of mockery on social media.

    Lopez, 51, also has a penchant for wearing pieces adorned with her significant other’s name, having donned “Alex” hoop earrings for ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez in 2019.

    Lopez and Affleck vacationed together in Montana earlier this month. The actor reportedly started courting J.Lo via email before her relationship with A-Rod officially ended, and a source recently told Page Six that Bennifer 2.0 is the real deal.

    Perhaps Lopez will resurface her pink velour tracksuit and Ugg boots for their next outing.

    Jennifer Lopez gets Ben Affleck to hit the gym in Miami

    (5/24/21) It seems that Ben Affleck might be giving up his legendary donut-dunkin’ lifestyle for Jennifer Lopez.

    J.Lo and ex-fiancé Alex Rodriguez famously bonded over their fitness fanaticism. Her on-again beau Affleck, meanwhile, has been much celebrated for his rigidly vanilla-glazed regimen.

    But spies tell Page Six that Lopez and Affleck — who, of course, have reunited after 17 years apart — hit up Anatomy gym in Miami Beach together on Monday afternoon.

    “They were both working out, separately with different trainers,” said a sweaty source.

    While we’re told they exercised apart, an eyewitness said the pair were “affectionate and looking very much in love” as they left the building.

    Lopez, 51, has been somewhat of a fixture at the upscale gym lately.

    Last week, we were told she was at the location at the 1 Hotel in South Beach “putting herself through a strenuous workout with a friend.” A source added at the time, “She looked fit as could be and worked out harder than most girls half her age.”

    Meanwhile, we’re told that while Lopez has been in the city with Affleck, she’s been “training five or six days a week at Anatomy Miami Beach. Her workouts are extremely tough and she seems to really be pushing herself hard.”

    Added a spy, “A few models work out while she is there, and they have all started working out harder because they see how hard J.Lo works out! She is motivating other members just with her work ethic.”

    Lopez and Rodriguez, 45, confirmed in mid-April that they had called off their two-year engagement after Page Six broke the news. Then, Bennifer stunned fans by getting back together in May after breaking off their engagement in 2004.

    Like many of his fellow Bostonians, Affleck, 48, is an almost cult-like devotee of Dunkin’ Donuts — and is rarely snapped without a large coffee in his hand.

    We contacted the gym, but they don’t comment on members.

    Ben Affleck Hits Miami to be with J Lo ... Bennifer's Back, In the Flesh

    (5/23/21) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez are back, and they're done hiding it ... because the first clear shots of them together have surfaced, and they look all too pleased in each other's company.

    BA flew into Miami Sunday to meet up with his old flame, trying to look incognito in a helluva getup. Dude was rocking sunglasses, a dad hat pulled down low and a face mask for good measure. Yet, even with all that, he kinda stuck out like a sore thumb ... and paps picked up on the scent. Good effort, though, Ben!

    It became clear he was in town when he later surfaced at a waterfront mansion J Lo was at -- where Ben came out onto the balcony for a smoke at one point ... facing out towards the cameras, without trying to mask anything. There's no question, that's Ben Freakin' Affleck.

    Jen popped in and out herself, but you could only make out her back, as she seemed to be trying to lay a little more low than her boo was. They never came out onto the balcony together -- but it's obvious ... they were sharing the same space, if only temporarily.

    Eventually, they gave up the elusive act altogether and walked down a flight of stairs -- with Ben trailing Jennifer, who flashed a big smile ... and couldn't have looked happier. We'd like to say the same for Ben -- but he looked as aloof/pensive as he ever has (in memes and elsewhere).

    In any case, it would appear the cat's outta the bag -- and something tells us we might just see more of their public outings going forward. Flashback to the early 2000s, here we go!

    Intruder spotted on grounds of Ben Affleck’s Los Angeles mansion

    (5/12/21) A man apparently posing as a security guard was spotted scaling the perimeter gate of Ben Affleck’s $20 million Los Angeles mansion before fleeing on a getaway bicycle, according to photos and police.

    The intruder, wearing black pants, blue shoes and a black hat and jacket that said “Security” in gold lettering, was seen casually climbing over Affleck’s gate around 8 a.m. Tuesday, according to photos and a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson.

    Paparazzi stationed outside the Pacific Palisades manse — hoping to catch a glimpse of Jennifer Lopez, who’s been spending time with Affleck following her split from Alex Rodriguez — caught the intruder in the act and called police, cops said.

    Photos and video of the intruder show him looking around after he climbed over the fence and nonchalantly walking away from the home before getting on a bicycle and taking off.

    An LAPD spokesperson said cops responded to the home on Napoli Drive at about 8:15 a.m. and completed a trespass investigative report. They said no one was taken into custody and the suspect was gone by the time they arrived.

    Affleck and Lopez were spotted on a romantic getaway in Montana this week, sparking rumors that the duo are back together following a 17-year split. As of Wednesday, Lopez is back at work in Miami.

    Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez Reunion Started with Love Letters While She Was in the D.R.

    (5/11/21) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez didn't just rekindle their romance within the last 2 weeks, instead, it's been building since February ... when he started flooding her with emails while she was filming in the Dominican Republic.

    Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... Ben and J Lo were in very regular contact by email starting in early February when she flew to the Caribbean to begin filming "Shotgun Wedding." We're told the tone of the emails wasn't just friendly ... but more loving and longing for Jen.

    For instance, after seeing pics of Jennifer in the D.R., he wrote to tell her how beautiful she looked, and how much he wished he could be down there with her. Of course, he was busy at the time in Boston, shooting "The Tender Bar" with George Clooney -- and she was still engaged to Alex Rodriguez.

    Our sources say the emails also referenced J Lo's love for Ben's writing, and included a line about him being able to "own her heart" with his pen.

    We're told they continued emailing each other, back and forth, for the duration of J Lo's shoot ... which wrapped in late April.

    As far as our sources know, there was no physical contact or rendezvous between them during this time, but the emails do add context to how they seemingly got together so quickly.

    Remember, they were together in L.A. -- very publicly -- on the first weekend in May ... just 2 weeks after Jen and A-Rod called off their engagement.

    Folks in Ben and Jennifer's world said they had always maintained a friendship since splitting up in 2004. However, as we first told you, they were together again in Montana this past weekend.

    One more clue the exes have been in close contact for some time came with InStyle Magazine's recent J Lo cover story. It included a quote from Ben gushing about his ex-fiancee, saying in part ... "She has great talent, but she has also worked very hard for her success, and I’m so happy for her that she seems, at long last, to be getting the credit she deserves."

    That story did not include a quote from Jen's then-fiance, A-Rod.

    While it looked like Bennifer II went from 0 to 100 in record time, the emails show they were doing at least 55 by the time they started hanging out again.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez’s ‘romantic’ Montana getaway

    (5/11/21) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez spent their “romantic” trip to Montana taking dips in the hot tub and going on serene walks, a source tells Page Six.

    The exes — who fueled reconciliation rumors by jetting off to Montana recently — stayed at the ultra-exclusive Yellowstone Club, where Affleck is a member.

    “The ski season has just ended at Yellowstone so it was quieter and provided the perfect backdrop for a romantic trip where they could spend time alone,” a source told Page Six.

    The “Hustlers” actress, 51, and the “Argo” star, 48, stayed in a private home on resort property boasting its own chef and hot tub.

    The rumored couple spent much of their time taking walks, swimming in the pools and taking dips in the hot tub, the source claimed, adding that the romantic trip was designed by Affleck so he could spend some private time alone with his former flame.

    Sources previously told Page Six that the pair also attended a party together while on their trip.

    Owned by the Discovery Land Company, the privately held resort is a favorite of stars including Justin Timberlake, Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen and moguls including Bill Gates and former Google honcho Eric Schmidt.

    As Page Six exclusively revealed, Lopez has been spending time with Affleck since the pop star broke up with fiancé Alex Rodriguez earlier this year.

    After Affleck was seen coming and going from Lopez’s LA mansion numerous times, an insider said of Bennifer, “They are friends … they’ve never not been.”

    While sources previously insisted that Lopez and Affleck were just pals, the Montana vacation has raised eyebrows about the status of their relationship. Reps for Lopez and Affleck haven’t commented.

    Affleck and Lopez were engaged in 2002 and dubbed “Bennifer” by the media. Signs they were on the rocks started to surface when they postponed their wedding in 2003.

    They split months later in January 2004. Lopez called the breakup with Affleck “probably my first big heartbreak.”

    Matt Damon BFF Weighs In on Ben & J Lo 'I Hope It's True!!!'

    (5/11/21) Matt Damon tried his damnedest not to talk about Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez but like all good BFFs ... he couldn't help himself and spilled the beans.

    Matt appeared on "TODAY" show Tuesday from Australia and there was no avoiding it ... the subject, of course, his boy Ben appearing to rekindle his relationship with J Lo. Matty first tried to play coy ... saying there wasn't enough liquor in the world to get him to talk about it. But then, he did ... and told the world exactly how he feels.

    In a nutshell ... Matt says he hopes it's true. Well, it sure looks that way.

    TMZ broke the story ... J Lo and Ben took a trip to Montana this past weekend. They left Sunday, and when they arrived at LAX they hopped in an SUV together and drove to her Bel-Air home.

    And, as we first reported, we come to find out Ben had been flooding J Lo with emails since February. The emails, BTW, weren't just friendly. We were told they were more loving and longing for Jen.

    Looks like Matt's wishes have come true.

    Ben and Jen Hangin' Out in Montana Together!!!

    (5/10/21) J Lo and Ben Affleck may have crossed the friendzone, because we found out they were hanging out together this past weekend.

    Ben and Jen were at the Big Sky Resort in Montana, super close to Yellowstone National Park. They were staying at the same resort and were driving around together ... Ben was driving and J Lo was riding shotgun.

    They also flew out of Montana together Sunday from Bozeman, Montana to L.A. When they arrived in L.A. at the Signature Terminal at LAX, they took an SUV together and drove to her house in Bel-Air. All this raises the question, of course ... are they back together?

    There's certainly a lot of smoke. The 2 were hanging out together in Los Angeles early last week as well. If you were placing bets, bet on them being reunited as a couple.

    Our sources connected to both J Lo and Ben have told us they're just friends ... they've actually been fairly close over the years since their breakup.

    They certainly have a lot in common now ... they both recently broke off their relationships.

    It was back in 2004 when the two split, and we haven't known either of them to be romantically linked since. Of course, both have gone on to have other serious relationships and raise children as well.

    A source close to J Lo told us she keeps her exes close, just look at her relationship with Marc Anthony over the years. The source also told us she's seen Alex Rodriguez since they ended things as well and that the two remain friends. However, it's rare that only J Lo and one of her exes ever hung out without kids in tow, and from what we've learned, Ben and Jennifer were solo in Montana.

    A source in Montana who spotted them tell TMZ they seemed very much like a couple.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck hang out after Alex Rodriguez split

    (4/30/21) Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have been spending time together in Los Angeles after her split from Alex Rodriguez, sources exclusively tell Page Six.

    The Oscar winner has been spotted multiple times going to J.Lo’s California home during the day, we hear, after having been picked up in a white Escalade SUV that allegedly belongs to Lopez and then taken to her nearby mansion.

    While the pair have not been spotted together, a source told Page Six, “Security picks him up at a nearby location and drops him off after spending a few hours at her house.”

    Affleck, 48, has allegedly visited Lopez, 51, three times since she returned to Los Angeles from shooting her new film, “Shotgun Wedding,” in the Dominican Republic.

    But sources close to the stars tell us they are just friendly and have remained so over the years.

    An insider said: “They are friends … they’ve never not been.”

    Page Six reported that Lopez was spotted out to dinner with Rodriguez on April 23 at the Hotel Bel-Air, the same spot where the exes went on their first date back in 2017. She owns a $28 million mansion nearby.

    But A-Rod wasn’t the only former fiancé Lopez has allegedly seen since she got back in town.

    Sources told us that Affleck was spotted at the same hotel a day before J.Lo saw A-Rod, on April 22, being dropped off by a white SUV — which later drove Lopez and a business associate to a business meeting.

    Days later, on April 28, Affleck was allegedly seen coming out of Lopez’s Bel Air home, sources said.

    He was spotted again the next day, April 29, dropping his car at the Hotel Bel-Air in the morning and being picked up by the same white Escalade to go to J.Lo’s home. About 3½ hours later, the same white SUV dropped him back at the hotel’s valet, sources said.

    Affleck was photographed exiting the white SUV in a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers, with a green backpack. He was also photographed leaving his car at the hotel.

    Affleck and Lopez were engaged in 2002, and famously dubbed “Bennifer” by the media. But they postponed their wedding in 2003. They split months later in January 2004. Lopez has called the breakup with Affleck “probably my first big heartbreak.”

    J.Lo has been seeing famous friends after her breakup with Rodriguez. “When you’re that famous, who are you going to talk to? People who you know, other famous people,” a source said.

    Lopez has reportedly been leaning on another ex, Marc Anthony, in the wake of the split, and has also seen her longtime friend Leah Remini.

    Reps for Affleck and Lopez did not comment.

    Page Six exclusively reported in March that J.Lo and A-Rod were breaking up — though they subsequently said they were “working through some things” before eventually pulling the plug. They’d been engaged since 2019.

    Lopez has been rehearsing for “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World,” hosted by Selena Gomez and also featuring Eddie Vedder, J Balvin and Foo Fighters.

    Affleck praised Lopez’s work ethic in a recent InStyle cover story on the pop star.

    He told the mag: “I thought I had a good work ethic, but I was completely humbled and blown away by what she was committed to doing day in and day out, the seriousness in which she took her work, the quiet and dedicated way she went about accomplishing her goals, and then how she would go back and redouble her efforts.”

    Affleck also said, “Where are you keeping the fountain of youth? Why do you look the same as you did in 2003 and it kind of looks like I’m in my 40s … at best?”

    Lopez shares 13-year-old twins, Max and Emme, with ex-husband Anthony, while Affleck shares three children, Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9, with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. Affleck recently spent quarantine shacked up with Ana de Armas. The couple split in January.

    Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations

    (2/8/21) The Critics Choice Awards will be broadcast on The CW on Sunday March 7, 2021, and like every other awards ceremony in the era of COVID will not be in front of its usual live audience of members and nominees but rather in more of a virtual/live hybrid, although full details of what it will look like have not yet been announced. The ceremony will include both Motion Pictures and Television achievements.

    BEST ACTOR
    Ben Affleck – The Way Back (Warner Bros.)
    Riz Ahmed – Sound of Metal (Amazon Studios)
    Chadwick Boseman – Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (Netflix)
    Tom Hanks – News of the World (Universal Pictures)
    Anthony Hopkins – The Father (Sony Pictures Classics)
    Delroy Lindo – Da 5 Bloods (Netflix)
    Gary Oldman – Mank (Netflix)
    Steven Yeun – Minari (A24).

    Ben Affleck To Direct Adaptation Of ‘Keeper Of The Lost Cities’ For Disney

    (1/12/21) Ben Affleck continues to build up his future dance card and looks to have found another possible directing job to add to his slate. Sources tell Deadline that Disney is in development on a live-action film based on the bestselling book series Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger, with Affleck attached to direct. He will also produce through his Pearl Street banner and adapt the script with Kate Gritmon. Madison Ainley will board as executive producer.

    In the bestselling novel, a telepathic girl must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world before the wrong person finds the answer first. When 12-year-old Sophie finally discovers where her secret telepathic ability comes from, she learns she’s actually not human but is from another world that exists side-by-side with ours.

    There are over 2.5 million books in print and counting in the series, with Book 8.5 Unlocked (released in November) just named a Best Young Reader Book of 2020 by Barnes & Noble. It is also a 2020 Goodreads Choice Award semifinalist and a California Gold Medal Winner.

    Affleck’s recent sports drama The Way Back has earned him some of the best reviews of his career on the acting front. Warner Bros is so impressed that the studio planning to do an awards campaign for his acclaimed performance this Oscar season.

    He is repped by WME. Gritmon is repped by Kaplan Perrone, Paradigm and HWHM+F.

    Ben Affleck, and Michael Keaton to join Robert Pattinson as Batman in 2022

    (1/5/21) Robert Pattinson, Ben Affleck, and Michael Keaton, will all play Batman in 2022.

    The trio will suit up as the Caped Crusader in two DC Universe blockbusters – The Batman and The Flash.

    Pattinson replaced Affleck, who was initially due to direct and star in The Batman, but the Oscar winner will be back as the iconic character, alongside another former movie Bruce Wayne, Keaton, in The Flash.

    The Brit’s turn as the superhero in director Matt Reeves’ film will hit cinemas in March, 2022, while both Affleck and Keaton will reprise their roles as Wayne and his alter ego in Andy Muschietti’s The Flash, which has a November, 2022 release date.

    DC Films president Walter Hamada recently hinted that different actors will suit up as Batman in separate films, telling the New York Times, “I don’t think anyone else has ever attempted (the multiverse concept on screen), but audiences are sophisticated enough to understand it. If we make good movies, they will go with it.”

    Keaton previously played Batman in Tim Burton’s 1989 film Batman and its 1992 sequel, Batman Returns, while Affleck donned the cape and cowl for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Suicide Squad, and Justice League.

    Ben Affleck To Star In George Clooney-Directed ‘The Tender Bar’ Adaptation For Amazon

    (12/9/20) After winning an Oscar together on Argo, George Clooney is now getting the opportunity to direct Ben Affleck in his next feature film. Sources tell Deadline that Affleck is in negotiations to star in Amazon Studios’ adaptation of The Tender Bar with Clooney helming. The two A-listers have been trying to work together for years, and when Clooney set this as his next directing job, Affleck was high on his list to star in the coming-of-age tale.

    Clooney and his producing partner Grant Heslov would produce through their Smokehouse Pictures banner. Ted Hope also is a producer. William Monahan penned the script.

    It’s unknown whether Clooney also would appear in the film, but as with every film he directs, that option is always a possibility.

    Based on the J.R. Moehringer memoir about growing up in Long Island seeking out father figures among the patrons at his uncle’s bar, the film originally was set up Sony with Ted Melfi directing. When Melfi fell off, Sony put the film into turnaround, allowing Amazon to grab it.

    Affleck has been busier then ever, starting with his sports drama The Way Back, which earned him some of the best reviews of his career on the acting front. Warner Bros is so impressed that the studio planning to do an awards campaign for his critically acclaimed performance this Oscar season.

    He recently wrapped production on the New Regency thriller Deep Water and the Ridley Scott period piece The Last Duel and currently is starring in Robert Rodriguez’s Hypnotic. Affleck also found his next directing gig, signing on to helm The Big Goodbye, which tells the behind-the-scenes story of the making of Chinatown.

    He is repped by WME.

    Ben Affleck had a ‘dissociative panic attack’ when he smoked pot at 15

    (11/24/20) Ben Affleck says he did not enjoy smoking pot as a teen, and that drinking only became a problem for him later in life.

    In the recently released book “Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused,” the Oscar winner — who had a small part in the 1993 movie — says he didn’t join the other cast members in drugging or drinking much.

    “I had a bad experience with marijuana at 15. I had a dissociative panic attack,” the 48-year-old actor said. “So I only smoked weed if everyone else was smoking and I had to sort of Bill Clinton it and fake it. I didn’t really like marijuana.”

    “I also wasn’t a very heavy drinker then,” continued the star, who has been candid in recent years about his struggles with alcohol.

    “I became an alcoholic much much later and I’m in recovery now, so that was a whole different time. I was a little nervous, like should we be drinking before we’re working tomorrow? Some people were actually drinking and stoned at work.”

    Affleck also mentioned that some of the cast would go to shooting ranges on the weekend for fun, something he now views differently.

    He explained: ”Texas had extremely lax gun laws and most of us came from states where it was next to impossible to buy guns and part of the newfound freedom being down there was a bunch of us bought guns and went shooting at ranges on weekends, which seemed fun and innocent at the time, but given the subsequent tragedies with young people and guns, it makes me uncomfortable to remember.”

    The “Gone Girl” star was only 20 when the beloved teen coming-of-age comedy was filmed in Texas. It featured a then-unknown cast including Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, Anthony Rapp, Adam Goldberg and Milla Jovovich.

    ‘Dazed And Confused’ Cast, Including Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck And Parker Posey, Will Do Charity Livestream Table Read

    (10/3/20) Matthew McConaughey and the cast of Dazed and Confused will reunite on October 11 for a live script reading of the 1993 film to benefit Dallas-based March for Science’s #VoteForScience campaign in support of Texas voting initiatives.

    The reading also benefits the Voto Latino Foundation, a voter outreach and education nonprofit for that community.

    Fans who want to to watch the live reading at 6:30 PM on Oct. 11 can donate any amount here for access.

    Joining McConaughey on the livestream are two dozen original cast members, including Ben Affleck, Parker Posey, Jason London, Joey Lauren Adams and Adam Goldberg. Patton Oswalt will moderate a live Q&A immediately after the reading.

    Dazed and Confused was a stoner cult classic about the last day of school at Lee High in Austin, Texas. Richard Linklater directed the low-budget film, which had a young unknown at the time cast. It went on to gross $8 million in the US, and video helped spur its word-of-mouth popularity.

    McConaughey had just graduated from the University of Texas in Austin. His slacker hipster became the launching pad for the rest of his mammoth career.

    2020 People’s Choice Awards Nominees

    (10/1/20) The annual awards show will broadcast live from the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, CA Nov. 15 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

    THE DRAMA MOVIE STAR OF 2020
    1. Ben Affleck – The Way Back
    2. Elisabeth Moss – The Invisible Man
    3. Issa Rae – The Photograph
    4. KJ Apa – I Still Believe
    5. Lin-Manuel Miranda – Hamilton
    6. Russell Crowe – Unhinged
    7. Tom Hanks – Greyhound
    8. Tracee Ellis Ross – The High Note

    Ben Affleck to move girlfriend Ana de Armas into $20M ‘dad pad’

    (9/27/20) Ben Affleck has finally moved into the $20 million home he bought in 2018 after his split with Jennifer Garner and sources tell The Sun, he’s preparing for his “fiancée-in-waiting” Ana de Armas to move in with him.

    The huge Pacific Palisades home has been outfitted as a children’s playground for his three kids with Garner, whom he split with amid allegations of infidelity with the family nanny (claims he denied).

    On the ground of the 13,453 square foot house, the children, daughters Violet, 14, and Seraphina, 11, and son Samuel, 8, have access to swings, a pool with a built in slide, a trampoline and a pro-ping pong table near an outdoor barbecue area.

    “This house has become Ben’s sanctuary, and it’s been the ideal place for him to make a totally fresh start,” the source told the Sun. “The kids spend a ton of time there and Ben has decked it out to incorporate his clean lifestyle plus offer them features to make it lots of fun when they come over.”

    Inside the home are seven bedrooms, seven full baths and two half baths, an indoor spa, chef’s kitchen, screening room, a full gym and separate living quarters for the hired help.

    Affleck is also planning on spending more time with Armas, whom he met while filming “Deep Water” last year.

    “There’s a lot of talk that Ben and Ana will make things official soon, and that this will serve as their main LA home,” the source told The Sun. “They spend a ton of time here at the moment, although Ana has still kept her place in Venice Beach. But they’re head over heels in love and in this for the long term, so their mutual friends are convinced it’s just a matter of timing before they’re engaged.”

    Ben Affleck To Return As Batman In Upcoming ‘Flash’ Movie That Also Will Feature Michael Keaton As Dark Knight

    (8/20/20) Sources have confirmed that Ben Affleck is returning as Batman in the upcoming Flash movie which Warner Bros. is putting into production. It is to be a cameo role. And, yes, Affleck will be playing the Dark Knight alongside Michael Keaton’s Batman from the 1989 Tim Burton film, in what is billed by Flash director Andy Muscietti as a “substantial” part. The Flash is scheduled for release on June 3, 2022. Ezra Miller, who played Flash in Justice League, plays the title role.

    Despite being involved in early development on Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Affleck stepped away from reprising the role in that movie in January 2019, as we first told you.

    Affleck reportedly got the script for The Flash at the end of last week and agreed to board the project.

    “He’s a very substantial part of the emotional impact of the movie. The interaction and relationship between Barry and Affleck’s Wayne will bring an emotional level that we haven’t seen before,” Muschietti tells Vanity Fair who broke the news. “It’s Barry’s movie, it’s Barry’s story, but their characters are more related than we think. They both lost their mothers to murder, and that’s one of the emotional vessels of the movie. That’s where the Affleck Batman kicks in.”

    Another reason feature mythology-wise why Affleck’s Batman is coming back to The Flash, and that’s that Miller’s Flash considers him to be the original Dark Knight, the guy he fought alongside in Justice League. Hence, per Muschietti, it was necessary to have Affleck’s Batman as a starting point: “He’s the baseline. He’s part of that unaltered state before we jump into Barry’s adventure…There’s a familiarity there,” he further tells Vanity Fair.

    Warner Bros. is hosting a DC Fandome virtual confab for its superhero movies this Saturday with panels for the new Flash movie, Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman, Shazam!, The Batman, Black Adam, Suicide Squad and Wonder Woman 1984.

    Ben Affleck To Direct Adaptation of ‘Big Goodbye’ For Paramount; Behind-The-Scenes Story Of The Making of ‘Chinatown’

    (8/8/20) After earning some of the best reviews of his acting career for The Way Back, Ben Affleck is ready to make his return behind the camera, and he looks to have zeroed in on his next directing job. We are hearing that Affleck has signed on to direct The Big Goodbye for Paramount, an adaptation of the Sam Wasson book The Big Goodbye: Chinatown and the Last Years of Hollywood..

    Affleck also would write the script. SNL’s Lorne Michaels pursued the rights to the book and brought it to the studio and will produce along with Affleck.

    The non-fiction book tells the behind-the-scenes story of the 1974 film noir classic starring Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. From Roman Polanski’s directing and Robert Towne’s Oscar-winning script to the twist ending that shook filmgoers to their core, Chinatown joined the long list of films to make their mark during the 1970s. Looming over the story of the classic movie is the imminent eclipse of the ’70s filmmaker-friendly studios as they gave way to the corporate Hollywood we know today.

    The story is very dear to hearts of the Paramount community as it was one of the great deals made by studio head Robert Evans. He died in October but truly made his mark and not only helped turn Paramount into a juggernaut with films like Chinatown and The Godfather but helped redefine how a studio ran in the ’70s.

    Affleck’s love of film history is what drew him to the project, along with the nostalgic tone the story brings. It’s unknown whether Affleck also would act in the project, but the script is sure to attract A-list talent from all over town. Between Evans and Dunaway to the great Nicholson, the number of real-life Hollywood legends set to appear in The Big Goodbye surely will attract actors to portray the people they grew up admiring.

    The film marks Argo helmer Affleck’s first directing job since 2016’s Live by Night, as he has focused on acting over the past four years. He is coming off the sports drama The Way Back, which again not only earned him critical acclaim but ended up doing big PVOD numbers after COVID-19 pandemic forced Warner Bros. to release it early on-demand.

    He next can be seen in the New Regency thriller Deep Water and is set to start filming the Ridley Scott period pic The Last Duel at the end of August. He is repped by WME.

    Ben Affleck, Matt Damon visit Breonna Taylor memorial with their families

    (6/6/20) Ben Affleck and Matt Damon put their good will on full display Friday while visiting a memorial honoring slain Kentucky EMT Breonna Taylor on what would have been her 27th birthday.

    The former co-stars-turned-doting-dads each brought two of their kids, while Damon’s wife Luciana Barroso and a relative also joined the outing.

    The group, all clad in surgical masks, can be seen carrying roses while walking down a Los Angeles sidewalk to the memorial site.

    In one image, Affleck is seen holding the hand of his son with Jennifer Garner, 7-year-old Samuel, as they cross the street. Damon, meanwhile, gripped the palm of his 11-year-old daughter Gia.

    Taylor had been asleep in her Louisville home on March 13 when three plainclothes cops burst in on a no-knock warrant and shot her eight times.

    Mass gatherings in Taylor’s honor also cropped up in New York City Friday.

    #TheSnyderCut Lives! Justice League Special Edition Lands on HBO Max

    (5/20/20) HBO Max is heeding Twitter’s calls to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut: The streaming service confirmed Wednesday that it will release Zack Snyder’s long-awaited director’s cut of Justice League in 2021.

    Rumored to be more than three-and-a-half hours long (versus the theatrical edit’s marketplace-dictated two hours), “The Snyder Cut” is believed to include — possible spoilers alert? — many characters who had been left on the cutting room floor, including Darkseid, Willem Dafoe’s Atlantean Vulko (who instead debuted in Aquaman) and Barry Allen’s love interest Iris West (played by Angie Tribeca‘s Kiersey Clemons). Snyder has also indicated that Superman would have donned the black version of his suit.

    Fans have been clamoring for the release of Snyder’s cut since the film hit theaters in 2017. Though Snyder was the movie’s original director, he had to step away from the project during post-production due to a family tragedy. Joss Whedon then stepped in to complete the film, prompting questions about what Snyder’s final product would have looked like.

    HBO Max had no details to share at this time on the extended cut’s running time, while THR has hinted it may (or may not) be divided and presented in six “chapters.”

    THR also says a reported $20 to $30 million will be spent to complete production on The Snyder Cut, which will possibly involve new voice work from the cast.

    “I want to thank HBO Max and Warner Brothers for this brave gesture of supporting artists and allowing their true visions to be realized,” Snyder said in a statement. “Also a special thank you to all of those involved in the SnyderCut movement for making this a reality.”

    Added Robert Greenblatt, chairman of WarnerMedia Entertainment: “Since I got here 14 months ago, the chant to #ReleaseTheSnyderCut has been a daily drumbeat in our offices and inboxes. Well, the fans have asked, and we are thrilled to finally deliver. At the end of the day, it really is all about them and we are beyond excited to be able to release Zack’s ultimate vision for this film in 2021. This could never have happened if it weren’t for the hard work and combined efforts of the teams at HBO Max and Warner Bros. Pictures.”

    Justice League starred Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavill as Superman, Gal Gadot as Wonder Woman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, Jason Momoa as Aquaman and Ray Fisher as Cyborg.

    Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Tom Brady, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman Throw Poker Hands To Raise Funds For Feeding America

    (4/10/20) Here’s a novel way that a group of Hollywood folks will engage in to help in the coronavirus pandemic. All In For America’s Charity is a stay-at-home poker tournament slated for Saturday, with all proceeds going to Feeding America, the largest hunger-relief organization in the U.S. that provides meals to over 40 million people a year.

    Already, $1.2 million has been raised, and the game is open to 75 people, but even observers will get to interact with some high-level card players with Hollywood pedigree. Participants and organizers of that first game include Ben Affleck, Tom Brady, Adam Sandler, Jason Bateman, Tobey MaGuire, Adam Levine, Bryan Cranston, Sarah Silverman, Jon Hamm, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Cheryl Hines, Matt Damon, Doyle Brunson and many other poker stars.

    On livestream, fans will be able to talk smack to these card players, and so, for instance, you could engage Affleck, Damon and Brady in a conversation about those two Super Bowls the Patriots played against the New York Football Giants. Won’t they love that, and it alone should be worth a donation, which observers will be able to do.

    The game of the night will be Texas hold ’em, which is: Two cards, known as hole cards, are dealt face down to each player, and then five community cards are dealt face up in three stages. The stages consist of a series of three cards, later an additional single card, and a final card. 1 million starting chips and 1,000 / 2,000 blinds with 200 ante. Each level has 6 minutes and 20 levels of late registration. The game will be hosted by two professional poker commentators, Justin Kelly and Michael Loncar, and it all gets underway at 11 a.m. PT Saturday. Those who want to take part can do so online through Twitch.

    Affleck just tweeted the news.

    The real ‘Molly’s Game’: Inside Tobey Maguire’s high-stakes underground poker ring

    (4/5/20) Tobey Maguire wanted to take down Hollywood.

    Back in 2005, the “Spider-Man” star collaborated with a card cheat-turned-TV producer named Houston Curtis to create a regular poker game for themselves and their rich pals where as much as a few million bucks could be in play on any night.

    The alleged goal, according to Curtis’s new book, “Billion Dollar Hollywood Heist” (Skyhorse Publishing, co-authored with Dylan Howard): for Maguire and Curtis to win as much as possible from their hand-picked suckers.

    Until everything crashed down hard, they pulled it off, putting together the biggest game that Hollywood has ever seen. On Tuesday nights from 2005 until 2009, bold-faced names — including Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Leonardo DiCaprio and “The Notebook” director Nick Cassavetes — flocked to The Viper Room or Beverly Hills Four Seasons Hotel to play.

    The stakes were so high, Curtis told The Post, that “winning $20,000 felt like ­losing.”

    If the story sounds familiar, that’s because it inspired the 2018 movie “Molly’s Game,” starring Jessica Chastain as Molly Bloom, the former Olympic-class skier who was the hostess of the operation — and who later would be arrested on gambling-related charges tied to a game she ran in New York City.

    But, Curtis writes, neither the movie nor Bloom’s own memoir tells the true story of the LA game.

    Curtis claims Bloom was not the mastermind she purported to be and that she was primarily there to deflect attention so that he and Maguire could win millions without spooking their pals.

    “Molly had nothing to do with anything,” Curtis said. “Initially, she just served drinks and we gave her numbers to call the guys.”

    “The guys” included billionaires who had everything but fame. Celebrities were brought in to add glamour and, occasionally, serve as collateral damage.

    Rich men went home with their pockets light of cash but full of stories. Like the time film producer Rick Salomon — infamous for starring in a sex tape with Paris Hilton — grilled Affleck about Jennifer Lopez, the actor’s former fiancée.

    “Did [her] ass have cellulite on it or was it nice?” Salomon asked.

    The table was stunned into silence ­before Affleck replied: “It was nice.”

    Curtis met Maguire at a 2004 poker game in Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to Maguire, Curtis had a long career as a sleight-of-hand expert, scamming high-stakes games in LA.

    When Maguire invited Curtis to the actor’s Hollywood Hills home for a game — in which players included lawyer Jon Moonves and billionaire scion Kevin Washington — Curtis played it straight and was careful not to win too much.

    “Or else I’d never be invited again,” he said. “I dumped chips to guys who played badly and would lose them back.”

    Serving as the dealer was Maguire’s then-wife, Jen Meyer. The actor pressed guests to tip Meyer, a successful jewelry designer who is also the daughter of Ron Meyer, a former Hollywood power agent and now the vice-chairman of NBCUniversal.

    “He wanted to make her feel included,” said Curtis. “At the end of the night, she could count her profits alongside Tobey — who almost always won.”

    But Maguire wasn’t comfortable having players in his house. Worried about germs, he purportedly made them leave their shoes at the door and wear Crocs that he provided.

    “Kevin Washington chewed tobacco and spit into a cup; Tobey hated that,” said Curtis. “And, since Tobey was a vegan, it really bothered him when people ordered pepperoni pizzas. He said to me, ‘Dude, I have to get these scumbags out of my house.’?”

    (A representative for Washington had no comment.)

    So in 2005, the game moved to The Viper Room, the Sunset Strip nightclub where River Phoenix fatally overdosed in 1993.

    Maguire and Curtis arranged things with club co-owner Darin Feinstein.

    “He said, ‘I’ll have a poker room set up downstairs and get a hot piece of ass named Molly to serve drinks,’” Curtis said of their introduction to Bloom, then an employee of Feinstein’s.

    “Poker was blowing up big and we found young, wealthy guys who wanted to play with Tobey,” said Curtis. “They didn’t even know how to shuffle a deck of cards.”

    Maguire quickly enlisted one of his best friends, Leonardo DiCaprio, as a lure.

    “Tobey said that he and I would have to stake Leo,” recalled Curtis, meaning they would put up cash for DiCaprio to play, covering his losses but also getting a share of his winnings.

    “[DiCaprio] is a guy worth $80 million and he didn’t want to put up the $5,000 buy-in. But Tobey said, ‘Don’t worry. He only plays aces and kings.’ And he did. Leo was tighter than a gnat’s ass.”

    One night, Matt Damon came as a guest of his buddy Affleck.

    “He lost around $50,000 to me and didn’t have any money [on him],” Curtis recalled. “Affleck wrote the check.”

    (Reps for Maguire, Meyer, Affleck, Damon and DiCaprio did not return requests for comment. Bloom had no comment.)

    “Joker” director Todd Phillips was a regular.

    “But when we went to $200/$400 blinds” — making it a no-limit poker game in which you could easily lose six figures per night — “Todd backed off for a while. Some people just didn’t have the stomach for those stakes.”

    Two who did were Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberté and hedge-fund manager Brad Ruderman. Curtis said that Ruderman was so inept and so rich that he was considered “a godsend.” Laliberté was also valued.

    “The first time I won a quarter-million dollars was Guy’s first night in the game,” said Curtis, adding that the circus impresario invited the poker crew to fly with him to Hawaii.

    “One morning, a bunch of guys took him up on it. They beat him for like $2 million [in Hawaii] and he flew them back on his jet.”

    (Laliberté did not return requests for comment.)

    Curtis estimates he won around $15 million during the game’s four years. He, his wife and their two daughters lived in a $3 million LA home. He bought a dream house for his mother, a musical-instrument store for his dad and a dojo for his old karate teacher.

    Curtis came to consider Maguire a good friend. He also glimpsed the star’s petty side.

    Curtis alleges in the book that Maguire hated seeing Bloom taking home as much as $30,000 in tips per night. He told The Post that the actor “tried making her bark like a seal [for a $1,000 chip]. She wouldn’t do it — but he still gave her a thousand that night. One-thousand dollars was his insult tip.”

    But by 2008, Curtis was enduring a trifecta of problems: The value of his $3 million home had dipped by two-thirds, a $4 million TV-distribution deal went south and he had lost $100,000 in Las Vegas. Then he suffered the biggest loss of his gambling career: $1 million in a single, terrible night at The Four Seasons.

    That morning, heading home on autopilot, Curtis received a call from Maguire: “He said he wanted to make sure I wasn’t driving off a cliff. I walked into my house, my daughter ran up to me, and I literally broke into tears.”

    Despite his earnings, the million-dollar debt was more than he could afford.

    Maguire agreed to loan him $600,000. Curtis offered to pay back the principal and then give Maguire 10 percent of his winnings for the next year.

    “I thought that was reasonable,” said Curtis. Maguire, who, according to unnamed sources in the book’s introduction, “could have made up to $30 to $40 million from the games” had ­reportedly earned $36.5 million plus back-end earnings on the “Spider-Man” franchise, thought otherwise. He wanted his principal plus 50 percent of Curtis’s wins and no downside.

    “The deal was impossible to overcome,” said Curtis. But with no better option, he agreed to it. He owed $500,000 to Salomon and the same sum to a few other players.

    With the deal done, Curtis writes, ­Maguire joyfully shouted, “I own you now! And I’m gonna make sooo much f–king money this year at poker!”

    It didn’t work out that way.

    Months later, in April 2009, “godsend” Ruderman got busted for running his hedge fund as a Ponzi scheme. That led to bankruptcy attorneys going after players to recover his ill-gotten gains, and the game imploded.

    Bloom was deposed in the bankruptcy case, but nobody was arrested as a result of the LA game since no laws had been broken. (Independently, Bloom was sentenced to a year’s probation, a $200,000 fine and 200 hours of community service for gambling-related infractions in NYC.)

    Curtis’s wife moved with their kids to the East Coast. Creditors placed a lien on his home. He went into cardiac arrest during a biopsy. And an unpaid debt at a Las Vegas casino landed him in the LA County jail for a month.

    Broken, beaten and abandoned, Curtis received a lifeline of $15,000 from Moonves and found a ride to Illinois, where he went to live with his mother.

    “The dream home was sold,” he said. “I moved into her tiny house and a doctor [said] that my heart was functioning at 25 percent. I had five years to live.”

    Desperate to turn things around, he lost weight. The heart condition reversed itself. These days, Curtis resides in Phoenix and is penning his next book, about his exploits as a card cheat — and launching a sleight-of-hand website, kardsharp.com. He hasn’t talked to Maguire in about three years.

    “I don’t have all my money back,” he said. “But I overcame the worst bad beat you can get and am still in the game.”

    Ben Affleck Drama ‘The Way Back’ Heads Into Homes As Theaters Close

    (3/19/20) Warner Bros.’ current theatrical release The Way Back joins the pack of recent pics making their way into homes much sooner as the coronavirus crisis has shuttered cinemas nationwide. The pic will be available for electronic sell-through stateside on Tuesday, March 24, which is the same day that Birds of Prey will be made available, at the price of $19.99. The pic’s EST rollout in offshore territories will follow.

    The Ben Affleck movie, directed by Gavin O’Connor, follows a former high school basketball champ who gets the opportunity to coach the struggling team at his alma mater while contending with his alcoholism. The pic opened March 6 and has grossed $13.6M at the domestic box office. The drama opened in Australia last weekend where it made $362K. O’Connor co-wrote the movie with Brad Ingelsby. The movie has an 83% certified fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.

    “With audiences largely unable to view films in theatrical release under current circumstances, we have decided to provide the alternative of early digital ownership of our currently released titles to people looking for great entertainment options,” said Toby Emmerich, Chairman, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, “So, while we remain big fans of the theatrical experience and hope audiences are able to return to cinemas in the near future, we understand that these are challenging times and offering this option simply makes sense.”

    The Way Back follows Universal’s The Invisible Man, The Hunt, Focus Features’ Emma (available this Friday for 48-hour rental), Sony’s Bloodshot (out on EST also March 24), and Lionsgate’s I Still Believe (March 27), all of which are becoming available in the home significantly sooner as most theaters have shut down out of safety during the coronavirus outbreak. The expectation by some is that cinemas could be closed until the end of May.

    At this time, Warner Bros. is still planning to release Wonder Woman 1984 on June 5 in theaters.

    Ridley Scott Film ‘The Last Duel’ Goes On Hiatus Over Coronavirus; Ireland Shoot Postponed

    (3/13/20) Swords down! The Ridley Scott-directed 20th Century Studios period epic The Last Duel has been put on “indefinite hiatus,” days before shooting was to commence in Ireland. Sources said the cast has been told all this, and it is unclear when production will begin on a film that had been slated for Christmas Day release by Disney with an international rollout January 8.

    They hope to keep that date; Scott is jumping right into the editing room to assemble the one-hour-plus amount of the film he shot over 4 1/2 weeks. This likely presages other moves from movie productions around the world that are being impacted by the global outbreak of COVID-19.

    Most recently, after the government of Prague closed schools and placed other restrictions on event and travel, the Disney+ series The Falcon and The Winter Soldier from Marvel has shut down production there.

    The Last Duel stars Matt Damon, Jodie Comer, Adam Driver and Ben Affleck. Based on Eric Jager’s novel, the script is by Damon, Affleck and Nicole Holofcener. The film has been shooting right along in France, before the planned move to Ireland.

    Damon and Driver play best friends, the Norman knight Jean de Carrouges and the squire Jacques Le Gris. The former goes to war and returns to accuse Le Gris of raping his wife, Marguerite. No one will believe the woman, and the soldier appeals to King Charles VI of France to undo a decision handed down by Count Pierre d’Anencon, which favored Le Gris. The decision is that the two men fight a duel to the death. The one left alive would be declared the winner as a sign of God’s will. And if de Carrouges loses, his wife will be burned at the stake for punishment for her false accusation.

    The Last Duel is produced by Scott, Holofcener, Kevin J. Walsh and Jennifer Fox. Executive producers are Affleck, Damon, Madison Ainley, Kevin Halloran and Drew Vinton.

    Ben Affleck spotted with co-star Ana de Armas in Cuba

    (3/8/20) Ben Affleck and Cuban beauty Ana de Armas have been spotted having flirty fun in Havana — sparking more romance rumors.

    Onlookers told Page Six they saw the stars, who play husband and wife in the upcoming psychological thriller, “Deep Water,” shopping at the trendy T-shirt store Clandestina.

    “They were beaming. I saw Ana grab Ben’s arm as they walked out together, they looked super happy — she’s absolutely stunning!” an onlooker said. “I totally think they’re dating.”

    The pair were also overheard speaking Spanish together as Affleck is fluent in the language.

    They’re believed to have arrived Wednesday on the island and dined at cozy eatery La Corte del Principe, posing for photos with the chef. They were also seen at the Ivan Chef Justo restaurant.

    We’re also told that Affleck, 47, and de Arnas, 31, went for dinner and art at FAC (Fábrica de Arte Cubano) on Thursday night, a former cooking oil factory which has been turned into a nightclub, an art exhibit, and a restaurant.

    During their night out, they enjoyed dinner with a group of friends.

    De Armas is one of Hollywood’s hottest rising stars, as she recently stole the show in November’s “Knives Out.” She will also appear in the upcoming James Bond film, “No Time To Die.”

    The two actors spent weeks on location in New Orleans filming “Deep Water,” and were photographed laughing together and hanging out when the cameras were off.

    Affleck split with “SNL” producer Lindsay Shookus almost a year ago, and recently spoke about his devastating divorce from Jennifer Garner, calling it his “biggest regret.”

    In a candid interview with The New York Times, the father of three opened up about his alcoholism and the issues that have dogged him, saying: “The biggest regret of my life is this divorce.”

    “Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame. It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

    Ben Affleck Dropped Out Of ‘The Batman’ Amid Fears He’d “Drink Himself To Death”

    (2/18/20) Ben Affleck has finally revealed the real reasons he decided to leave The Batman.

    In an interview published Tuesday by The New York Times, the two-time Oscar winner said his struggles with alcohol, his divorce from Jennifer Garner, and a “troubled shoot” on Justice League prompted him to abandon the role of Bruce Wayne.

    “I showed somebody The Batman script,” Affleck told the Times. “They said, ‘I think the script is good. I also think you’ll drink yourself to death if you go through what you just went though again.”

    Affleck said he “drank relatively normally,” but then things got out-of-control.

    “I drank relatively normally for a long time. What happened was that I started drinking more and more when my marriage was falling apart,” he explained.

    “You’re trying to make yourself feel better with eating or drinking or sex or gambling or shopping or whatever,” the actor and director explained. “But that ends up making your life worse. Then you do more of it to make that discomfort go away. Then the real pain starts. It becomes a vicious cycle you can’t break. That’s at least what happened to me.”

    Affleck’s marriage to Garner ended in 2018 after a long separation. The 47-year-old star played the caped crusader three times — in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Justice League, and a cameo in Suicide Squad.

    Robert Pattinson is now taking over the title role in The Batman. Directed and co-written by Matt Reeves, the film co-stars Zoë Kravitz, Colin Farrell, Andy Serkis, Paul Dano, Jeffrey Wright, John Turturro, Jayme Lawson and Peter Sarsgaard. It’s slated to arrive in theaters on June 25, 2021.

    Ben Affleck calls divorce from Jennifer Garner the ‘biggest regret of my life’

    (2/18/20) Ben Affleck has revealed in a new interview that he considers his divorce from ex-wife Jennifer Garner to be the biggest regret of his life.

    Affleck, 47, opened up to The New York Times about how his crumbling marriage prompted his relapse into alcohol abuse and the rehab stint that followed.

    “I drank relatively normally for a long time,” Affleck shared. “What happened was that I started drinking more and more when my marriage was falling apart. This was 2015, 2016. My drinking, of course, created more marital problems.”

    In 2018, Affleck and Garner divorced after 13 years of marriage. They share children Violet, 14, Seraphina, 11 and Sam, 7.

    “The biggest regret of my life is this divorce,” he continued. “Shame is really toxic. There is no positive byproduct of shame. It’s just stewing in a toxic, hideous feeling of low self-worth and self-loathing.”

    While Affleck acknowledges the role he played in the deterioration of their union — and his own life — he’s trying not to “obsess” over it.

    “It’s not particularly healthy for me to obsess over the failures — the relapses — and beat myself up,” he said. “I have certainly made mistakes. I have certainly done things that I regret. But you’ve got to pick yourself up, learn from it, learn some more, try to move forward.”

    “People with compulsive behavior, and I am one, have this kind of basic discomfort all the time that they’re trying to make go away,” he explained. “You’re trying to make yourself feel better with eating or drinking or sex or gambling or shopping or whatever. But that ends up making your life worse. Then you do more of it to make that discomfort go away. Then the real pain starts. It becomes a vicious cycle you can’t break. That’s at least what happened to me.”

    Ben Affleck To Direct ‘King Leopold’s Ghost,’ About Unlikely Trio Who Exposed Atrocities In Plunder Of Congo

    (11/22/19) Ben Affleck will direct King Leopold’s Ghost, a fact-based drama about the plunder of the Congo by Belgium’s King Leopold II in the late 1800s. One Community, which co-financed Just Mercy, is financing development with an option to co-finance the film. Farhad Safinia (Apocalypto) is writing the script. Affleck is producing through his Pearl Street Films banner alongside Martin Scorsese and Emma Koskoff-Tillinger through his Sikelia Productions banner. Harry and Gina Belafonte are also producing, with Pearl Street’s Madison Ainley exec producing.

    Safinia is basing his script on the Adam Hochschild book: King Leopold’s Ghost: A Story of Greed, Terror and Heroism in Colonial Africa. The film covers an atrocious piece of history that is every bit as bad as the subtitle infers. Set at a moment when European countries were racing to find ways to carve up the natural resources of Africa, Leopold became the world’s richest man with billions stashed in secret bank accounts by gaining private ownership of the Congo Free State, and inserted a mercenary army to cruelly plunder rubber and ivory. He forced the locals to harvest it. Those who refused were dismembered or worse, and the book estimates that as many as 8 million were killed in this ruthless pursuit. The book was previously the basis for a 2006 documentary.

    This film is an account of the Congolese who defied Leopold II and fought back. Their heroic plight sparked a daring and unlikely alliance between a black American missionary, an English investigative journalist and an Irish spy that shone a light on the horrors and gave birth to the first human rights movement. Once photographs were made public, Leopold’s charade of spreading Christianity in the heart of darkness was exposed as a greedy ruse, and the king was assailed by the likes of Mark Twain, Booker T. Washington, Arthur Conan Doyle and Joseph Conrad, whose disgust with Leopold’s “civilizing mission” led to writing Heart of Darkness.

    Affleck last directed the Dennis Lehane novel adaptation Live By Night and before that the Best Picture winner Argo, and The Town. The film is borne out of his personal passion for the region. Affleck founded Eastern Congo Initiative, an advocacy and grant-making initiative focused on working with and for the people of eastern Congo to spur economic and social development and increase the quantity of public and private funding to support those goals. He has worked on King Leopold’s Ghost for several years. At one point, the project was contemplated as a limited series but now the filmmakers feel it has found its form as a movie.

    One Community is a co-financier on the Destin Daniel Cretton-directed Warner Bros. drama Just Mercy, which stars Michael B. Jordan, Jamie Foxx and Brie Larson. Scott Budnick started One Community as a film, television, and new media company that uses the power of commercial storytelling to enable positive global social change.

    Aside from co-writing and co-producing Apocalypto with director Mel Gibson, Safinia created, exec produced and was show runner on the Kelsey Grammer drama Boss.

    It is unclear which film Affleck next directs, as he is separately developing a drama about the $24 million swindle of the McDonald’s Monopoly Game, based on the Jeff Maysh article published by The Daily Beast, and the WWII drama Ghost Army that Affleck is producing with Andrew Lazar. Affleck is currently shooting the Adrian Lyne-directed drama Deep Water with Ana de Armas, and recently wrapped the Gavin O’Connor-directed The Way Back, and the Dee Rees-directed The Last Thing He Wanted.

    Affleck is repped by WME and Ziffren Brittenham, Safinia by Brian Sher and Morris York, and Scorsese by WME, LBI and Hansen Jacobson.

    Gal Gadot, Ben Affleck Join Calls To Release Zack Snyder’s Cut Of ‘Justice League’

    (11/17/19) Gal Gadot and Ben Affleck have added their names to the list of Hollywood insiders and fans calling for the release of director Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League.

    The two actors, who played Wonder Woman and Batman in the DC superhero film, joined the fan culture movement Sunday on Twitter by using the hashtag #ReleaseTheSnyderCut.”

    Gadot included an image of her character, Diana Prince/Wonder Woman. Affleck tweeted just the hashtag. Snyder retweeted both actors, along with the comments: “This ancient Amazonian can’t be wrong,” and “Neither can Batman.”

    Justice League was released in the U.S. exactly two years ago today. The “Snyder cut” refers to Snyder’s original edit of the film, which was shelved when the director and his producer-wife Deborah Snyder stepped away from the project following a family tragedy in 2017.

    The Avengers writer-director Joss Whedon was brought in to wrap up reshoots and post production, but some fans were unhappy with the final version of the film.

    Devoted DC Cinematic Universe fans have long assumed Snyder’s original vision exists and insist they want to see it.

    Earlier this year in a podcast interview with CinemaBlend, director Kevin Smith confirmed there is a Snyder cut.

    “I’ve not seen it firsthand. And also to be clear, I know Zack, but it’s not like ‘we’re f**king tight son!'” Smith explained. “That being said, I’ve spoken now to enough people at various levels in that production. There is a Snyder cut. For sure. That’s not a mythical beast. It exists. Now, it’s not a finished movie by any stretch of the imagination.”

    ‘The Way Back’ Trailer: Ben Affleck As Basketball Coach Plagued By Addiction

    (11/15/19) (Video) Warner Bros has issued its first trailer for The Way Back.

    A reteam of The Accountant tandem of director Gavin O’Connor and Ben Affleck, the latter stars as a former high school basketball phenom who is struggling with alcoholism and is offered a coaching job at his down-and-out alma mater. As the team rallies, he is forced to confront his own demons as redemption for the man and the school seems possible.

    The film has a strong performance by Affleck, who has struggled with sobriety himself. Brad Ingelsby wrote the script with O’Connor.

    Ben Affleck Boards Robert Rodriguez Thriller ‘Hypnotic’ For Solstice Studios, Studio 8 – AFM

    (11/6/19) Ben Affleck has been set to star in Robert Rodriguez’s action thriller Hypnotic, playing a detective who, while investigating a string of impossible high-end heists, becomes entangled in a mystery involving his missing daughter and a secret government program.

    The big budget pic, which we understand is set at $60m-$80m, comes from Studio 8 and Solstice Studios and is the first project greenlit under a partnership between the two companies. Production is slated for April.

    Rodriguez, Studio 8 CEO Jeff Robinov and his colleagues Guy Danella and John Graham will produce the film with Solstice, which will handle US distribution and launch international sales beginning at AFM.

    “Working with Ben on his award-winning projects, including Argo and The Town, I have seen how his versatility and creativity has made him one of the most talented filmmakers both in front of and behind the camera,” said Robinov. “It’s very meaningful to be collaborating with Ben again on this uniquely riveting suspense thriller, and I know he and Robert will make a terrific film together.”

    Affleck is represented by William Morris Endeavor (WME).

    Ben Affleck addresses ‘slip’ after stumbling outside party: It won’t ‘derail me’

    (10/28/19) Ben Affleck‘s ongoing recovery will not be derailed after one night, he says.

    Hours after he was seen stumbling outside a Halloween party in West Hollywood, Affleck — who has been candid about his struggles with alcoholism — said he will not let a “slip” deter his progress.

    “It happens. It was a slip. But I’m not going to let it derail me,” the 47-year-old actor told TMZ on Sunday when asked about the previous night’s party.

    Affleck did not comment when asked whether he’d be returning to rehab.

    Affleck was photographed Sunday with ex-wife Jennifer Garner and their children. They are parents to daughters Violet, 13, and Seraphina, 10, and son Samuel, 7.

    On Saturday night, Affleck was seen on video appearing to lose his balance while departing the Unicef Masquerade ball. Wearing a dark suit and a skull mask, the Oscar winner was filmed holding onto an SUV to steady himself. It is not clear what caused Affleck to lose his footing.

    A source told Page Six on Sunday that sobriety is “difficult and elusive for everyone struggling with addiction,” and “Ben has acknowledged he’s going to slip up from time to time … it was never as if this was simply behind him.”

    Ahead of his evening out, Affleck spoke about his recovery in an Instagram post, and also addressed his foray into online dating, after Page Six exclusively revealed he was on the celebrity-friendly dating app Raya.

    “HA, you got me. I’m dating,” Affleck wrote. “But let’s be serious for a moment and talk about something that is actually important. I have been in recovery for over a year and part of that is helping out others.”

    He continued, “@themidnightmission is an incredible organization that helps those in need with housing, training, development and recovery. I’m making a donation today because there are people battling addiction every day that don’t have the resources and need help. @raya, you in? Who else is with me?”

    Ben Affleck Attached To Star In ‘Falling To Earth’ Adaptation At BRON Studios

    (10/18/19) Ben Affleck has signed on to lead the feature adaptation of Falling to Earth, the novel by Kate Southwood. The project is in development at Bron Studios with Affleck attached to produce with Pearl Street Films partner Matt Damon as well as Bron’s Aaron L. Gilbert.

    Eagle Eye co-scribe Hillary Seitz will adapt the screenplay. Released in 2013, the book is based on the 1925 Tri-State Tornado, the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. Set in Marah, Illinois, the plot centers on Paul Graves (who will be played by Affleck), who was the only person who didn’t lose everything on the day of the storm. His family, his home, and his business remained intact. A year later, he’s faced with resentment and hostility from the locals as the small resurrects itself from tragedy.

    Madison Ainley will serve as executive producer while Garrick Dion and Solome Williams will oversee development for BRON.

    BRON is a financier behind Affleck’s forthcoming film, The Way Back, which hit theaters on March 6 via Warner Bros.

    Ben Affleck has night out with Steve Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs

    (10/2/19) Ben Affleck was seen out at dinner with billionaire Laurene Powell Jobs in LA on Tuesday night. But sources told Page Six the pair are just friends.

    Said a source: “They have been friends for a long time now.”

    Affleck founded the Eastern Congo Initiative, and Jobs has been involved with the philanthropy org since 2010.

    Affleck and Jobs — the widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs — were spotted in Santa Monica, Calif., heading out of celebrity favorite eatery Giorgio Baldi.

    The duo came and left separately, but reportedly dined for nearly three hours at the Italian restaurant.

    Just a few weeks back, Ben’s ex, Jennifer Garner, was spotted at the same eatery on a date with her boyfriend.

    In July, Page Six exclusively reported that Jobs has been quietly dating Eleven Madison Park celebrity chef Daniel Humm.

    She recently teamed up with Leonardo DiCaprio and his environmental charity, and investor Brian Sheth, to launch Earth Alliance as a nonprofit to battle climate change.

    Initial reports of Affleck and Jobs leaving the restaurant called her a “mystery woman” — before eagle-eyed media types made the connection.

    Reps did not comment.

    Ben Affleck celebrates birthday with his kids — but not Jennifer Garner

    (8/28/19) Ben Affleck celebrated his birthday with his kids at Barton G in LA on Saturday — but without his ex, Jennifer Garner.

    We’re told the group was “in good spirits” munching on signature dishes from chef Attila Bollok. “He was having a great time … The desserts came out with sparklers to celebrate.”

    Affleck — who went to a treatment facility last year — was “sipping Diet Coke,” an insider told us. The star said earlier this year of being sober, “It’s about yourself, your life, your family.” His kids sang “Happy Birthday” and gave him gifts.

    The Afflecks have a standing tradition of celebrating Ben’s birthday at the quirky eatery.

    Ben Affleck Warner Bros. Movie ‘The Way Back’ Moves To March

    (8/5/19) Deadline has learned that the Gavin O’Connor-directed Ben Affleck movie The Way Back (ne Torrance) is jumping from its Oct. 18 release to March 6, 2020.

    In the movie, Affleck stars as a former basketball all-star, who after struggling with addiction, attempts to comeback by becoming the coach of a disparate high school basketball team at his alma mater. We hear that test results for The Way Back were solid and that it’s a commercial film. On its new date, the adult-demo targeted The Way Back will have more breathing room versus the crowded fall marketplace. The March launch date also allows Warners to take advantage of the start of basketball season and promote it during that time during NCAA and NBA.

    Those wide releases left standing on Oct. 18 is Disney’s Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Sony’s Zombieland 2: Double Tap. On its new March date, The Way Back will face off against Disney/Pixar’s Onward and Paramount’s Dylan O’Brien adventure film Monster Problems.

    Brad Ingelsby and O’Connor wrote The Way Back. Affleck, O’Connor, Mark Ciardi, Gordon Gray, Ravi D. Mehta, and Jennifer Todd produce. Jason Cloth and Aaron L. Gilbert executive produce.

    Warner Bros. has a full dance card for the autumn/winter, many titles which will be in the fall film festival troika. It all kicks off on Sept. 6 with New Line’s It: Chapter 2. This is followed by The Goldfinch on Sept. 13, The Joker on Oct. 4, Motherless Brooklyn on Nov. 1, Doctor Sleep on Nov. 8, New Line’s The Good Liar on Nov. 15, the New Line Melissa McCarthy action comedy Superintelligence on Dec. 20, and the death row drama Just Mercy on Christmas Day.

    New Regency Bringing Adrian Lyne Back To Directing With ‘Deep Water;’ Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas In Talks For Patricia Highsmith Adaptation

    (8/2/19) In what is shaping up to be the first film he has directed since 2002’s Unfaithful, Adrian Lyne is eyeing a November production start on Deep Water, with Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck starring, and New Regency fully financing. Pending all the pieces falling into place, the plan is for the film to go through its deal with Fox/Disney.

    Zack Helm (Stranger Than Fiction) and Sam Levinson (Euphoria) have adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel, and Garrett Basch and Steven Zaillian are producing with Entertainment 360’s Guymon Casady and Ben Forkner, and Anthony Katagas (12 Years A Slave). Arnon Milchan is also producing. It isn’t all done yet, but the plan is for the film to shoot in November.

    Pic is an erotic thriller, right in the wheelhouse Lyne established with such blockbusters Indecent Proposal, Fatal Attraction, and 9 1/2 Weeks. The filmmaker has long been intrigued with this one, first setting it up with Fox 2000 back in 2013. New Regency bought control of the property last year, and this gives them another plum project to go with the James Gray-directed Ad Astra with Brad Pitt, and the Robert Eggers-directed The Lighthouse.

    Affleck and de Armas are in talks to play Vic and Melinda Van Allen, an attractive young married couple whose mind games with each other take a twisted turn when people around them start turning up dead. The couple staves off divorce in a loveless marriage by allowing each to take lovers, but it becomes messy as Highsmith exposed the surface facade of American suburban life.

    Affleck covered this terrain a bit with Gone Girl, and he is separately planning to team with Matt Damon in the Ridley Scott-directed The Last Duel, also at Fox/Disney with a script by Nicole Holofcener, Affleck and Damon.

    As for de Armas, the Cuban-born actress is in quite a moment. She is about to begin shooting the Andrew Dominik-directed Netflix film Blonde, in which she plays iconic actress Marilyn Monroe, with talks going on for Adrien Brody to play Arthur Miller and Bobby Cannavale to play Joe DiMaggio in a fictionalized look at her life. Dominik worked for years on this project, and looked at many actresses for the role of Monroe. He was intrigued when he saw de Armas in Blade Runner 2049, and they worked long and hard with a dialect coach to lose her Cuban accented inflection for Monroe’s breathy delivery before a screen test pleased Netflix and Plan B’s Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner and Jeremy Kleiner. She follows that film with the James Bond 25 film. Affleck is repped by WME, Lyne by ICM Partners, Helm by UTA, de Armas by CAA.

    Ben Affleck has family day out in Cape Cod

    (8/2/19) Native-Bostonian Ben Affleck was spotted shopping in Cape Cod on Wednesday with his three children and mom.

    Driving a large Escalade with Connecticut plates, Affleck, 46, was seen with his kids, Violet, Samuel and Seraphina, and mom, Christine Boldt, pulling into the Wellfleet Drive-In Flea Market in the Massachusetts vacation destination.

    A source at the flea market confirmed to Page Six that he shopped among the vendors and even stopped for a selfie with a fan.

    We’re told the actor was dressed very casually, wearing a gray T-shirt and athletic shorts with a pair of flip flops.

    Last year, he sought treatment for alcoholism and since been active with his family in his recovery.

    In March, Affleck was spotted coaching his son’s Little League team.

    “He’s awesome, it’s a lot of fun,” he previously told Ellen DeGeneres. “Coaching your son or your daughter on their Little League team, it’s very exciting and people have been very cool.”

    Ridley Scott, Matt Damon & Ben Affleck Huddle On 14th Century Tale ‘The Last Duel’

    (7/23/19) Here’s a major movie that is coming together quickly. I’m hearing that Ridley Scott is going to next direct The Last Duel, a revenge story based on a novel by Eric Jager. The plan is for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck to star in the film. The script is almost done, written by Damon, Affleck and Nicole Holofcener. This is happening quickly and would be the first collaboration on a script between Damon and Affleck to get made since their Oscar winning work on Good Will Hunting.

    Scott and Kevin Walsh are producing for Scott Free and Damon and Affleck are producing through their Pearl Street banner. The book has been at Fox for some time, and it will be interesting to see if it fits the template of Disney, which controls the script after acquiring Fox. As you will see from the description, this is not for the faint of heart.

    It’s a revenge story of two best friends. Damon and Affleck will play them. One goes to war and returns to discover the other has rapes the soldier’s wife. No one will believe the woman, and the soldier appeals to the king of France and says he wants to fight a duel to the death, and if the other guy wins, he is innocent. It becomes the last legally sanctioned duel in France.

    Scott returns to collaborate with Damon for the first time since the Best Picture nominated The Martian, and Walsh worked with Damon producing the Best Picture nominated Manchester By The Sea.

    If Disney doesn’t step up, I’m told every studio in town is waiting in the wings for this one. Scott would push back Merlin, the formative pic on the wizard at Disney.

    This is getting around quickly because Damon was photographed by Yahoo carrying a script. Now you know what it’s all about. There truly are no secrets anymore.

    Scott will be turning to the subject matter he covered. He made his feature directorial debut on The Duellists, a 1977 drama about a feud between two officers in the Napoleonic Era.

    Ben Affleck To Direct, Star In WWII Drama ‘Ghost Army’ For Universal

    (4/23/19) Ben Affleck will direct and is attached to star in Ghost Army for Universal Pictures. The film has a script by True Detective‘s Nic Pizzolato, based on the Rick Beyer & Elizabeth Sayles book The Ghost Army of World War II: How One Top-Secret Unit Deceived the Enemy with Inflatable Tanks, Sound Effects, and Other Audacious Fakery. The script also is based on the Netflix documentary Ghost Army.

    Affleck will produce for his Pearl Street Films alongside Andrew Lazar and his Mad Chance Productions banner. Pearl Street Films’ Madison Ainley will be executive producer. An earlier draft of the script was written by Henry Gayden.

    The drama tells the story of a secret force that relied on sleight of hand and illusion to trick the Nazis in 1944. A group of soldiers including future luminaries Bill Blass, Ellsworth Kelly, Arthur Singer, Victor Dowd, Art Kane and Jack Masey landed in France to conduct a secret mission. Armed with truckloads of inflatable tanks and a massive collection of sound-effects records, they created the illusion of troop strength on European battlefields to trick the Germans into deploying forces in the wrong places.

    The secret force of 1,100 men of the 23rd Headquarters Special Troops — the Ghost Army — dragged duffel bags of drawings and paintings through France and other European cities to stage phony convoys, phantom divisions and make-believe headquarters to fool the enemy about the strength and location of American units. The campaign is credited with saving thousands of American lives.

    EVP Production Mark Sourian will oversee the project for Universal.

    Affleck is represented by WME and Ziffren Brittenham; Gayden is UTA and Kaplan/Perrone; Lazar is David Weber and AJ Brandenstein of Sloane, Offer.

    Ben Affleck’s addiction drama set for awards-season release

    (3/22/19) Warner Bros. has given Ben Affleck’s untitled addiction drama an awards-season-friendly release date of Oct. 18.

    The film, which has been known previously as “The Has-Been” and “Torrance,” is directed by Gavin O’Connor and stars Affleck as a former basketball player struggling with addiction, which has led to him losing his wife. As part of his recovery, he becomes the coach of a high school basketball team at his alma mater.

    Affleck is a producer on the movie, along with O’Connor, Jennifer Todd, Gordon Gray and Ravi Mehta. The script was written by Brad Ingelsby and O’Connor.

    The film also stars Al Madrigal as the assistant coach, Janina Gavankar, Hayes MacArthur, Brandon Wilson and Rachael Carpani. Affleck and O’Connor last collaborated on the 2016 drama “The Accountant,” which generated $155 million at the worldwide box office.

    Warner Bros. also announced on Friday that it has moved the drama “The Goldfinch” forward to Sept. 13 from Oct. 11.

    Nicole Kidman, Sarah Paulson and Ansel Elgort star in the adaptation of Donna Tartt’s novel, which centers on a boy who is taken in by a wealthy family after his mother is killed in a bombing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Additionally, the studio is moving Melissa McCarthy’s comedy “Superintelligence” forward to Dec. 20 from Christmas Day.

    Ben Affleck was considered for Ron Livingston’s ‘Office Space’ role

    (3/9/19) Cult-classic comedy “Office Space” almost had a different leading man.

    During a panel talk about the 1999 movie at an Austin Film Society 20th anniversary screening, director Mike Judge revealed that film execs had someone else in mind for Ron Livingston’s role.

    “‘Good Will Hunting’ just came out, so the [studio] wanted Ben Affleck .?.?. I thought, ‘Well, I like him, but he’s tall alpha.’”

    Livingston said it took time to realize the film had become a cult favorite.

    “You know how they say if you put a frog in a cold pot of water and it’s slowly heated up, the frog boils to death before it ever realized to jump out? It was kind of like that.”

    Ben Affleck Says Netflix Is Helping Define “The Future Of Cinema”

    (3/4/19) Ben Affleck, currently starring in the Netflix movie Triple Frontier, probably won’t be joining Steven Spielberg’s crusade to keep the platform out of Oscar consideration.

    In red carpet interviews and on this morning’s Today show, Affleck is taking a decided pro-Netflix stance. The streaming service is helping to define “the future of cinema and distribution,” he told the AP at the New York premiere of Triple Frontier, while on Today he insisted that “to do a movie for Netflix is no different from doing a movie anywhere else,” adding, “We’re just trying to do our job.”

    Yesterday, Netflix appeared to be responding to Spielberg with a tweet that listed things they “love,” including cinema; “access for people who can’t always afford, or live in towns without, theaters; letting everyone, everywhere enjoy releases at the same time; and giving filmmakers more ways to share art.”

    “These things are not mutually exclusive,” Netflix concluded.

    Spielberg, a governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has drawn criticism for arguing that films debuting on streaming services or getting short theatrical runs should qualify for the Emmys rather than Oscars.

    Affleck, on Today, said “the business is changing,” and reeled off past challenges to the film industry status quo such as sound, color and TV. “Movies survived and I think they will,” he said. “People are working to try to define how that’s going to be.”

    Triple Frontier, directed by J.C. Chandor, opened in select theaters March 6 and launched globally on Netflix March 13. Affleck co-stars with Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund and Adria Arjona.

    ‘Triple Frontier’ Trailer: Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac & Co. On A Money Mission In Netflix Heist Film

    (1/16/19) (Video) “You cannot go back to your normal life after tonight. You guys need to own the fact that what we’re about to do is criminal,” warns Ben Affleck’s character in the newly released trailer for the J.C. Chandor-directed Netflix film Triple Frontier.

    Affleck heads the A-list ensemble that includes Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund and Adria Arjona.

    Co-written by Chandor and Mark Boal, the film follows a group of former Special Forces operatives who reunite to plan a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers, these unsung heroes undertake this dangerous mission for self instead of country. Things take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival.

    The film will be in select theaters March 6 and globally on Netflix March 13.

    Check out the new trailer above.

    Jimmy Kimmel Retires Ben Affleck Batsuit To The Rafters Ending Dark Knight Reign

    (1/16/19) (Video) The Bat Torch has been passed: Ben Affleck, confirming yet again that he will not return to the screen as Batman, saw his Bat Cape officially retired to the rafters of Jimmy Kimmel Live! last night.

    Promoting his upcoming Netflix film Triple Frontier, Affleck was surprised with the cape during his Kimmel appearance. JKL regular Guillermo Rodriguez, dressed as Robin (or, as Rodriguez called him, “Robert”), brought out Affleck’s cape and cowl – which mysteriously had “Batfleck 12” stenciled on the back, a salute to Affleck’s hometown favorite Tom Brady. (Warner Bros., the former Dark Knight joked, paid $80 million to digitally remove the number from every movie scene).

    With that, the costume was raised to the JKL rafters, but first room had to be made by removing another pride-of-place memento: Matt Damon’s golden thong from Behind the Candelabra. (Taking a deep whiff, Affleck said, “Ah, that Damon musk.”)

    Clearing up any doubt that he might yet return to Gotham City, Affleck said his last attempt at developing a new installment didn’t work out. “Couldn’t crack it,” he said. Matt Reeves’ The Batman is scheduled to hit theaters in summer of 2021.

    Affleck’s final comment on the matter: “Uh, I guess, I am not Batman?”

    For the solemn Bat-raising ceremony, check out the Jimmy Kimmel Live clip above.

    ‘Triple Frontier’ Trailer: Ben Affleck & Company Take Down A South American Drug Lord In Netflix Feature

    (12/9/18) (Video) “Do we finally get to use our skills for our own benefit?” is the question that resonates through the new trailer for the forthcoming Netflix action-drama Triple Frontier.

    J.C. Chandor directs the feature co-written by him and Mark Boal about a group of former Special Forces operatives played by Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Garrett Hedlund, and Pedro Pascal. The group reunites and plans a heist in a sparsely populated multi-border zone of South America. For the first time in their prestigious careers, these unsung heroes undertake this dangerous mission for self instead of country. Things take an unexpected turn and threaten to spiral out of control, their skills, their loyalties and their morals are pushed to a breaking point in an epic battle for survival.

    The pic has gone through many speed bumps, but it persevered and now the feature is set to premiere on Netflix and in select theaters March 2019. Before it landed on its feet at Netflix, Deadline previously reported that many filmmakers and talent have shown interest in the film including Kathryn Bigelow, Tom Hanks, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, Channing Tatum, and Tom Hardy.

    Ben Affleck reportedly returns to rehab post-divorce

    (11/11/18) Ben Affleck has reportedly checked back into rehab.

    The bad news comes just days after the actor finalized his divorce from wife Jennifer Garner following his 40-day stint last month in a Malibu rehab facility. According to a source for The Mirror, Affleck, 46, has allegedly told friends that he needs to continue treatment for several more months to work on his sobriety. He has previously admitted to having problems with alcohol.

    “He was going to move out and become an outpatient – but he’s checked back in,” the source claimed to The Mirror. “He will stay most nights in the clinic.”

    The insider added, “This is not just a disease you cure in one go. Ben has and will always be working hard to get better. He wants to work, see his children and focus on his recovery.”

    As RadarOnline.com reported, on November 7, Affleck and Garner, 46, finalized their divorce three years after their breakup. They reportedly agreed to joint custody of their three children, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6.

    Garner is now reportedly dating businessman John Miller, while Affleck apparently ended his recent fling with 22-year-old Playboy model Shauna Sexton. Previously, on August 22, caring Garner did an intervention on her long-estranged husband, driving the tearful Affleck to treatment.

    The Argo actor/director also spent time in rehab in 2001 and 2017. Despite the divorce, devoted Garner remains determined to help her ex Affleck battle his demons for the sake of their kids. The two were spotted with their son Samuel in Los Angeles last week.

    Affleck recently told fans that he had completed his latest stay in rehab for alcohol addiction, saying he’s “fighting for myself and my family.”

    He added his statement, “The support I have received from my family, colleagues and fans means more to me than I can say. It’s given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others.”

    But now, the star has reportedly returned to treatment.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner to have joint custody of children in divorce deal

    (11/3/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have agreed to share custody of their three children and undergo monthly therapy as part of their divorce settlement.

    The actors split in June 2015 following 10 years of marriage, but they only began the legal process to make the break-up official in April 2017, when they filed simultaneous divorce petitions.

    Last month, the estranged couple requested permission to fast-track the process by hiring a private judge to help the stars hash out the details regarding their separation, and they met up at the Dallas Buyers Club star’s Los Angeles home to resolve the remaining issues.

    Now, according to court papers obtained by TMZ, the details of their agreement have been revealed, with Affleck and Garner, who have remained close since their separation, sharing joint physical and legal custody of daughters Violet, 12, and Seraphina, nine, and six-year-old son Samuel.

    They have also committed to attending monthly sessions with a co-parenting therapist for at least six months, and have promised to refrain from badmouthing one another.

    “Neither party shall make derogatory or insulting remarks about the other,” the papers read.

    They also state, “Each party is restrained from arguing, yelling, or using profanity directed at the other party in the presence or within hearing distance of any of the minor children.”

    The documents were submitted to a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge to finalize by celebrity lawyer Laura Wasser, who had initially been hired to represent Garner, but ended up serving as a mediator for the exes during the recent negotiations to help them reach an agreement with as little conflict as possible.

    The divorce will be made official as soon as the judge approves the paperwork and signs off on the deal.

    The news emerges two weeks after Jennifer was romantically linked to businessman John Miller, marking her first relationship since parting ways with Affleck.

    Meanwhile, the Justice League star is currently single, after previously dating TV producer Lindsay Shookus for a year until this summer, before embarking on a brief fling with Playboy model Shauna Sexton.

    He and Sexton split in October, shortly after he shared a touching thank you letter to his supporters online following his completion of a 40-day stay in rehab to tackle alcohol addiction.

    Ben Affleck playing a former addict in upcoming film

    (10/24/18) Art is imitating life for Ben Affleck.

    The actor, 46, is back to work after a stint in rehab, starring as a former addict in the upcoming film, “Torrance.”

    He was spotted on set in Los Angeles on Tuesday alongside actress Janina Gavankar who is said to play his ex-wife in the film.

    According to IMDB, Affleck will play a “former basketball all-star,” who has lost his “family foundation in a struggle with addiction, and attempts to comeback by becoming the coach of a disparate ethnically mixed high school basketball team at his alma mater.”

    Off-camera Affleck recently completed a 40-day stint in rehab after his ex-wife Jennifer Garner staged an intervention. She also drove him to the treatment facility.

    The former couple also finalized their divorce in October and Affleck split from his younger girlfriend, Shauna Sexton, shortly after.

    “Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle,” he wrote on Instagram after his time in rehab. “Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family. So many people have reached out on social media and spoken about their own journeys with addiction. To those people, I want to say thank you.”

    The film is in pre-production.

    Ben Affleck and model fling Shauna Sexton are done

    (10/11/18) It’s a wrap for Ben Affleck and his Playboy model fling Shauna Sexton, a source confirmed to Page Six.

    The duo called it quits after Sexton posted several Insta shots of their trip to Big Sky, Montana.

    The “Batman” star’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, recently finalized their divorce and was instrumental in checking Affleck into a treatment center for alcohol abuse. He has completed 40 days of treatment and reportedly ended things with Sexton, a self-described lover of whiskey, to focus on his sobriety.

    He and Sexton were first seen together in August on a date in Malibu. Since then, Sexton’s been spotted visiting Affleck at his LA home and while he was in rehab in Malibu.

    “Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle. Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment. I am fighting for myself and my family,” he wrote after his latest stint in rehab.

    A rep for Affleck did not comment.

    Ben Affleck Closely Monitored in Custody Agreement with Jennifer Garner

    (10/6/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have reached a custody agreement, but it is vague for an obvious reason ... Ben's issue with alcohol.

    As we have already reported, the couple long ago agreed to joint custody of their 3 kids. There are 2 elements to the agreement -- legal and physical custody.

    Legal custody is simple ... they will jointly agree on decisions that affect the kids, such as education and various activities.

    As for physical custody, that's where it gets tricky. As we reported, the divorce was held up for a long time because Ben was on and off the bottle, and Jennifer didn't want to strike any custody arrangement until he was sober and stable.

    We're told the physical custody agreement is vague ... it doesn't outline any specific division of time with the kids. But, we're told, at least at the beginning, Jen will get the lion's share of custodial time, and when Ben has the kids he will have a monitor to ensure he's sober and the kids are safe.

    There's another factor -- their kids are older now -- 12, 9 and 6 -- and they may be conscious of Ben's problem with alcohol and how it's affected their family, and they will have a voice as well.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner divorce finalized

    (10/6/18) Former Hollywood “It” couple Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have finally finalized their divorce three years after their shocking split, RadarOnline.com can confirm.

    The news comes just one day after Radar reported Garner requested a judge handle the final details of the divorce filing on Thursday.

    On the same day, Affleck took to social media to reveal he was leaving rehab after a 40-day stint for alcohol addiction.

    Affleck, 46, and Garner, also 46, first announced their separation in June 2015, one day after their 10th wedding anniversary.

    The couple filed for divorce in April 2017, requesting joint legal and physical custody of their three children, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6.

    As Radar readers know, Garner held an intervention for Affleck to enter treatment on August 22 for his alcohol issues.

    Jennifer Garner Filed Docs to Make Divorce from Ben Affleck Final By Year's End

    (10/4/18) Jennifer Garner wants her never-ending divorce case over and done with ... so she's now filed legal docs to supercharge the process so she's a single woman by the end of the year ... TMZ has learned.

    Garner is asking the judge in her divorce to have the case yanked from the court system and put in the hands of a private judge. The reason -- the courts often move at a glacial pace and Jen is out of patience. A private judge can accelerate the process and handle the final details quickly.

    Our sources say Jen's goal is to have a final divorce decree by year's end. She filed for divorce in April of last year and the couple has been separated since June 2015.

    We're told the major reason for the delay ... Ben's drinking. TMZ broke the story ... Jen did not want to set a custody agreement in stone until she knew Ben was sober, and he's been up and down for years, and that was the primary reason for the delay.

    Now that Ben's out of rehab and sober again, we're told Jen thinks the time is right to formalize the divorce.

    Ben Affleck Leaves Rehab, Hopes To Help Others With Addiction Problems

    (10/4/18) Ben Affleck has left his latest stint in alcohol rehab, according to an Instagram post on his official site earlier today. In his post, he said he hoped to be an inspiration to others who struggle with addictions. The Academy Award-winning Affleck voluntarily checked in for treatment in late August.

    “This week I completed a forty day stay at a treatment center for alcohol addiction and remain in outpatient care,” Affleck said in his post. “Battling any addiction is a lifelong and difficult struggle. Because of that, one is never really in or out of treatment. It is a full-time commitment.”

    Former wife Jennifer Garner and their three children were by his side as he left rehab on Thursday.

    “The support I have received from my family, colleagues, and and means more to me than I can say,” Affleck posted. “It’s given me the strength and support to speak about my illness with others.”

    Affleck’s latest acting gigs include Dee Rees’ The Last Thing He Wanted and JC Chandor’s Triple Frontier, both in post production. He has also been announced for several planned sequels, including Justice League, The Batman and The Accountant.

    ‘Cinemability: The Art of Inclusion’: Ben Affleck & Jamie Foxx Star In Disability Feature Doc

    (9/21/18) Ben Affleck, Jamie Foxx, The West Wing’s Marlee Matlin and Breaking Bad’s RJ Mitte star in Cinemability: The Art of Inclusion, a feature doc that looks at the history of disability portrayals in entertainment.

    The doc, which is directed by Jenni Gold, the only wheelchair using director on the DGA roster, has been picked up by Leomark Studios and will launch across video-on-demand on October 5, to coincide with National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

    From the early days of silent films to present-day Hollywood blockbusters, the film takes a detailed look at the evolution of “disability” in entertainment over the last 120 years by going behind the scenes to interview celebrities, filmmakers, and studio executives. Gold produced alongside Jeff Maynard and wrote with Samuel W. Reed.

    There’s Something About Mary director Peter Farrelly said Gold had created something “truly inspiring… and she made me laugh, with a documentary”. Jon Voight added that the film was “profound, hilarious and uplifting”.

    Gold said, “CinemAbility is in part a love letter to Hollywood, an industry that has consumed my life, and partly a wake-up call. Growing up as a wheelchair user I found many of the representations of people with disabilities on screen to be confusing. I remember every year my family would watch Affair to Remember when it aired on TV and I always found it odd that after Deborah Kerr became a wheelchair user she could no longer pursue the man she loved.

    “As a filmmaker who loves the rich history of Hollywood, I realized that a historical overview of disability portrayals had never been done, and that’s certainly one of the aspects of the project that drew me in.”

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner settle divorce case: Report

    (8/26/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have reportedly agreed on a settlement in their divorce.

    According to editors at TMZ, the estranged couple has been locked in a complicated and time-consuming battle over their property, which has prevented their divorce from becoming final.

    Ben and Jennifer did not have a pre-nuptial agreement in place, so all their earnings during their marriage had to split equally.

    The superstar couple, who split in 2015 after 10 years of marriage, share three children – Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.

    Sources told the gossip site that the final settlement will be filed with the court once Gone Girl star has finished his stay in rehab.

    The 46-year-old actress showed up at Ben’s Pacific Palisades home in California on Wednesday afternoon and allegedly begged him to get help for his ongoing alcohol abuse issues. She told waiting photographers to give the couple privacy, and said “it was not a good time.”

    Jennifer was then spotted leaving with the actor/director and a person believed to be a sobre coach and drove Ben to an unnamed rehab facility.

    Friends of the star tell Page Six Ben has been “struggling” with sobriety since breaking up with girlfriend Lindsay Shookus, and it was photographs obtained by The Blast showing him taking a delivery of alcohol that reportedly forced his ex to take action.

    In recent days, the Justice League star has been linked to 22-year-old Playboy playmate Shauna Sexton.

    Despite the fact they split in 2015, Jennifer and Ben have remained close, but the double Oscar winner was noticeably absent from his estranged wife’s Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiling ceremony on Monday.

    Ben Affleck Seeks Help and Will Go to Rehab After Intervention by Jen Garner

    (8/22/18) Jennifer Garner has staged an intervention to help Ben Affleck, and we've learned Ben wanted the help and agreed to go to rehab. ... TMZ has learned.

    Jennifer went to Ben's Pacific Palisades home Wednesday afternoon to sit down with her estranged husband, begging him to get help. We've learned Ben didn't need begging ... he knows he needs help and was receptive.

    Jen and Ben drove off at around 6 PM PT from the house ... and sources say the destination is a rehab facility. Our sources say Ben will enter a facility in L.A. County.

    We're told Ben fell off the wagon a while ago, and has gotten progressively worse.

    Ben has been to rehab before ... back in 2001 for alcohol abuse.? He also went back to rehab last December.

    Jen filed for divorce in April, 2017 ... 2 years after they announced their split. The former couple remained close -- partly for their 3 kids -- and they are still not officially divorced.

    Is it splitsville for Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus? Actor spotted out with Playboy model

    (8/18/18) Ben Affleck has sparked rumours of a split from girlfriend Lindsay Shookus after he stepped out for a belated birthday dinner with another woman.

    The Justice League star turned 46 on Wednesday, when he spent quality time with his three children from his marriage to Jennifer Garner, and on Thursday, he enjoyed a dinner date – but it wasn’t with Shookus.

    Ben was photographed leaving top Los Angeles restaurant Nobu Malibu after dining with Shauna Sexton, a 22-year-old beauty who appeared as Playboy magazine’s Miss May 2018, reports TMZ.

    According People.com, she was part of a group of friends who had joined the actor/director for the meal, and they were snapped exiting separately.

    Ben and Shauna have yet to comment on the nature of their relationship, but the sighting has raised questions about the status of his romance with TV producer Lindsay, who the star was last pictured with in late July, a year after they first started dating.

    Interestingly, TMZ notes a moving van was spotted outside Affleck’s California mansion on August 9, although the reason for its hire is unknown.

    The news emerges a week after Ben and his estranged wife Jennifer were warned that their divorce filing may be dismissed if they failed to update their case.

    The actors split in June 2015, after 10 years of marriage, and filed legal papers in April, 2017, but court officials are still waiting for a final judgement to be entered.

    Sources recently told the The Blast the stars are nearing a final settlement, although it is not known what has caused the delay.

    The former couple has maintained a close relationship following its separation to co-parent its three children – Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner 'dragging their feet' on divorce: Report

    (8/10/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have reportedly been advised their divorce case may be dismissed if they don’t take “appropriate steps.”

    The actors announced they were divorcing after ten years of marriage in June 2015, and they filed legal documents in April 2017. Although they have both moved on, with the Batman actor dating TV producer Lindsay Shookus, the pair has reportedly been “dragging their feet” over their divorce proceedings.

    Authorities with the Los Angeles Superior Court have reportedly advised them that their case has not been completed because the final judgement has not been filed and entered, and the case could be dismissed if they don’t take action, according to a document obtained by The Blast.

    Officials reportedly told them, “If you fail to take the appropriate steps in your case, the court may dismiss your case for delay in prosecution.”

    Sources close to the exes have told the website their divorce proceedings are close to being wrapped up, and they are nearing a final settlement, although it is not known what has caused the delay.

    The former couple has maintained an amicable relationship following their split and co-parent their three children Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine, and Samuel, six.

    Speaking to Vanity Fair magazine in March 2016, when they were separated, Jennifer, 46, said she wouldn’t change anything.

    “I didn’t marry the big fat movie star; I married him… And I would go back and remake that decision,” she said. “You can’t have these three babies and so much of what we had. He’s the love of my life.

    “He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy. I always say, ‘When his sun shines on you, you feel it.’ But when the sun is shining elsewhere, it’s cold. He can cast quite a shadow.”

    Fox, Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Win Hot Package On Multi-Million Dollar Theft Of McDonald’s Monopoly Game

    (8/2/18) Fox is poised to win the hot lit property in the marketplace at the moment, a giant Happy Meal that everyone wanted. Ben Affleck is attached to direct and Matt Damon to star in a true-crime story written by Jeff Maysh and published in The Daily Beast several days ago about an ex-cop who rigged the McDonald’s Monopoly game, allegedly stealing over $24 million and sharing it with an unsavory group of co-conspirators who offered kickbacks to the mastermind. The Pearl Street partners will produce, and the Deadpool scribes Paul Wernick & Rhett Reese will write the script.

    Sources said that bidding was ferocious for Maysh’s How An Ex-Cop Rigged McDonald’s Monopoly Game And Stole Millions. Lining up to bid were Universal for Kevin Hart, Warner Bros for John Requa & Glenn Ficarra and Steve Carell and producer Andrew Lazar, and Netflix, which bid for producing partners Eric Newman & Bryan Unkeless, Robert Downey Jr & Susan Downey, and Todd Phillips. The auction was handled by IPG’s Joel Gotler, who repped Maysh. David Klawans, who got rights to the article and exec veep on Affleck’s Oscar-winning Argo, is exec producing.

    The article opens in 2001 in Rhode Island, as a million-dollar check is delivered to a man who said he’d won the $1 million grand prize after collecting Monopoly pieces attached to food products, defying the 1-in-250 million odds and modeled after the venerable board game that the piece says was invented as a warning about the destructive nature of greed. A camera crew was dispatched to hear how the man won, and they chronicled his series of lies. They were FBI agents closing in on a sting that began with a tip about an “Uncle Jerry,” who’d sell stolen game pieces. Solid detective work unearthed Jerry Jacobson, a head of security for a Los Angeles company responsible for generating the game pieces. It led to a wide conspiracy that involved mobsters, psychics, strip-club owners, drug traffickers and a family of Mormons who falsely claimed to have won more than $24 million in cash and prizes.

    Pearl Street veep Madison Ainley brought in the project and will shepherd it for Pearl Street. Matt Reilly will steer it for Fox. Reilly worked with Affleck on The Town when he was an exec at Warner Bros before moving to Fox.

    IPG brokered the sale, and WME reps Affleck and Damon, and Reese & Wernick.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner take kids to ‘Hello, Dolly!’

    (7/15/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner were spotted having a family night out on Thursday, theater spies told Page Six — seeing “Hello, Dolly!” with their kids.

    The former couple and co-parents have been in a good place lately after a tumultuous breakup.

    Garner gave a candid interview to “CBS Sunday Morning” about press scrutiny over the stars’ relationship and its toll on her family: “Looking back on that, I really feel the stress of it. I really .?.?. I could cry talking about it.” She added: “What I think I’ve learned is that the scrutiny in your private life puts a pressure to make something happen. You feel a pressure to hurry up and get married, ’cause you think that’ll end the, ‘Are they engaged? Are they not?’ And that’s true in the reverse, as well. If you are .?.?. if there is any inkling of trouble, or if the tabloids decide there’s trouble, it can create trouble.”

    But fans are still paying attention.

    A theater spy told us on Friday: “Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner and their three kids were front and center at ‘Hello, Dolly!,’ looking close as they watched Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber,” who was Garner’s co-star on the hit TV series “Alias.”

    Affleck and Garner were married for 10 years before they separated in 2015, amid reports about his alleged affair with their nanny. He’s since been dating “Saturday Night Live” producer Lindsay Shookus for the past year.

    Garner even posted a heartwarming Father’s Day message to Affleck: “Our kids are lucky to have a dad who looks at them the way you look at them and loves them the way you love them.”

    She told Vanity Fair back in 2016: “He’s the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? He’s the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He’s just a complicated guy.”

    Reps for the couple did not comment.

    Garner’s making a return to television in the upcoming HBO half-hour comedy series “Camping,” from “Girls” creators Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner.

    Ben Affleck, Toby Jones, Rosie Perez & Edi Gathegi Round Out Cast Of Dee Rees’ ‘The Last Thing He Wanted’

    (7/11/18) Mudbound director Dee Rees has firmed a solid cast for her follow-up feature, The Last Thing He Wanted. Two-time Oscar winner Ben Affleck, Toby Jones, Rosie Perez, Edi Gathegi, and Mel Rodriguez have joined the previously announced Anne Hathaway and Willem Dafoe in the film, which Netflix will release next year.

    Production is currently underway in Puerto Rico. Rees, who received an Oscar nom for co-writing Mudbound, penned the screenplay with Marco Villalobos based on 1996’s The Last Thing He Wanted novel by Joan Didion.

    The plot centers on journalist Elena McMahon (Hathaway) who finds herself on dangerous ground as the Iran Contra Affair’s arms for drugs plot reaches its tipping point.

    Dees and Mudbound producer Cassian Elwes are producing this film. Executive Producers are Jamin O’Brien, Wayne Godfrey, Robert Jones, Mark Lane and James Harris.

    Affleck is repped by WME; Jones by Artist Rights Group; Perez by Innovative Artists and Silver Lining Entertainment; Gathegi by ICM and Framework Entertainment; Rodriguez by UTA and Abrams Entertainment.

    Ben Affleck selling off plantation to pay off Jennifer Garner in divorce

    (6/27/18) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are desperately trying to settle their divorce — and he’s selling assets to pay her off!

    RadarOnline.com has learned the cash-starved star, 45, has put an 87-acre plantation near Savannah, Ga., on the block for US$8.9 million.

    The Gone Girl hunk reportedly paid $7.1 million for the spread on a private island after falling in love with the area while filming 1999’s Forces of Nature.

    “He needs the cash, which will go to Jen as part of the settlement. He’s compensating her for his infidelities and the damage caused in the marriage.”

    As Radar reported, Affleck just shelled out $19 million for a mansion located less than a mile from the home Garner shares with their three children, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 9, and Samuel, 6.

    While a source close to Affleck dismissed talk of a baby, insiders snitched there is added urgency to the move as Affleck is setting up a nest with Lindsay Shookus.

    The Saturday Night Live producer and her five-year-old daughter have reportedly already moved in.

    But Shookus’ new status as neighbour has Garner fuming, sources said.

    “It’s too close to comfort for Jen,” said a spy. “It could lead to her asking for more money!”

    Affleck and Garner, 46, have been in mediation to settle their divorce.

    Although Affleck is believed to be worth as much as $105 million and Garner $60 million, they’ve said they’ll split what was earned during their marriage.

    “You would have to figure out what portion of that is community property and what is separate property,” California divorce attorney Alistair Shaw told Radar.

    Still, Affleck will likely also owe child support and possible spousal support, he added.

    “California has a formula for figuring out child support,” Alistair explained.

    “It depends on a lot of factors, such as who will spend more time with the kids, monthly income and other variables.”

    Ben Affleck out as as Batman - again: Report

    (6/15/18) Ben Affleck has seemingly been ruled out of playing Batman in the next film about the Caped Crusader.

    According to The Hollywood Reporter, writer and director Matt Reeves has reportedly completed a new screenplay for the upcoming feature, The Batman, which is said to focus on the story of a young Bruce Wayne. Though representatives for Warner Bros. have not issued a statement, it is unlikely that the 45-year-old actor will reprise the role again given his age.

    Ben played the DC superhero in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016 and Justice League in 2017, while also landing an uncredited cameo in 2016’s Suicide Squad.

    He was also planning to direct and produce the forthcoming standalone feature as well as star in it, but announced he was stepping down from directing duties in January 2017, having previously informed The Guardian that “there’s no script” and that he would only accept the responsibility if believed the content was “really great.”

    “Performing this role demands focus, passion, and the very best performance I can give,” the Gone Girl star said in a statement announcing his departure as director from the project. “It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require.”

    However, when new director Reeves stepped in, it was revealed that he had overturned the script crafted by Ben and writers Chris Terrio and Geoff Johns.

    Though it seems highly unlikely that the Oscar winner will feature in the movie, he is busy with other projects, which includes him developing a sequel to his 2016 film The Accountant with director Gavin O’Connor, who he has also teamed up with to film basketball drama The Has-Been.

    Ben Affleck, Gavin O’Connor Re-Team On Brad Ingelsby Script ‘The Has-Been’

    (6/11/18) The Accountant team of Ben Affleck and director Gavin O’Connor are circling The Has-Been, a drama scripted by Brad Ingelsby. I’m told Warner Bros is trying to make a deal on a movie that would happen on a fast track. No deals have been completed at this point.

    The script by Ingelsby has drawn strong interest around town. It centers on a former basketball all-star who has lost his wife and family foundation in a struggle with addiction. He attempts to regain his soul and salvation by becoming the coach of a disparate, ethnically mixed high school basketball team at his alma mater. Affleck wants to play the former hoops star, and O’Connor would direct.

    The Has-Been will be produced by Affleck and Jennifer Todd, Mark Ciardi and Gordon Grey, with O’Connor also expected to be involved as a producer along with the writer.

    Affleck, who is currently starring in the ensemble of the JC Chandor-directed Triple Frontier for Netflix, is separately developing at Warner Bros with O’Connor the sequel to The Accountant, the hit thriller in which Affleck played a forensic accountant with high-functioning autism and remarkable survival skills drilled into him by an abusive father. O’Connor separately is developing to direct the Suicide Squad sequel at Warner Bros. It all seems like a strong fit at Warner Bros, where Affleck most recently reprised Batman in Justice League.

    Ingelsby first came on the scene when he was working for his father’s insurance business and writing on the side in Philadelphia. That was until he made a whopping spec script deal for The Low Dweller, which got Ridley Scott to direct and Leonardo DiCaprio to star. It eventually was re-titled Out of the Furnace with Scott Cooper rewriting and directing, and Christian Bale, Zoe Saldana, Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson starred in the underrated Relativity drama. The scribe also recently wrote for Scott Free The Friend, a film based on an emotionally inspiring Esquire article. That script is out to actors now. He most recently scripted The Burning Woman, the Jake Scott-directed drama for Scott Free and Romulus that stars Christina Hendricks, Sienna Miller and Aaron Paul.

    Affleck and O’Connor are repped by WME. Ingelsby is repped by CAA and Energy Entertainment.

    ‘City On A Hill’: Showtime Picks Up Drama From Ben Affleck & Matt Damon To Series

    (6/8/18) Actor Ben Affleck is selling his Georgia plantation for $8.9 million. The 87-acre property is on an island preserve and includes a Greek Revival mansion.

    Affleck purchased the property for $7.1 million in 2003. According to Boston.com, the A-lister reportedly fell in love with Georgia after filming 1999’s “Forces of Nature” with Sandra Bullock in the Peach State.

    The property is on Hampton Island, surrounded by the North Newport River, and accessible only with permission. Technically situated in Riceboro, Ga., the home sits about 30 miles south of Savannah.

    The 6,000-square-foot main residence has four bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. It features 25-foot-tall Doric columns, and verandas along the front and back of the home offer gorgeous river views. Historically accurate features include plaster moldings, pine floors and huge fireplaces.

    According to the listing details from Engel & Volkers, “The proportions, materials and details are extraordinary … from the 15 foot ceilings … wide-planked, reclaimed, hardwood floors … to the kitchen cabinets designed to resemble those from the turn-of-the-century.”

    The property also includes a cottage with a screened-in room and the “Oyster House,” a 10,000-square-foot home with five bedrooms, which include bunk beds made from salvaged ships.

    Affleck is in the midst of a divorce from actress Jennifer Garner. He recently purchased a $19.25 million home in Los Angeles, just blocks from where Garner lives with their three children.

    ‘City On A Hill’: Showtime Picks Up Drama From Ben Affleck & Matt Damon To Series

    (5/18/18) Showtime has handed a 12-episode series order to City On A Hill, its drama pilot starring Kevin Bacon (The Following) and Aldis Hodge (Underground). The series, executive produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Jennifer Todd, will premiere in 2019.

    Written by Chuck MacLean (Boston Strangler) and based on an original idea by Affleck, City on a Hill is set in early 1990s Boston when the city was rife with violent criminals emboldened by local law enforcement agencies in which corruption and racism was the norm, until it suddenly all changed. The drama is a fictional account of what was called the “Boston Miracle.” Driving that change is assistant district attorney Decourcy Ward (Hodge), who comes from Brooklyn and forms an unlikely alliance with a corrupt yet venerated FBI veteran, Jackie Rhodes (Bacon). Together, they take on a family of armored car robbers from Charlestown in a case that grows to involve, and ultimately subvert, the entire criminal justice system of Boston.

    “City On A Hill has the veneer of a classic Boston cops-and-robbers drama, but actually dives head first into challenging the very institutions it depicts,” said David Nevins, President & CEO of Showtime Networks. “In reality, the series is a penetrating look at the larger criminal justice system and those who operate within it, with mesmerizing performances by Kevin Bacon and Aldis Hodge anchoring the suspense.”

    City On A Hill also stars Jonathan Tucker (Kingdom), Mark O’Brien (Halt and Catch Fire), Jill Hennessy (Crossing Jordan), Lauren E. Banks (Instinct), Amanda Clayton (Tyler Perry’s If Loving You Is Wrong), Kevin Chapman (Brotherhood) and Jere Shea (Passion), with Kevin Dunn (Veep) recurring.

    The series is executive produced by Affleck, Damon and Todd for Pearl Street Films as well as James Mangold. MacLean wrote the pilot and executive produces; Michael Cuesta directed the pilot and executive produces. Bacon will serve as co-executive producer.

    City on a Hill joins another upcoming Showtime series, comedy Kidding starring Jim Carrey.

    Even Matt Damon couldn’t save Ben Affleck from bad tattoo

    (3/23/18) Matt Damon won’t save Ben Affleck from bad tattoos.

    On “The Daily Show” on Wednesday, Trevor Noah grilled Damon, 47, about whether his friendship with Affleck was over in light of the “Justice League” star’s notorious phoenix back tattoo.

    “Unfortunately, I can’t seem to shake him — I’ve known him since I was 10, so that’s 37 years,” Damon said, adding, “I mean, it’s not one man’s job to tell another man what he can do to his back. I support him in all of his artistic expression.”

    Affleck’s ink is a bright, colorful piece that covers his entire back — and he previously claimed the massive tat was fake and for an upcoming role.

    “I actually do have a number of tattoos,” Affleck, 45, said in 2016. “But I try to have them in places where you don’t have to do a lot of cover-up … they get sort of addictive, tattoos, after a while.”

    Affleck’s exes have much stronger opinions about the phoenix fiasco than his BFF does.

    “You know what we would say in my hometown about that? ‘Bless his heart,’” Jennifer Garner said in 2016. “A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario? I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes.”

    Former fiancée Jennifer Lopez isn’t a fan either.

    “It’s awful! His tattoos always have too many colors, they shouldn’t be so colorful,” Lopez, 48, said previously. “They should be cooler.”

    ‘Triple Frontier’ Finally Going: Affleck, Isaac, Pascal, Hunnam, Hedlund, Arjona In JC Chandor’s Lineup

    (3/19/18) Even though it needs a new title, the drama known as Triple Frontier finally gets underway next week at Netflix. Perhaps the most apt title would be The Movie That Refused to Die. Ben Affleck is back, heading the ensemble, along with Oscar Isaac, Charlie Hunnam, Pedro Pascal, Garrett Hedlund and Adria Arjona.

    The J.C. Chandor-directed, Charles Roven-, Alex Gartner- and Andy Horwitz-produced drama is a study in how a worthy script can stay alive, despite setbacks that often are fatal. We last wrote about this one when the picture fell apart after Affleck withdrew for personal reasons as he dealt with sobriety issues. This was when he was going to star with brother Casey Affleck and Mahershala Ali, right after those two were coming off their Oscar-winning performances in Manchester By the Sea and Moonlight, respectively.

    Affleck and Ali dropped out over scheduling after the last setback. But Affleck didn’t exit. He put in the rehab time and is in shape, as evidenced by paparazzi pictures of the new cast as they’ve trained on the beach in Oahu, where they now begin shooting March 26. Chandor had long eyed Isaac, though his schedule was impossible in the picture’s last incarnation, and a window opened and he committed. Netflix took on the picture after Paramount let go of it after Tom Hardy and Channing Tatum dropped out weeks before production was to begin. This was after the picture’s prime advocate, the late Paramount chief Brad Grey, got fired and Paramount’s new management wasn’t eager to make a high-budget topical political thriller that had just lost two big stars.

    The film’s plot: Loyalties are tested when five friends reunite to take down a South American drug lord, unleashing a chain of unintended consequences.

    Netflix film head Scott Stuber provided a lifeline, and has worked ever since with Roven and his Atlas Entertainment to keep this one from dying. The one unresolved issue now is title; the thriller that Mark Boal scripted years ago for his The Hurt Locker partner Kathryn Bigelow to direct was called Triple Frontier because of its setting in the notorious border zone with Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil, where the Iguazu and Parana rivers converge. That area is no longer considered as dangerous as it was; tourists go there now. Chandor has worked on the script and the location still borders Brazil. It will shoot in Oahu as well as in Colombia and California. Thomas Hayslip, Neal Dodson and Anna Gerb are executive producing.

    The script has long been catnip for filmmakers and talent; in addition to Bigelow, Tom Hanks, Will Smith and Johnny Depp circled to star before Tatum and Hardy committed and exited. Chandor wrote the latest draft of the script.

    Matt Damon And Ben Affleck To Add Inclusion Riders On Pearl Street Projects

    (3/13/18) Matt Damon and Ben Affleck have agreed that inclusion riders will be a part of all their future Pearl Street production deals.

    The announcement was made via Twitter by actor/producer Fanshen Cox DiGiovanni at the South by Southwest Film Festival and follows the path set by actress Frances McDormand, who urged the Academy Awards audience to include the clause in future contract requests.The inclusion clause aims to promote diversity in casting and crew memberships.

    Actor Michael B. Jordan announced last week that he would add an inclusion rider on all projects produced under his Outlier Society Productions banner.

    The Twitter post by Cox DiGiovanni praised Jordan’s move. “Thank you for always supporting broader representation in the industry. On behalf of Pearl Street Films, Matt Damon, Ben Afflect, Jennifer Todd, Drew Vinton & I will be adopting the #InclusionRider for all of our projects moving forward.”

    Nickelodeon 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards Nominations

    (2/26/18) Film

    Favorite Movie Actor
    Ben Affleck (Batman, Justice League)
    Chris Hemsworth (Thor, Thor: Ragnarok)
    Chris Pratt (Peter Quill/Star-Lord, Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol 2)
    Dwayne Johnson (Dr. Smolder Bravestone, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle)
    Kevin Hart (Moose Finbar, Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle)
    Will Ferrell (Brad, Daddy’s Home 2)

    Harvey Weinstein Uses Emails From Jill Messick, Ben Affleck To Deny Rose McGowan Claims

    (1/31/18) While leaning on a boilerplate denial, disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein has for the most part kept quiet as dozens and dozens of women came forward to describe in detail a series of sexual assaults and harassment they said he perpetrated against them. But he has made an exception as Rose McGowan started her press tour to promote a new E! show and the publication of her book Brave.

    McGowan has long maintained that Weinstein raped her, and has made her account of an assault at his hands at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997 a major part of the book. Weinstein’s lawyer, Ben Brafman, is disputing McGowan’s version of what happened in that hot tub being non-consensual, and what happened in its aftermath.

    Weinstein’s lawyer has offered as evidence emails from McGowan’s former manager Jill Messick and Ben Affleck, latter of whom McGowan said she told of the assault moments after it happened, eliciting an angry response from the actor/director. Worth noting that Affleck’s email was sent to Weinstein on July 26, long before the New York Times and the New Yorker broke stories on the avalanche of actresses, assistants and others who claimed they were assaulted by Weinstein, who became a pariah overnight. Baring the emails solicited before either Messick or Affleck knew what was coming or even why Weinstein asked for them, is embarrassing for both Affleck and Messick. But we have long passed the point of decorum in this ongoing tawdry saga that has shaken Hollywood to its core.

    No comment from Affleck, who on November 17 said he believed McGowan and supported her, when he appeared on the Today Show. Attempts to reach Messick (who later worked as an executive for Weinstein at TWC) were unavailing.

    As for McGowan, she responded in characteristic unvarnished fashion in a tweet just now, with a spokesman telling Deadline there would be no further comment:

    @rosemcgowan : Fuck you you fucking douche bag loser from hell. You will burn. You will be an empty suit coffin. You go fall off the planet you fuck. #RoseArmy BREATHE FIRE let motherfucker but https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/people/2018/01/30/harvey-weinstein-lawyer-calls-mcgowans-claims-bold-lie/1081293001/ …

    What follows is the statement by Weinstein’s lawyer, and then the emails from Affleck and Messick:

    Ben Brafman: “As a general matter, Harvey Weinstein and his attorneys have refrained from publicly criticizing any of the women who have made allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Weinstein despite a wealth of evidence that would demonstrate the patent falsity of these claims. Watching the “performance” by Rose McGowan as she looks to promote her new book however, has made it impossible to remain quiet as she tries to smear Mr. Weinstein with a bold lie that is denied not only by Mr. Weinstein himself, but by at least two witnesses, including Ms. McGowan’s own Manager at the time who Ms. McGowan claims to have confided in the day after the alleged assault and an A-list actor Ben Affleck who Ms. McGowan claims to have also told about her encounter with Mr. Weinstein shortly after the incident she now describes as “rape”, but which in 1997 she described to her Manager as a “consensual” act of sex.

    “In an email to Mr. Weinstein regarding the encounter, Jill Messick says the following, “When we met up the following day, she hesitantly told me of her own accord that during the meeting that night before she had gotten into a hot tub with Mr. Weinstein. She was very clear about the fact that getting into that hot tub was something that she did consensually and that in hindsight it was also something that she regretted having done.”

    “Ben Affleck expressed the following in an email to Mr. Weinstein, “She never told me nor did I ever infer that she was attacked by anyone. Any accounts to the contrary are false. I have no knowledge about anything Rose did or claimed to have done.”

    Here are the full emails written to Weinstein, first from Affleck, and then the one from Messick.

    Affleck: “I never saw Rose at any hotel in Sundance. She never told me nor did I ever infer that she was attacked by anyone. Any accounts to the contrary are false. I have no knowledge about anything Rose did or claimed to have done. Accounts otherwise are lies.”

    Messick: “At one point during my representation of Rose McGowan, we traveled to the Sundance film festival, where she was invited to have a meeting with Harvey Weinstein at the Stein Eriksen Lodge. This was a commonly used location for meetings and negotiations while at the festival.

    I dropped Ms. McGowan off and went about my evening. When we met up the following day, she hesitantly told me of her own accord that during that meeting the night before she had gotten into a hot tub with Mr. Weinstein. She was very clear about the fact that getting into that hot tub was something she did consensually and that in hindsight it was also something she regretted having done.

    It is my understanding that Ms. McGowan’s account of the incidents at the Sundance meeting has dramatically changed versus the accounting of the incident she shared with me the following day.

    For reasons I will not speculate about, Ms. McGowan is presenting a more salacious and possibly slanderous version of this story these many years later.

    Furthermore, Ms. McGowan’s reporting now appears to include disparaging allegations about both my character and career as a means of supporting her claims of improprieties between herself and Mr. Weinstein.

    I wish Ms. McGowan no ill will, but I feel obliged to register my objection, as she is neither the face nor the voice of any feminist movement inside or outside of Hollywood. I do not pretend to know what she hopes to gain by trying to defame Mr. Weinstein (and, apparently, perhaps as collateral damage in her attempt to build a case, myself now as well). However, in my opinion she is being hypocritical for not taking any responsibility for her own actions with regards to this alleged incident that occurred over 20 years ago.”

    Ben Affleck Spends Christmas with Jennifer Garner and Kids

    (12/26/17) Ben Affleck, ex Jennifer Garner and their three children celebrated Christmas as a family.

    Despite their split, the stars have remained amicable and continue to co-parent their kids, Violet, 12, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5. Affleck and Garner, both 45, separated in 2015 and filed for divorce this April. Affleck, who’s been continuing treatment for alcohol addiction, joined Garner and the kids on Christmas Day, a source tells PEOPLE.

    Affleck and Garner have continued to spend time together with their kids, and usually spend holidays as a family.

    In December, they were spotted taking a morning stroll together in Los Angeles, and they united for Thanksgiving this year too. The Argo star capped off that holiday by taking his daughters to see the hit musical Hamilton.

    Affleck, who has been photographed recently outside an L.A. treatment center, “is continuing aftercare. It is part of his daily regimen,” another source previously told PEOPLE.

    The Justice League star has been open about his long struggle with alcohol abuse. When he revealed in March he had gone back to treatment, he thanked his “co-parent” Garner, who he said “has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do.”

    While he has “had a rough year,” a family source previously said, “at the moment, he is doing great. He seems more honest with himself.”

    Affleck has also enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend Lindsay Shookus, 37. The two are now sharing a New York City apartment when the actor is in town.

    The Justice League star is paying for the Upper West Side apartment and stays there with Shookus when he’s in the city, a source previously told PEOPLE. The Saturday Night Live producer moved in about a month ago.

    Ben Affleck Is Continuing to Receive Treatment for Alcohol Addiction, Says Source

    (12/15/17) Ben Affleck is continuing to receive treatment for his alcohol addiction.

    “He is continuing after care. It is part of his daily regimen,” a source tells PEOPLE.

    The 45-year-old actor who was photographed outside an L.A. area treatment center on Thursday has been open in the past about his long struggle with alcohol abuse. The actor first checked himself into rehab shortly before his 29th birthday in August of 2001. He received treatment at the popular Malibu alcohol rehabilitation center, Promises.

    This March, he announced to his fans on social media that he had gone back to treatment.

    “I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I’ve dealt with in the past and will continue to confront,” Affleck wrote in a Facebook post. “I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step.”

    The Justice League star also went on to thank his “co-parent” Jennifer Garner who Affleck said “has supported me and cared for our kids as I’ve done the work I set out to do.”

    The actor star also leaned on others, including Garner, after suffering a relapse in September, sources previously told PEOPLE.

    “He asked for help,” a family source said, adding, “He wants to be sober.”

    Garner and Affleck’s brother Casey helped Affleck, 45, go back into inpatient treatment for a few days. Since then, he’s been going to outpatient treatment in L.A., and traveled with a sober coach as he promoted his latest outing as Batman in Justice League, which opened in November.

    “This is a lifelong battle, not one that he takes lightly,” an Affleck friend added previously, who said the actor had been in “continual” treatment since a rehab stay in March. “His focus is on his family and getting better so that he can continue with what he loves.”

    While he has “had a rough year” personally and professionally, the family source added that “at the moment, he is doing great. He seems more honest with himself.”

    Jennifer Garner really didn’t want to leave Ben Affleck

    (11/22/17) It’s been more than two years since Jennifer Garner separated from Ben Affleck, but it seems she’s not ready to move on.

    “I would not have chosen this life for myself or for my kids. I would not choose to be single or be in this position. It’s something that we are working through. I haven’t been on a date and I am not interested in dating,” she tells News.com.au, shaking her head. “People want to set me up and I am just like, ‘No thank you!’”

    The estranged couple are co-parenting their three children: Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Sam, 5. With two daughters to raise, she must consider the conversations she will have about men.

    “We can’t lump all men into [the same category]. We can’t just assume that every man has done something awful or that every man is guilty; due process is important and has to take place.”

    Affleck was among the litany of men in Hollywood accused of sexual misconduct, although by no means at the same level as Harvey Weinstein or Louis C.K.

    Affleck told News.com.au recently, “I need to look at my own behavior and think about how am I behaving — how am I treating people, and when I am wrong, admitting it when confronted with it.”

    On the subject of whether we are at a sexual abuse and harassment tipping point, Garner says earnestly, “Things have to come out in the open in order to be dealt with, and this is definitely one of those times. It’s messy, it’s not pretty, but a wound when it’s healing is a horrible thing to look at and to be around,” she says. “That is where we are. There are a lot of really smart people asking tough questions, and I feel excited to see what the outcome will be.”

    She leans forward, asking, “Did you read about the agricultural women workers? They said, ‘We stand in solidarity with our sisters in Hollywood.’ That really touched me because it felt, ‘Okay, it’s not just a bunch of solipsistic navel-gazing actresses.’ It’s really important conversation to be had.

    “We need to be talking about how to educate and protect our young women and how women can do a better job of standing together. Women need to be there for each other so that we’re a more of a force. When you are siphoned off or siphoned off by yourself, you’re not that scary. Except for me.” She smiles. “I am pretty scary.”

    In her next role in “The Tribes of Palos Verdes,” she plays against type as a woman whose husband is unfaithful. The subject matter was a little close to home as her marriage to Affleck was plagued by rumors of his infidelities, most notably with their children’s nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

    “Was it cathartic [to play this role]? Yes it was, actually. I didn’t know that it would be, but it was. I know I need to work through some things,” she says. “Of course, it was a really emotional performance and that made me nervous because I felt like people would say, ‘Oh, she’s just playing out [her feelings]. But you can believe what you want to believe.”

    I tell her that Affleck continues to gush about her maternal skills, describing her as the best mother in the world. She says simply, “That’s nice.” But on the subject of being a “super mom,” she adds, “I don’t know about that. You’d have to ask my kids. If you had the Affleck kids here, they would say, ‘Well, first of all, she was with you today instead of picking us up from school!’” She laughs. “Kids are tough on you.”

    Despite how she feels about her estranged husband, her family comes first. “We will all be together for Thanksgiving. I love Ben, I wouldn’t want him to….” she trails off.

    “We will be together with our kids and give them a special Christmas. We get along really well and it’s not an issue. We are friends; we can manage it.”

    Ben Affleck Calls Harvey Weinstein “Sleazy”, Admires Rose McGowan

    (11/17/17) (Video) Ben Affleck says again that he knew Harvey Weinstein “was sleazy and kind of a bully,” but not about the sexual harassment allegations that have hounded Weinstein out of the industry.

    Appearing this morning on NBC’s Today show, the Justice League actor told Savannah Guthrie, “I knew (Weinstein) was sleazy and kind of a bully, but unfortunately that wasn’t that uncommon. I was brand new to Hollywood…I was 24 years old, I never made a movie and didn’t know much of anything really.

    “To now look back on it and think gosh some other people were going through something really ugly and disturbing and difficult and terrible and terrifying…the only thing I could think to do is to give my residuals from my Harvey movies to a couple of organizations that I think are making a difference and try to reconcile that.” Affleck also spoke, sort of, about actress and Weinstein accuser Rose McGowan, who tweeted that the actor was lying about Weinstein. (In an Oct. 10 tweet, McGowan wrote to Affleck, “GODDAMNIT! I TOLD HIM TO STOP DOING THAT’ you said that to my face. The press conf I was made to go to after assault. You lie.”)

    Asked about McGowan this morning, Affleck said, “I don’t really want to get into other people’s individual stories because I feel like those are their stories and they are entitled to tell as much or as little of those as they want – I believe Rose, I support her, I really like and admire her tenacity and wish her the best.”

    Affleck also spoke generally about the ever-growing spate of harassment and abuse allegations in Hollywood. Noting that the problem was not limited to Hollywood, he said, “It certainly feels like a really important moment. It feels like a time when survivors are finding their voice and people are, and I include myself in this, really discovering the terrible extent of this problem here in our country.”

    The actor has also had his own allegations to deal with: Former MTV host Hilarie Burton said he groped her while shooting a 2003 spot for the network’s TRL, for which he apologized. That specific subject was not broached on Today, but Affleck did say “there are plenty of things, plenty of jokes I wouldn’t have made, or things I wouldn’t have done.”

    The interview also did not cover brother Casey Affleck’s out-of-court settlements with two women who accused him of sexual misconduct in 2010.

    Take a look at the interview above.

    Ben Affleck Dishes on Thanksgiving With Jennifer Garner and Seeing Justice League With His Kids

    (11/14/17) Ben Affleck was in good company at last night's Justice League premiere.

    The actor, who reprises his role as Batman in the film, joined co-stars Henry Cavill, Ray Fisher, Gal Gadot, Amber Heard, Diane Lane, Ezra Miller, Jason Momoa, Joe Morton, Connie Nielsen and J.K. Simmons on the red carpet at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, where E! News' Will Marfuggi caught up with him before its Nov. 17 release. "I'm doing great. I love this movie. I had so much fun with all these actors and I'm just excited for the fans to get a chance to finally see it," the actor raved. "That means a lot. There's so much enthusiasm. People are geared up."

    This is Ben's second time playing the Caped Crusader, following last year's Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Ironically, the actor's 5-year-old son Samuel Affleck is more impressed by another DC Comics character. "My son does love The Flash. He feels he's very fast, and he likes to demonstrate that. It's a little bit of a mix between Flash and...what was the little kid in The Incredibles' name? He was also very fast," he said. "So, in his mind, that's who he wants to be."

    As for Ben's daughters, 8-year-old Seraphina Affleck and 11-year-old Violet Affleck, the actor confessed, "They really look up to Gal and think she's so cool and awesome, like we all do. I guess some of her 'cool' must be rubbing off on me a little bit as a dad—I know someone cool!"

    With a laugh, Ben explained, "I gotta trade on what I got!"

    It's not as if Ben plays a lame character—but at this point, whatever dad does feels less cool. Still, the actor most admires Batman's "leadership" skills. "It's his responsibility to get this whole group together and get them to work together. Initially, some of them are hostile. Some of them are reluctant. That's a quality I really admire. I think it's a powerful thing to get a group to work together, and being a good leader is a little bit like directing people, you know what I mean? You have to pay attention to people, know what they want, know how they're going to produce best," Ben added. "It's an interesting challenge, and it was fun playing it in the movie."

    Ben can't wait for his family to see the movie. "I usually wait a couple weeks, if it's a kid-appropriate movie, and go in a theater, which is what we'll do with this one," he said. Not wanting to cause a scene, "I'll go after the movie starts a little bit so people aren't distracted."

    Next week, Ben will celebrate Thanksgiving with his brother, Casey Affleck, his best friend, Matt Damon, and his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. "My mom's coming out, and I think my brother will come over. We'll go down the street and see Matt's family. Thanksgiving's a nice holiday," he said. Just don't expect to see Ben spending all morning preparing a feast. As he (somewhat) jokingly told E! News, "I just assume when we go to Matt's, he's already cooked something!"

    Ben Affleck says he wants to be ‘part of the solution’

    (11/6/17) Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behavior.

    In an interview Sunday with The Associated Press for the superhero film “Justice League,” Affleck said he’s “looking at my own behavior ad addressing that and making sure I’m part of the solution.”

    After condemning Harvey Weinstein’s actions last month, Affleck was forced to defend his own conduct. He apologized for groping the actress Hilarie Burton on camera in 2003 when she was a host on MTV’s “Total Request Live.” Another video from 2004 showed Affleck pulling Montreal TV host Anne-Marie Losique onto his lap.

    Speaking Sunday, Affleck said two things need to happen, that “more women need to be pushed to power” and that sexual harassment has to also be “a men’s issue” where guys call out inappropriate behavior.

    Ben Affleck and Girlfriend Lindsay Shookus Go Home Shopping

    (10/25/17) Ben Affleck was house hunting ... no big surprise since he's apparently in the market after moving out of the family home, but what's interesting is that he brought his girlfriend along for the ride.

    Ben and Lindsay Shookus were all over the west side of L.A. Tuesday ... looking at super expensive homes. One house in the Santa Monica mountains is listed at $18.5 million, another in Pacific Palisades is going for $12 million and one in Brentwood is also on the market for $12 mil.

    They also looked at a house under construction, and they walked the property.

    It seems they were smitten by the Santa Monica mountains house because they stayed for more than an hour. Lindsay was clutching the spec sheet as they left.

    No word on whether Ben's moving in alone.

    John Mulaney's Wife Annamarie Tendler Accuses Ben Affleck of More Past Misconduct After Hilarie Burton Apology

    (10/13/17) Shortly after Ben Affleck apologized to Hilarie Burton for an alleged incident of misconduct on a 2003 episode of TRL, additional women have come forward and accused the actor of more inappropriate behavior.

    One of these accusations came from makeup artist Annamarie Tendler, who is married to comedian John Mulaney.

    "I would also love to get an apology from Ben Affleck who grabbed my a-- at a Golden Globes party in 2014," she tweeted.

    Detailing the alleged situation, the makeup artist tweeted "He walked by me, cupped my butt and pressed his finger into my crack."

    "I guess he tried to play it like he was politely moving me out of the way and oops touched my butt instead of my lower back?" she continued in a series of tweets.

    Tendler, who is also the author of the book The Daily Face, added, "Like most women in these situations I didn't say anything but I have thought a lot about what I'd say if I ever saw him again."

    TV writer Jen Statsky—who has written for popular shows like Broad City and Parks and Recreation—seemed to support the makeup artist's claims in a tweet of her own.

    "I was also at this party and *multiple* friends had this same exact experience," she wrote in response to Tendler's tweets.

    E! News has reached out to Affleck's team.

    Ben Affleck Apologizes For Grope Of Hilarie Burton In 2003

    (10/11/17) The reverberations of the Harvey Weinstein mess are widening. The latest: Ben Affleck being called out on Twitter for a 2003 incident involving Hilarie Burton, who interviewed him on the MTV show TRL and said that when he hugged her, Affleck grabbed her breast. This was a long time ago.

    Burton, whose subsequent acting credits include One Tree Hill, Extant and most recently Fox’s Lethal Weapon, tweeted this morning and felt the moment made Affleck a hypocrite for his Twitter post yesterday that condemned Weinstein for sexual harassment. Affleck, in turn, fell on his sword with a post he just put on his Twitter account:

    @BenAffleck : I acted inappropriately toward Ms. Burton and I sincerely apologize

    Burton’s Twitter conversation:

    @HilarieBurton https://vimeo.com/116202472 Girls. I'm so impressed with you brave ones. I had to laugh back then so I wouldn't cry. Sending love.

    Harvey Weinstein: Rose McGowan Takes Ben Affleck To Task

    (10/10/17) Read her response here.

    Harvey Weinstein: Ben Affleck Reacts

    (10/10/17) It took a day but Ben Affleck also finally came forward this AM, tweeting out his disgust at the behavior of the man who gave him his start in Hollywood with Good Will Hunting. Read the response here.

    ‘Justice League’ Trailer: Superman Shows Up As Does The Bat-Signal – NY Comic-Con

    (10/8/17) (Video) Even though Gal Godot was in town hosting Saturday Night Live last night, Justice League had a surprisingly relatively restrained presence at New York Comic Con this year with a VR Experience and some Times Square promotions.

    That all changed today as the November 17 debuting Warner Bros flick went all in, to use the movie’s mantra, and dropped what looks to be its final trailer on the last day of the Big Apple confab.

    Take a look above and you can see that starting with a dream of the dead Superman by Amy Adam’s Lois Lane, a world in apparent chaos and a cover of David Bowie’s “Heroes” playing on the soundtrack, the new trailer heavily mourns the loss of the son of Krypton. Then, as Ben Affleck’s Batman says he had a dream about the end of the world, the action kicks up and the misfit heroes go to work. Still no sign if Superman is actually alive, but we certainly see actor Henry Cavill and you just know that there will be more of the big guy.

    And the tentpole trailer arena will fill up even more tomorrow as Disney debuts the Star Wars: The Last Jedi trailer right in the middle of Monday Night Football‘s Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears match-up on ESPN.

    As one last primer, Justice League stars Gadot, Affleck, Cavill, Raymond Fisher, Jason Momoa and Ezra Miller as DC heroes Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, Cyborg, Aquaman, and the Flash respectively.

    Directed by Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel helmer Zack Snyder with additional work by Joss Whedon, Justice League is penned by The Avengers director and Chris Terrio from a story by Snyder and Terrio. In May, Whedon stepped in to help finish off the film after Snyder and his producer-wife Deborah Snyder stepped away from the production following a family tragedy.

    Charles Roven, Deborah Snyder, Jon Berg and Geoff Johns produce Justice League with Jim Rowe, Wesley Coller, Curt Kanemoto, Chris Terrio and Ben Affleck as EPs.

    Ben Affleck Says Criticisms Of ‘Batman V Superman’ Are “Fair”, Part Of A “Natural Progression”

    (10/4/17) (‘Justice League’ Character Poster) Despite raking in the cash at the box office, it’s no secret that critics and fans weren’t totally over the moon for 2016’s Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice. Sitting on a pile of cash with a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the Warner Bros. superhero pic can arguably be the most divisive comic book movie of our time. Even Batman himself, Ben Affleck seems to recognize the criticism.

    Affleck’s casting as the new iteration of the iconic Dark Knight already had fanboys and fangirls skeptical. Filling the signature cape and cowl of the hero after Christian Bale’s stint in the Christopher Nolan films was a lot to live up to. More than that, expectations were high for Zack Snyder’s BvS, as it was to build a foundation for the DCEU that would be a formidable rival to Marvel, which has been carefully sculpting a cinematic universe since 2008’s Iron Man.

    Not only were the reviews for BvS less-than-stellar, but it also prompted a “sad Affleck” meme (or “sadfleck”) which featured the actor with what seemed to be a somber face of regret during an interview during the BvS press tour (he probably was just tired). In a recent interview with Empire Affleck didn’t address “sadfleck,” but he was very open about the criticisms of BvS.

    “I can understand people saying (Batman V Superman) was too dark, or this was outside the tone of what I’m used to seeing with a Batman story, and I think that’s a fair criticism,” he said. He then went on to say that the caped crusader we were introduced to in BvS was part of a “natural progression” and that Snyder “wanted to make a movie that was more fun, that was a little bit light, that wasn’t so encumbered with heavy melodrama.”

    Based on Wonder Woman and the first footage and trailers from Justice League (opening November 17), Affleck seems to be right with his analysis of the direction for the DCEU. Despite the heavy use of Snyder’s signature slo-mo action shots and washed-out color palette, there is a bit more levity in this universe. And with former Marvel Cinematic Universe Godfather Joss Whedon stepping in to take over for wrap up reshoots and post-production for Justice League, the DCEU may very well be on its way to having that comic book charm that it’s been lacking.

    Ben Affleck’s less-than-thrilling US Open date

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and new girlfriend Lindsay Shookus were spotted at the US Open Tennis men’s final on Sunday.

    Sitting in box seats, neither Affleck or Shookus looked all that excited to watch Rafael Nadal win his third Open title.

    Affleck, 45 — who kept a straight face — wore a light jacket over his blue T-shirt. Shookus, 37, wore sunglasses and a star-printed jacket over her shoulders.

    Over the last few weeks, the new pair has taken their romance public, which our sources say hasn’t “thrilled” Affleck’s ex-wife Jennifer Garner.

    But date nights around the Big Apple may soon slow down as Shookus, a producer and talent-booker for “Saturday Night Live,” returns to work on the 43rd season of the legendary sketch comedy show in late September.

    Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus' Big Date in the Big Apple

    (Pic) The summer of love continues...

    Jet-setting new couple Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus were all over New York City on Sunday. After doing some shopping during the day time, the 45-year-old Oscar winner and his new girlfriend were spotted exiting trendy eatery Mas (farmhouse) in Manhattan on Sunday night.

    According to the hotspot's website, "Mas (farmhouse) is a French-American restaurant located in the heart of New York City's Greenwich Village."

    For their date night, a scruffy Ben donned a blue sport coat, red t-shirt and corduroy pants. Lindsay opted for a chic black top, skinny jeans and nude wedges.

    Earlier in the day, the pair was dressed down when they made a trip to Barney's New York and appeared to do some window shopping—looks like Lindsay had her eye on some jewelry. While out in the streets of NYC, Ben also stopped to sign autographs and take selfies with his legion of fans. The two then made their way back to Ben's hotel.

    For their daytime outing, the Saturday Night Live producer was outfitted in a striped shirt and jean cut-offs which showcased her slim pins, while Ben looked more casual in a different blue jacket.

    While they've yet to make an official red carpet appearance since first going public on July 6, the pair are certainly not hiding their love from the world.

    A source previously told E! News that the two, who met years ago during one of Ben's stints on SNL, are taking their time. "It's a new relationship. They are taking things slow," an insider said. "Lindsay is very happy. She's at a good place in her life."

    Back in April of this year, Jennifer Garner and Ben filed for divorce nearly two years after they announced that they were separating following 10 years of marriage.

    According to court documents, the exes filed for joint legal and physical custody of their three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

    A source at the time told E! News that the two "were co-parenting" and that the "most important thing in all of this are their kids."

    Ben was in Los Angeles celebrating his 45th birthday with his three kids last week—so that seems to be true!

    Casey Affleck was only joking about Ben hanging up Batman suit

    Maybe it’s time Jared Leto’s Joker was recast, because another Oscar winner has taken to terrifying Batman fans with his humor.

    Casey Affleck said in a recent interview that big brother Ben would not be returning as Batman — but it turns out he was only kidding.

    “I think he was an OK Batman,” Casey, 42, joked on WEEI’s “Dale & Holley With Keefe” radio show on Tuesday before saying, “He was great … He’s a hero, so he had something to channel and work with there. But he’s not going to do that movie [“The Batman”], I don’t think, sorry to say.”

    When the hosts appeared shocked, a wide-eyed Casey quickly added, “Is that breaking news? I was just kind of making that up.”

    Ben’s future with the DC franchise has been in question since July when The Hollywood Reporter claimed that the “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” star was hanging up his cape after November’s “Justice League.”

    However, fans of Ben as Bruce Wayne have nothing to fear right now. An insider told Page Six that Casey was, in fact, speaking in jest and that Ben plans to remain in the role as long as the studio will have him.

    What’s more, Ben himself said last month that he has no plans to leave the franchise and that he believed rumors began to swirl when he turned over the directorial duties on “The Batman” to Matt Reeves.

    “Let me be very clear: I am the luckiest guy in the world. Batman is the coolest f—king part in any universe, DC, Marvel,” Affleck told fans at San Diego Comic-Con, adding that several Warner Bros. executives specifically told him they wanted him to stay on, gushing, “I’m so thrilled to do it.”

    Matt Damon, Ben Affleck Land 1990s Boston Crime Drama Pilot at Showtime

    How do you like these apples: Showtime has ordered a drama pilot for City on a Hill, a gritty thriller based on an original idea by Ben Affleck and Chuck MacLean and chronicling the clean-up of Boston’s early-1990s crime problem.

    Affleck will executive-produce the project with Matt Damon, director Gavin O’Connor, James Mangold and Jennifer Todd.

    A fictional account of what was called the “Boston Miracle,” City on a Hill follows an African-American District Attorney who comes in from Brooklyn advocating change, and the unlikely alliance he forms with a corrupt-yet-venerated FBI veteran who is invested in maintaining the status quo. Together they take on a family of armored car robbers from Charlestown in a case that grows to encompass and eventually upend Boston’s city-wide criminal justice system.

    “Chuck wrote a pressure-cooker of a script steeped in the tribal codes of a Shakespeare play — family, blood, betrayal, honor,” O’Connor said in a statement. “His take on the ties that bind is handled with a deep honesty and insight. I see the show as a brawling thriller — and an intimate family drama — played out on the rough streets of Boston.”

    Ben Affleck Refutes ‘Batman’ Exit Rumor

    Ben Affleck shot down a rumor he will leave his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman when Matt Reeves directs the new solo iteration of the signature DC superhero. Said Affleck: “Batman is the coolest fucking part in any universe. I am so thrilled to do it. It is fucking amazing. After two films, Kevin Tsujihara, Sue Kroll and Toby Emmerich have said, we want you to be our Batman. I would be an ape on the ground for Matt Reeves. It’s a great time in the DC universe, and you can see why I am so excited to play batman.

    Ben Affleck and Lindsay Shookus Take Their Relationship to New York City

    (Pic) It's a grab-and-go lifestyle when you're a part of the most buzzed about couple in the biz!

    Ben Affleck and his new girlfriend, Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus, had all eyes on them when they grabbed some iced coffees to go at Starbucks near Central Park in New York City on Wednesday. Previously the two have been spotted out and about in Los Angeles, where Ben lives. This is the first time they've been seen together as a couple in the City That Never Sleeps.

    A source tells E! News that the duo were talking and walking happily together on the bustling streets of the Big Apple around 2:30 p.m. The two were outfitted in casual ensembles with Ben, donning a low-key t-shirt and jeans. Lindsay opted for a cut-out, patterned mini-dress and white sneakers.

    While they've yet to make an official red carpet appearance since first going public on July 6, the pair are certainly not hiding their love from the world.

    The coffee run comes only hours after E! News reported that he'd be dropping out of Netflix's Triple Frontier "to take some time to focus on his wellness and his family."

    In keeping with his statement, The Batman actor seemed to be enjoying his summer afternoon,

    A source previously told E! News that the two, who met years ago during one of Ben's stints on SNL, are taking their time. "It's a new relationship. They are taking things slow," an insider said. "Lindsay is very happy. She's at a good place in her life."

    Back in April of this year, Jennifer Garner and Ben filed for divorce nearly two years after they announced that they were separating following 10 years of marriage.

    According to court documents, the exes filed for joint legal and physical custody of their three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

    A source at the time told E! News that the two "were co-parenting" and that the "most important thing in all of this are their kids."

    Both Ben and Jen have publicly praised one another since announcing that they were splitting.

    Meanwhile, Lindsay split with her husband Kevin Miller, who was a former SNL producer and current supervising producer of Late Night With Seth Meyers, in 2014. The ex flames share a 4-year-old daughter together.

    Ben Affleck Exits ‘Triple Frontier’

    Ben Affleck has decided to drop out of Triple Frontier, the JC Chandor-directed hot button thriller that is mobilizing at Netflix. Affleck is going to take some time to focus on his wellness and his family. The film will move forward without him; it is casting up quickly. Affleck is expected to be at San Diego Comic-Con this week to promote Justice League, which he stars in this November.

    Kevin Smith: Affleck said kissing a man made him a ‘serious actor’

    Ben Affleck didn’t feel like a true thespian until he locked lips with another guy, according to Kevin Smith.

    Smith, Affleck’s director in 1997’s “Chasing Amy,” screened the movie for its 20th anniversary on Saturday at the Outfest film festival in Los Angeles, where he dished on Affleck kissing Jason Lee onscreen.

    “A man kissing another man is the greatest acting challenge an actor can ever face,” Smith, 46, recalled Affleck telling him, according to Gay Star News.

    After shooting a scene in which he and Lee lock lips, Affleck reportedly told Smith, “Now I’m a serious actor.”

    After the movie came out in 1997, Affleck noted how difficult the scene was for him.

    “I’m not homophobic,” he told “Entertainment Tonight” at the movie’s premiere in 1997. “I just … I guess I am more than I thought, in that, it was just difficult for me you know? And I didn’t think it would be. I really backed down from it in a way. I really could have done more of a committed job.”

    In 2012, he expressed regret at the way he handled the kiss.

    “I was supposed to kiss Jason Lee,” he told The New York Times in 2012. “[My peers said] you were a really great actor if you could convincingly play homosexual as a man, and I just blew it. The kiss is in there, but it looks like ‘Tom & Jerry.’ It’s not anything good … I tried to go open-mouthed, but something in me was, ‘Take your tongue back.’ And I was like, ‘No, you can do it! Push!’ It was not my proudest moment.”

    Inside Ben Affleck’s steamy new romance with ‘SNL’ producer

    Last week, Ben Affleck stepped out with his latest fling, “Saturday Night Live” producer Lindsay Shookus, whisking her away via limo for a romantic lobster dinner at Il Ristorante di Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica, Calif.

    It’s a departure from Shookus’ typical six-day-a-week grind working as a Manhattan-based talent booker for “SNL,” but given her ear-to-ear grin in paparazzi pics, the 37-year-old seems to be basking in her newfound spotlight — although it’s hardly her first romantic brush with fame.

    “She’s enjoying it,” a colleague of Shookus’ told The Post. “She never wanted to be on camera, but she’s comfortable getting a lot of attention.”

    According to a Hollywood source, Affleck and Shookus first met on the set of “SNL” and commenced an affair in 2013 — two years before Affleck officially separated from his wife, actress Jennifer Garner, and one year before Shookus and her then-husband, Kevin Miller, a producer at “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” parted ways. (A source told People that Affleck and Shookus “did not date while either of them were married. They started dating when they were separated.”)

    A publicist close to the situation told The Post that Affleck “adorned [Shookus] with gifts . . . all these bracelets and rings. He was here in NYC all the time visiting her and no one knew.”

    Shookus, who grew up in Williamsville in upstate New York, has been working at “SNL” since graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002, climbing her way up from assistant to the head of the talent department and the prestigious position of wrangling the show’s guest hosts.

    “I can’t believe that a girl from nowhere New York ruined a Hollywood marriage,” said the publicist close to the situation.

    Despite her small-town beginnings, Shookus certainly seems comfortable around celebrity. She is credited with having discovered Kristen Wiig, one of the show’s biggest stars of the past decade, and was named an “Up-and-Coming Exec” by The Hollywood Reporter in 2015.

    “The role that she has at ‘SNL’ now, she is very much the trusted confidante of all the talent,” said the colleague, who added that Shookus has taken over the hobnobbing duties of 20-year “SNL” vet Marci Klein, daughter of fashion designer Calvin Klein. (Formerly the head of the talent department, Marci Klein went on to work as a producer on other shows.)

    “Lindsay has developed very close relationships with all of [the cast], as well as the [guest] hosts.”

    Some closer than others.

    In addition to Affleck, Shookus has previously been linked to Jon Hamm, who has hosted three times and made six guest appearances on “SNL,” according to multiple sources. One insider told The Post of having spotted the pair looking cozy at a Kanye West concert at Madison Square Garden last September.

    The colleague of Shookus’ said the talent booker is rumored to have dated “Sex and the City” star Chris Noth, too.

    (Hamm’s rep tells The Post that Shookus and the “Mad Men” star know each other from “SNL” but “have not dated. They are not friends; they are acquaintances.” Noth’s rep didn’t respond to requests for comment.)

    And then there’s Affleck, the 44-year-old actor who complained to The Associated Press that he had to cut his sex scenes with Sienna Miller in the 2016 crime drama “Live by Night,” because he looked “like a sick polar bear.”

    Despite recently being mocked in the press for his “dad bod,” Affleck still wears the hat of a Hollywood heart-throb thanks to his past romancing of a glittering string of beauties — from Garner to Jennifer Lopez to Gwyneth Paltrow.

    Although she’s a beautiful blonde, Shookus is a departure from Affleck’s past rotation of A-list love interests. “He’s never really dated a regular girl before,” said an entertainment publicist who knows Shookus.

    “He’s always gone for high-profile women. He wants to date people that know and understand his life. When you’re a TV producer, you understand that [Hollywood] life.”

    “Ben really enjoys [Shookus’] company,” said a friend of the actor’s. “They have a really good time together. She’s very smart, and they share a lot of the interests. She’s a movie buff, so that clearly always excites him.”

    One person not so excited about the pairing is Garner, who married the “Good Will Hunting” actor in 2005 and shares three kids, ages 5, 8 and 11, with him. (The couple officially filed for divorce in April.)

    The Hollywood source said that Garner confronted Shookus when she found text messages between the “SNL” staffer and Affleck four years ago and that Shookus “refused to stop” the dalliance.

    The source said the “Alias” actress also pulled Shookus’ then-husband, Miller, aside when she was on Seth Meyers’ show and showed him the communication between their two spouses.

    “Kevin had an inkling [about the affair], but there was a lot he did not know,” said the Hollywood source.

    “The [idea of] having an affair soon after she had a kid is disgusting,” said the publicist who is close to the situation. (To be fair, if the timeline is correct, Affleck would be in the same boat; his and Garner’s son turned 1 year old in February 2012.)

    At some point, Affleck and Shookus cooled off, but the relationship resumed at the beginning of last year, added the Hollywood source.

    Even then, however, Shookus tried to keep her new beau under wraps for as long as possible, according to the publicist.

    “Nobody really knew about it, not even the ‘SNL’ crew, until news broke [recently],” she said.

    Affleck, who has hosted “SNL” five times — the last in 2013 — and Shookus first publicly emerged as a couple earlier this month in London, where Affleck was working. The Hollywood source said the two had a date at a bar there and questioned whether Affleck has maintained his sobriety in the new relationship.

    But Affleck’s friend disregards any such concerns, saying the actor/director — who has been to rehab more than once, including a stint this year related to alcohol addiction — is “working really hard at staying healthy.”

    “Lindsay doesn’t have to be sober, and she’s welcome to drink,” the pal added.

    One thing is for certain: Both Affleck and Shookus seem committed to maintaining cordial relationships with their exes for the sake of their respective children.

    When Affleck moved out of the guesthouse of his family’s Los Angeles home in May, he relocated nearby to be close to his and Garner’s brood. Shookus and Miller — who met on Shookus’ first day of work at “SNL” when Miller was a writer’s assistant — went one step further; they live in separate apartments in the same Upper West Side building so they can co-parent their young daughter.

    And while some insiders are surprised Affleck has turned his attention on a hardworking “normal girl,” SNLers have a tendency to woo Hollywood’s elite: Scarlett Johansson has recently been spotted making out around town with “SNL’s” “Weekend Update” co-host Colin Jost, and former cast member Jason Sudeikis is married to Olivia Wilde.

    “It’s sort of common,” said an “SNL” associate producer. “The staff and talent are always interacting with one another. You never know when romance is going to bloom. It’s just like any other office — except we work in the entertainment industry.”

    Ben Affleck Dating Saturday Night Live Producer Lindsay Shookus 3 Months After Jennifer Garner Divorce

    Ben Affleck has a new lady in his life, E! News has learned.

    The Oscar-winning actor is dating Lindsay Shookus, a producer at Saturday Night Live.

    A source tells us that the two are still very much "in the early stages" of their relationship and recently met up while he was in London for work. We're told that the duo caught a showing of Sam Mendes' play Ferryman last week during their trip abroad.

    "It's more than a summer fling," the insider shared. "They are having fun and care for each other. It's early and they are taking it slow."

    And while the new couple has done their best to keep things under wraps in the beginning stages of their romance, the two stepped out on the town in Los Angeles Thursday night for a quick date night.

    Back in April of this year, Jennifer Garner and Ben filed for divorce nearly two years after announcing that they were separating following 10 years of marriage.

    According to court documents, the friendly exes filed for joint legal and physical custody of their children.

    A source at the time told E! News that the two "were co-parenting" and that the "most important thing in all of this are their kids."

    Both Ben and Jen have publically praised one another since announcing that they were splitting.

    In fact, in an interview with us, the father of three gushed, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

    Meanwhile, Jen told NBC's Today show, "We are definitely a modern family. We're doing really well."

    Just days ago, the entire modern family was spotted celebrating the Fourth of July near their home in Los Angeles.

    Jen participated in a neighborhood 3K race while her kids and ex smiled and cheered from the sidelines.

    Shortly thereafter, the group enjoyed celebrating with their neighbors and taking in the local fireworks show.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's First Fourth of July After Their Divorce

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are sticking together, even after officially filing for divorce.

    E! News can confirm the former couple celebrated the Fourth of July together in Los Angeles alongside their children, Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5. The family kept their tradition alive, watching the patriotic parade in the Pacific Palisades.

    "The Palisades Fourth of July Parade is an annual family tradition that's really important to Jen and the kids," a source told us. "Jen has been going to the parade for years and loves the community spirit and seeing friends come out. She always runs the 5K in the morning and then comes out for the parade in the afternoon."

    Our insider continued, "Ben will always be there for important family events, and this was no exception. It's something they all look forward to doing together as a family. They had a great day watching all the street performers and marching bands."

    Affleck and Garner—who officially filed for divorce in April after being separated for two years—continue to remain united as they co-parent their children, making family their No.1 priority.

    "Ben and Jen are on good terms," the source told us. "They have an understanding between them that they will always put the kids first and their personal differences aside. They want their kids to have two parents and a happy family dynamic. They work out their schedules to make sure that when an important family event comes up, they can all do it together."

    In fact, last month, Garner and Affleck took their children on a vacation to Baker's Bay where they met up with several other family friends.

    "We are definitely a modern family," Jen told Today last summer. "You don't have a choice," she added, admitting that while their "new normal" might appear unusual to some, they're actually "doing really well."

    Ben reiterated that statement when he told E! News, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Family Vacation in the Bahamas, Two Months After Filing for Divorce

    It's been two months since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner officially filed for divorce (and two years since they announced their separation), but they still make sure to spend quality time together with their three children, Violet, Samuel and Seraphina.

    Case in point: The whole family vacationed in Baker's Bay last week.

    "Ben and Jen took a family vacation with other family friends," an insider tells E! News. "There was never any question that Ben would be there. All the dads went along, and it would have been strange for the kids not to have their dad there."

    If Baker's Bay sounds familiar, that's because it's the same Caribbean island the family visited after they announced their separation in 2015. But they've been going there for years, even before that.

    Of course, with the vacation comes plenty of speculation regarding their relationship status. However, our insider confirms, "They are not getting back together at all. They are both moving on, but will continue doing things together as a family."

    We're told Ben wasn't there the entire time. Rather, he came for a few days toward the end of the trip.

    As for the getaway, another source dished, "They stayed in the same house they always stay at. It's beachfront and beautiful. It's an annual tradition for them when the kids get out of school to come for a long vacation. It's very relaxing, and they can feel like they're on island time with nowhere to go and nobody they need to see."

    So what did they do?

    Our insider added, "The kids spent a lot of time on the beach swimming and playing in the sand with their friends. They also swam in the pool at the house and visited the club. Ben and Jen both worked out at the gym daily."

    The former couple has always been very vocal that co-parenting their three children is their No.1 priority, and they will remain united as a team to do so.

    "We are definitely a modern family," Jen told Today last summer. "You don't have a choice," she added, admitting that while their new normal might look unusual to some, they're actually "doing really well."

    Ben reiterated that statement when he told E! News, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother, and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

    Us Weekly was the first to report about the vacation.

    Ben Affleck & Gavin O’Connor Back For ‘The Accountant’ Sequel; Will Jon Bernthal Return?

    Warner Bros is mobilizing a sequel to the 2016 hit The Accountant. Screenwriter Bill Dubuque, director Gavin O’Connor and Ben Affleck are in talks to return, along with the producers Lynette Howell Taylor and Mark Williams. All those deals are being worked out right now. I’m told they will then work out the beats of the story, which likely will include Jon Bernthal, whose character asserted himself at the conclusion of the first film.

    The original starred Affleck as the title character, a math savant with high-functioning autism who works as a forensic accountant and un-cooks the books for unsavory criminal organizations under the glare of law enforcement. When a new client put him in danger and the Treasury Department closes in, the title character’s skills as an assassin led to a body count that might have prompted John Wick to say, “Woah.”

    The film isn’t the kind that usually makes a studio like Warner Bros rush to sequelize. But on a $44 million budget, it grossed $155 million. It was a clever, unusual crime thriller, and there is room to expand the palate with Bernthal, who played a long-lost bad-guy brother equally capable of creating mayhem thanks to the sadistic military ops father who trained them.

    Affleck next stars as Batman in Justice League, which Warner Bros opens November 17. O’Connor is also developing with Imperative Entertainment the WWII thriller Atlantic Wall for Bradley Cooper to star in. WME reps Affleck and O’Connor, and CAA and Zero Gravity Management rep Dubuque.

    Ben Affleck Pays Tribute to Adam West, Who ‘Exemplified Heroism’

    Among the many reactions to Adam West’s death pouring out from Hollywood, only one immediately hit social media from an actor who has also worn the Bat-cowl.

    Ben Affleck, tweeted about the Bat legend (see below). Affleck starred as the Caped Crusader in last year’s Batman V. Superman, and will return as Batman in Justice League, which is out Nov. 17. While those cinematic treatments are distinctly different from the neon-glowing, campy TV version West starred in, Affleck still showed affection for the original Batman, calling him a “kind, funny and all around great guy. Thank you for showing us all how it’s done.”

    Here’s the full tweet:

    @BenAffleck : Adam West exemplified heroism. Kind, funny and an all around great guy. Thank you for showing us all how it's done. @therealadamwest

    Ben Affleck Moves Out of Family Home With Jennifer Garner

    Just a few weeks after Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced that they were filing for divorce, E! News has learned that the actor is moving out of the family home.

    Moving trucks and vans were spotted outside of the family home earlier in the day.

    "He found a house close by," a source tells us. "They are both excited for the next step and they are happy that they have two loving homes for the kids."

    Affleck and Garner have remained extremely close since separating nearly two years ago and have maintained that co-parenting their three children is their ultimate priority.

    "Their relationship is very fluid and nothing has really changed," one source told E! News back in March. "They have been working at their relationship for the past few years."

    Our source further added, "They are co-parenting. The most important thing in all of this are their kids."

    When the separation news first made headlines, the couple put on a united front in the following joint statement:

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time," the friendly exes shared before adding, "This will be our only comment on this private family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Ben Affleck doesn’t want his kids to be child stars

    Ben Affleck would rather his kids not be child stars.

    “I love being an actor, I got into it as a child and I wouldn’t change that,” Affleck said at the AutFest Film Festival on Sunday (via People). “But I also wouldn’t want to take my kids and push them out there before they were 18. If they are 18 and they want to make those choices and do that kind of thing, that’s fine. But being a child actor, I just know too much of the downside of what that can be like.”

    The “Justice League” star added, “I had some great rewards, and I probably wouldn’t have made it as an adult had I not built up that body of work as a kid, so it’s a strange thing. My kids would be good in the school play. If they can handle that, they’re in good shape.”

    Affleck, 44, shares children Violet, 11, and Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 5, with estranged wife Jennifer Garner.

    AutFest was the Oscar winner’s first public appearance since he and Garner, 45, filed for divorce earlier this month. They are each seeking joint custody of their children.

    Ben Affleck Ready to Move Out of Guesthouse and Buy His Own Home

    Ben Affleck is moving on from Jennifer Garner, in more than one way, because we've learned he's planning to move out of the family guesthouse for his own pad.

    Ben's been living in the Pacific Palisades guesthouse since the couple split 2 years ago, while Jennifer Garner and their 3 kids have inhabited the main house.

    We're told Ben has found a house he likes but no deal has closed. As for location, we're told the priority for both Ben and Jen is to keep the kids together and the parents close as well. The place he'll move will be close to the family home.

    TMZ broke the story ... the couple has filed for divorce, and we're told Ben thinks it's time to make the move.

    Ben Affleck, Jen Garner File for Divorce

    Jennifer Garner has just filed for divorce from Ben Affleck?, TMZ has learned, and it could not be more amicable.

    Both Jen and Ben filed pro per -- without a lawyer. Her petition and his response mirror each other completely. The petition and response were filed together, which means it was coordinated.

    They both want joint legal and physical custody of their 3 kids. As for spousal support, they left it open, so the judge could award it before the divorce becomes final.

    They do not list a date of separation, but in June 2015 they announced their separation.

    We've learned there is no prenup, which means all of their earnings during their marriage will be split 50/50, unless they agree otherwise. Ben made a lot more than Jen during the marriage.

    There are strong signals the case will not be handled in court, but rather by a mediator, especially by the way the docs were filed. This is the M.O. for disso queen Laura Wasser, who has guided various celebrity couples through mediation and then has them file for divorce pro per.

    We're told Ben and Jen are still negotiating a financial settlement. The divorce could become final in 6 months.

    Ben Affleck Surprises CinemaCon With First Official Appearance Since Rehab Admission

    (Pic) Ben Affleck is back on the red carpet.

    Two weeks after the A-lister revealed he recently sought professional treatment for alcohol addiction, Affleck made a surprise appearance at CinemaCon on Wednesday evening in Las Vegas. The event marks the actor's first official event since going public with his health struggles, and he appeared in good spirits while joining the cast of Justice League.

    The father of three posed for photos at the Warner Bros. presentation with co-stars Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher and Henry Cavill. Ben looked sharp in a navy blue suit with a green accent tie.

    As for the actor's personal life, it seems as if he's getting back into the swing of things at home. Ben recently treated his 5-year-old son Sam to a magical day at Disneyland, where as a source revealed to E! News, the pair "had a special VIP Disneyland chaperone who helped them get to the front of the line."

    A separate insider shared that Ben's sobriety remains a main priority in his life, explaining, "He's moving in a healthy, balanced direction."

    The source described Affleck's emotional Facebook post in which he addressed completing a stay in rehab as a "step, but it's a progressive process. He's in a good place."

    Great to see you back, Batman!

    ‘Justice League’ Official Trailer Is Here, Minus A Red Cape

    (Video) After two days of teasing, the official Justice League trailer is here. “We have to be ready,” says a voice that sounds very much like Batman: “You, me and the others. There’s an attack coming, from far away.”

    “Not coming, Bruce,” says Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman. “It’s already here.”

    Ben Affleck’s Bruce Wayne kicks off the action here, riding horseback along a snowy plain, on a mission to gather the rest of the superhero gang. So we then witness a gathering of the tribe – with a metal-sounding rendition of The Beatles’ “Come Together” cranking up the tension – as Batman and Wonder Woman track down The Flash, Cyborg and Aquaman to battle the slinky, orange-eyed, black-metal-looking “Others” that we see here in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment.

    Take a look, at left.

    But no fast-looking will turn up the superhero still missing in action: Henry Cavill’s Superman. Warner Brothers teased this official trailer for two days, releasing 15-second clips of each hero, with D.C. Comics superstar Superman blatantly left off the roster. And he’s a no-show in this full-size trailer as well.

    Of course, the Man of Steel’s fate was left hanging with Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘s dead or alive cliffhanger, but few think Cavill won’t fly into the League at some point. When we see him, well, that’s up to Warner Brothers.

    Now that’s a tease.

    Zack Snyder’s Justice League is set for a November 17 release. In addition to Affleck, Gadot and Cavill, the DC superhero mash-up stars Jason Momoa as Aquaman, Ezra Miller as The Flash, and Ray Fisher as Cyborg, with Amy Adams (Lois Lane), Amber Heard (Mera), Jeremy Irons (Alfred) and J.K. Simmons (Commissioner Gordon), with Willem Dafoe, among many others, also appearing. The script is by Chris Terrio.

    Here’s the official logline: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes—Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg and The Flash—it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

    Ben Affleck Spends the Day with His Kids at Disneyland

    It’s Bat-dad!

    Ben Affleck treated his kids to a fun-filled day at the happiest place on earth Wednesday, where the actor was spotted enjoying the rides and special time with his family.

    “The kids love spending time with their dad and vice versa,” a friend of the actor tells PEOPLE.

    Several fans took to social media to celebrate spotting the Justice League star at the amusement park. One onlooker, who rode with him on “It’s a Small World,” gleefully noted Affleck was wearing a Batman backpack.

    Affleck even stopped to pose for a picture with one tweeter’s young daughter on a ride. The source did not specify which of Affleck’s children — Violet, 11, Seraphina, 7, and Sam, 5 — were with him for the visit.

    The actor has been enjoying spending time with his kids since announcing he had completed rehab for alcohol addiction earlier this month. In fact, the morning after the announcement, Affleck was business as usual as he was spotted taking his kids to school with his wife Jennifer Garner. A source tells PEOPLE that the actor is relishing time with his children.

    “Ben is spending special time with all the kids separately,” the source says. “He seems very happy. The mood in general seems very upbeat. The kids are thrilled that he is back.”

    Affleck previously told PEOPLE that he felt it was important to take his children with Jennifer Garner to school and be a constant presence in their lives: “I like taking my kids to school in the morning and dropping them off and having them know their dad is there. That feels good.”

    ‘Justice League’ Teaser Trailers Spotlight Batman, Aquaman & The Flash

    Videos: Batman, Aquaman & The Flash.

    Ben Affleck Reveals Rehab Stint In Facebook Post

    Ben Affleck, the Oscar-winning director who is a main artery of Warner Bros’ DC Universe movies playing Batman, said today in a Facebook post that he has completed treatment for alcohol addiction.

    The multi-hyphenate, whose latest film was Warner Bros’ December release Live By Night, which he wrote and directed, had been tapped to direct as well as star in Warner Bros’ reboot The Batman — he had co-written the script with Geoff Johns — but decided to cede the director role at the end of January. That job eventually went to Matt Reeves.

    Here’s Affleck’s Facebook post today:

    Ben Affleck: I have completed treatment for alcohol addiction; something I've dealt with in the past and will continue to confront. I want to live life to the fullest and be the best father I can be. I want my kids to know there is no shame in getting help when you need it, and to be a source of strength for anyone out there who needs help but is afraid to take the first step. I'm lucky to have the love of my family and friends, including my co-parent, Jen, who has supported me and cared for our kids as I've done the work I set out to do. This was the first of many steps being taken towards a positive recovery.

    The next pic in the Warners franchise, the omnibus Justice League, which stars Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot and Jason Momoa, is set for a November 17 worldwide bow.

    At the time of Affleck’s exit as The Batman director, he said he remained committed to the film.

    “There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions,” he said then. “Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Are Co-Parents, Not a Couple: "Nothing Has Changed"

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's relationship status continues to raise questions.

    The self-proclaimed co-parents announced their separation nearly two years ago, but the husband and wife of 10 years has made little movement since that public declaration, considering the actor has not moved out and still considers the family's property his primary residence.

    As of late, reports have been brewing that Garner is ready to file for divorce, but according to sources, that's not necessarily the case. "Their relationship is very fluid and nothing has really changed," one source told E! News. "They have been working at their relationship for the past few years."

    Then, in a twist, People reported that Garner backtracked on the filing, and instead, called off their divorce for the time being. Sources say that's not accurate.

    "Nothing has changed," one insider insisted. "They are not back together. They are co-parenting. The most important thing in all of this are their kids."

    As a previous source put it, "There have been times when a reconciliation looked very likely. They love each other and that hasn't changed. But, it's unclear what the future holds for them."

    While we continue to monitor the status of this duo, the stars continue to do what they've always said they're doing—raising their children together.

    In early February, they were spotted in their Sunday best heading off to church with their three kids, Violet Affleck, 11, Seraphina Affleck, 8, and Samuel Affleck, 5.

    "Jen is a superhero mom," Affleck told E!'s Catt Sadler in 2016. "She is an amazing mother and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best."

    When NBC's Natalie Morales praised Garner for their ability to work as a team despite any personal conflict, the proud mom chimed in with, "It has to be. You don't have a choice."

    Jennifer Garner calls off divorce from Ben Affleck, report claims

    True love is not yet lost for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, as the Hollywood power couple is putting divorce plans on the back burner for now, according to a report.

    Both the “Batman” star and his “Alias” wife think that their 11-year marriage can be salvaged, even after allegations a few years ago that Ben cheated with their nanny.

    “She really wants to work things out with Ben. They are giving things another try,” a source close to Garner told People magazine.

    “They love each other. They also really, really love their kids and those kids love their parents.”

    Asked about the status of the couple’s marital status, the source gave a simple description to The Post — it’s complicated.

    “It’s the status quo, They have been working hard at their relationship and at co-parenting,” the source said. “It’s the same. They are not running to the altar and they’re not running to arbitration.”

    The source said Garner and Affleck, both 44, still live together despite announcing in June 2015 that they planned to divorce.

    That announcement came on the heels of Nannygate, in which Ben was accused of having an affair with the couple’s then-28-year-old child-minder, Christine Ouzou­nian.

    Ben has vehemently denied cleating, while Garner was a little cagier.

    “Let me just tell you something. We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny,” she told Vanity Fair last year.

    Garner has also defended her marriage as genuine.

    “It was a real marriage,” Garner said. “It wasn’t for the cameras. And it was a huge priority for me to stay in it. And that did not work.”

    Incorporated Cancelled

    Dennis Haysbert’s casting in the NBC pilot Reverie was, indeed, a bad sign for Syfy’s Incorporated.

    The futuristic thriller, starring Haysbert and Sean Teale, has been cancelled after one season, our sister site Deadline reports.

    The drama — which hails from executive producers Matt Damon and Ben Affleck — wrapped its ten-episode freshman run on Jan. 25.

    Razzies 2017 Winners Announced

    Worst Screen Combo: Ben Affleck & His BFF (Baddest Foe Forever) Henry Cavill / Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

    Worst Prequel, Remake, Rip-Off or Sequel: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice: Dawn of Justice

    Matt Reeves steps in to direct ‘The Batman’ after Ben Affleck quit

    “Cloverfield” director Matt Reeves has stepped in to direct “The Batman” for Warner Bros. just a few weeks after star Ben Affleck left the post. Warner Bros. said Thursday that Reeves would also produce the stand-alone film.

    Reeves, also known for directing “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes,” said he’s loved the Batman story since he was a child and is honored and excited to “bring an epic and emotional new take on the Caped Crusader to the big screen.”

    Affleck, who is also writing the screenplay, dropped out of directing the project in late January citing the focus required to play the superhero. He’ll appear next as Batman in “Justice League” which comes out in November.

    There is no release date set for “The Batman.”

    Jennifer Garner finally ready to file for divorce from Ben Affleck

    Jennifer Garner is on the brink of filing for divorce from Ben Affleck, nearly two years after the Hollywood power couple announced their split.

    News of Bennifer’s impending divorce was reported Friday by Us Weekly.

    “No matter what happens, Ben and Jen are committed to raising their family as one unit and will continue to do so as it has worked for them,” a source told Us about the soon-to-be divorce. “They are both committed to their family.”

    Garner and Affleck separated in 2015 after 10 years of marriage.

    The couple, who met on the set of 2001’s movie “Pearl Harbor,” have three children, Violet, 11, Seraphina, 8, and Samuel, 4.

    Affleck has moved out of their Brentwood home.

    Affleck’s career has seen a rocky spell over the last several weeks. His film “Live by Night” tanked at the box office and he stepped down from directing Warner Brothers’ next live-action Batman film. Though he’s appearing as the Dark Knight in the upcoming “Justice League,” reports have suggested he’s already tired of the cowl and wants out.

    2017 Kids' Choice Awards: Complete List of Nominations

    John Cena will host the ceremony live from USC's Galen Center in L.A. March 11 at 8 p.m.

    Favorite Movie Actor
    Ben Affleck (Batman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
    Will Arnett (Vernon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows)
    Henry Cavill (Superman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
    Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man, Captain America: Civil War)
    Chris Evans (Captain America, Captain America: Civil War)
    Chris Hemsworth (Kevin, Ghostbusters)

    Favorite Butt-Kicker
    Ben Affleck (Batman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
    Henry Cavill (Superman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
    Chris Evans (Captain America, Captain America: Civil War)
    Chris Hemsworth (The Huntsman, The Huntsman: Winter's War)
    Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow, Captain America: Civil War)
    Felicity Jones (Jyn, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story)
    Jennifer Lawrence (Mystique, X-Men: Apocalypse)
    Zoe Saldana (Lieutenant Uhura, Star Trek Beyond)

    Favorite Frenemies
    Anna Kendrick & Justin Timberlake (Poppy/Branch, Trolls)
    Ben Affleck & Henry Cavill (Batman/Superman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice)
    Chris Evans & Robert Downey Jr. (Captain America/Iron Man, Captain America: Civil War)
    Ginnifer Goodwin & Jason Bateman (Judy/Nick, Zootopia)
    Dwayne Johnson & Auli'i Cravalho (Moana/Maui, Moana)
    Anna Kendrick & Justin Timberlake (Poppy/Branch, Trolls)
    Charlize Theron & Emily Blunt (Ravenna/Freya, The Huntsman: Winter's War)

    Ben Affleck Not Directing Batman

    Ben Affleck won’t direct Batman, a development that has been in the wind for weeks. He has been wavering and finally decided not to go forward as director, remaining as star. The studio is eyeing a shortlist of shooters that includes Captain Fantastic helmer Matt Ross and other major filmmakers including Matt Reeves, who just helmed the latest Planet of the Apes installment.

    Affleck, who most recently helmed Live by Night, wrote the script with Geoff Johns, though there is room for a rewrite. Our sister publication Variety was first to confirm Affleck’s exit as director.

    While Tim Burton and Christopher Nolan turned out iconic Batman series, it is a much tougher situation having to not only direct but also star in these films. That prospect finally prompted Affleck to reconsider double duty. He’s still firmly committed to starring and now can focus on the Batman role that he first played in Batman v Superman and briefly in Suicide Squad. He reprises in the upcoming Justice League.

    Said Affleck: “There are certain characters who hold a special place in the hearts of millions. Performing this role demands focus, passion and the very best performance I can give. It has become clear that I cannot do both jobs to the level they require. Together with the studio, I have decided to find a partner in a director who will collaborate with me on this massive film. I am still in this, and we are making it, but we are currently looking for a director. I remain extremely committed to this project, and look forward to bringing this to life for fans around the world.”

    Ben Affleck’s ‘Live by Night’ flop results in $75 million loss

    “Live by Night” mostly fired blanks when it debuted in theaters in December, and its failure has resulted in a lot of financial carnage.

    The expensive gangster picture was a passion project for Ben Affleck, who directed, wrote, produced and starred in the story of a Florida rum runner. But critics ripped the picture, calling it dramatically inert and a muddle. That’s left Warner Bros., the studio behind the film flop, looking at a $75 million loss, according to insiders with knowledge of its financing and rival studio executives.

    “Live by Night” has made $16.5 million globally, and is not expected to have international appeal despite Affleck’s star power. Talky period pictures don’t tend to play well overseas, particularly when they don’t come loaded with Oscars (“Live by Night” was shut out). The film cost $65 million to produce and tens of millions more to distribute and market.

    Warner Bros. only gets a percentage of ticket sales. It will try to cushion its losses with home entertainment sales and rentals, as well as television licensing deals. The studio did have a significant financial partner on the film in RatPac-Dune Entertainment, though it’s not clear how much the slate financing partner invested in “Live by Night.”

    “Live by Night” is adapted from a Dennis Lehane novel. It co-stars Elle Fanning, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana and Chris Cooper, and centers on a Prohibition-era criminal who battles with the Ku Klux Klan and rival gangs as he struggles to corner the market on hooch.

    Warner Bros. has a long relationship with Affleck, having backed and made money on his previous directorial efforts such as “Argo” and “The Town.” He also played the Dark Knight in the studio’s “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Suicide Squad” and the upcoming “Justice League.” Affleck plans to direct a standalone Batman film.

    A spokesman for Warner Bros. declined to comment.

    Ben Affleck: I look like ‘a sick polar bear’ in sex scenes

    Ben Affleck is an optimist. The Hollywood star thinks the next four years will at least be interesting after watching President-elect Donald Trump’s first press conference.

    “I didn’t get to watch the entire news conference although what I did see of it, I was quite entertained by. I think it will be an entertaining four years,” he said at the London premiere of his latest directorial effort “Live by Night” Wednesday.

    Actor Chris Messina, who joined Affleck and co-star Sienna Miller on the red carpet, didn’t seem as upbeat as Affleck.

    “I think we’re all a little scared and we’re going to take deep breaths. Meryl Streep said it best the other night at the Golden Globes. I don’t think anyone can be any more eloquent as her. Yeah, I was sad today. Obama said goodbye. We’re going to miss him,” Messina said.

    Affleck was also somewhat miffed at Trump’s Twitter reaction to Streep’s Golden Globes speech. The actress made the Republican a big topic of her speech without naming him directly and Trump fired back calling her “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood.”

    Affleck disagreed with the sentiment.

    “If you think Meryl Streep is an overrated actress, you’re probably the least qualified person to comment on acting. She’s, if nothing else, the world’s greatest actor,” he said.

    “Live by Night” is Affleck’s fourth feature as a director. He produced the film and also wrote the screenplay, based on a Dennis Lehane novel by the same name about a group of gangsters in Prohibition-era Boston. Affleck took on the lead role of Joe Coughlin, the son of a police captain, who forges his way into the world of crime.

    Affleck said there was one difficult aspect to directing himself: Steamy bedroom scenes didn’t quite work out as well as he’d hoped.

    “I just try to make myself look as good as possible. I just think ‘What’s the most flattering sexual aspect of myself?’ and I try to put that in the movie,” he joked.

    “And you know what? I had to cut it out, it was that depressing. I looked like a sick polar bear.”

    The film also stars Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, Chris Cooper and Brendan Gleeson.

    Ben Affleck braces for 'entertaining' Trump presidency

    Ben Affleck is an optimist. The Hollywood star thinks the next four years will at least be interesting after watching President-elect Donald Trump's first press conference.

    "I didn't get to watch the entire news conference although what I did see of it, I was quite entertained by. I think it will be an entertaining four years," he said at the London premiere of his latest directorial effort "Live by Night" Wednesday.

    Actor Chris Messina, who joined Affleck and co-star Sienna Miller on the red carpet, didn't seem as upbeat as Affleck.

    "I think we're all a little scared and we're going to take deep breaths. Meryl Streep said it best the other night at the Golden Globes. I don't think anyone can be any more eloquent as her. Yeah, I was sad today. Obama said goodbye. We're going to miss him," Messina said.

    Affleck was also somewhat miffed at Trump's Twitter reaction to Streep's Golden Globes speech. The actress made the Republican a big topic of her speech without naming him directly and Trump fired back calling her "one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood."

    Affleck disagreed with the sentiment.

    "If you think Meryl Streep is an overrated actress, you're probably the least qualified person to comment on acting. She's, if nothing else the world's greatest actor," he said.

    "Live by Night" is Affleck's fourth feature as a director. He produced the film and also wrote the screenplay, based on a Dennis Lehane novel by the same name about a group of gangsters in Prohibition-era Boston. Affleck took on the lead role of Joe Coughlin, the son of a police captain, who forges his way into the world of crime.

    Affleck said there was one difficult aspect to directing himself: Steamy bedroom scenes didn't quite work out as well as he'd hoped.

    "I just try to make myself look as good as possible. I just think 'What's the most flattering sexual aspect of myself?' and I try to put that in the movie," he joked.

    "And you know what? I had to cut it out, it was that depressing. I looked like a sick polar bear."

    The film also stars Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning, Chris Cooper and Brendan Gleeson.

    Affleck brothers bond at Golden Globes

    This time, it was the other Affleck doing the lap of honor after an awards show.

    On Sunday night, Ben Affleck tagged along with little brother — and the winner of the Golden Globe for best actor in a drama film for “Manchester by the Sea” — Casey Affleck as Casey celebrated his victory at the Amazon after-party at the Beverly Hilton.

    Also at the bash was “Manchester by the Sea” producer Matt Damon, with whom Ben shared the Golden Globe for best screenplay of a motion picture for “Good Will Hunting,” all the way back in 1998.

    Ben Affleck Says He Would ‘Discourage’ His Kids from Becoming Actors

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner‘s kids won’t be following in their parent’s acting footsteps anytime soon — at least, not if Affleck has anything to say about it.

    The 44-year-old Oscar winner told Extra‘s Mario Lopez that he wouldn’t encourage his kids to jump into acting. “I wouldn’t allow them to do it until they’re 18,” he said. “Once they were 18, they can do whatever the want to do — but I would discourage it.”

    Of course, the Affleck/Garner kids have a few years to go before they reach their dad’s cutoff. Daughter Violet is the oldest, at 10, while her sister Seraphina is 7 and son Samuel just 4.

    But for Affleck — wrote, directed, and starred in his new movie Live by Night and has been in the business for over two decades — finding fame at an older age can have its benefits.

    “Overnight, I went from somebody no one ever heard of, to somebody that gets recognized on the street and could get a table at a restaurant,” he said, reflecting back on his success from 1997’s Good Will Hunting. “I was 24 years old and it was a confusing time. I’ve got three kids now, and it’s a whole long road later. I have a much better perspective on it all, although it still can be confusing and difficult to deal with… there’s no map to it, you’ve just got to figure it out on your own.”

    While Affleck and Garner separated over a year ago after 10 years of marriage, the two have yet to officially divorce and continue to live together. After celebrating Thanksgiving together as a family, they traveled to Montana to be with Garner’s family for Christmas, a source previously told PEOPLE.

    Affleck told Lopez the Violet got an iPod touch and that she and her sister are really into American Girl dolls and Taylor Swift. Samuel? His gift was fitting for the son of the big-screen’s Batman: a bat cave.

    Live by Night hits theaters Friday.

    Ben Affleck’s mystery gal pal is a detox nurse

    Ben Affleck has been spotted walking around LA with a “mystery woman,” who Page Six can exclusively reveal is a private nurse who specializes in 24-hour medical in-home detox care.

    Affleck sparked rumors when he was seen looking pale and disheveled and in the company of a petite blonde out and about in Beverly Hills.

    Page Six can exclusively reveal that she is Elizabeth Weaver, the founder of boutique caregiving service Concierge Nursing Care. Among the services her company offers, according to her website, is “in-home detox support … 24hr medical in-home detox care and sober companion support for patients recovering from addiction.”

    Affleck and wife Jennifer Garner reportedly split in 2014 because of his addiction to alcohol and gambling, as well as his alleged infidelities.

    In the photos taken this week, a gray, bloated and serious-looking Affleck is seen with Weaver, who accompanied him to a sushi lunch and a bookstore. At one point, the beaming blonde is seen holding onto his arm.

    Weaver is a graduate of the University of Alabama’s Capstone College of Nursing and says that as a private duty nurse, she has “worked with the most high profile clients in Los Angeles and New York City over the past decade.”

    Affleck and Garner announced they were divorcing in 2015 after 10 years of marriage and three children. They have remained friends and are often seen together with their kids.

    A rep for Affleck, who was on a press junket Friday with the actor for his movie “Live By Night,” didn’t immediately comment.

    Ben Affleck Has Come a Long Way Since I Killed My Lesbian Wife

    And to think Ben Affleck is known for making his directorial debut with Gone Baby Gone.

    In a new interview with The Guardian in which he assesses the currently impressive state of his career after hitting some memorable lows along the way, Affleck fondly recalled the actual first production he directed—a short film called I Killed My Lesbian Wife, Hung Her on a Meat Hook, and Now I Have a Three Picture Deal at Disney.

    "Yeah, the title is the best thing about it," he deadpanned. But apparently there was some method to his madness even then, in 1993, just four years before he and Matt Damon would win Best Original Screenplay Oscars for Good Will Hunting.

    "It's about how we sometimes forgive the lunatic behavior of artists and call it 'eccentricity,'" Affleck recalled, an indication he was taking his work just as seriously then as he has been doing through his second, post-Gigli act, which has netted him numerous accolades, including an Oscar.

    "I was trying to make it as an actor and hearing stories of how ‘so and so was doing this' or 'that guy has this outrageous technique'. And I remember thinking, 'What bulls--t.' Just because this guy's on some crazy diet doesn't make him talented. The work itself is what matters."

    Affleck, who most recently wrote, directed and stars in Live by Night, admits that the work definitely went by the wayside for awhile.

    "When you're a young man in your 20s, part of that is making mistakes and learning from them," he summarized the roughly five-year period where he went to rehab, was engaged to Jennifer Lopez and made a handful of crappy films. "I just made those in front of everybody, rather than privately."

    Life hit an upswing when he married Jennifer Garner in 2005. They split up in 2015 but remain close as they co-parent their three children together.

    "I think becoming a father makes you see the world differently and it's good," Affleck told The Guardian, though he acknowledged that his success and his high-profile marriage came with a price.

    "I've been lucky. I've had my wildest dreams come true, but the price is the Faustian exchange you make where your identity is not your own," Affleck said.

    "You become a public figure and it changes all the rules. The press can become invasive and dishonest, and you have to put up with inconvenient stuff like that. I'm at peace with paying my own price, what I'm not at peace with is when it invades on my kids' space and time. They didn't make any bargains. I try to shelter them as best I can. That's my only real gripe."

    At least he has a best friend who gets him. Pearl Street Films, co-founded by Affleck and Matt Damon, most recently produced Live by Night; Manchester by the Sea, starring Casey Affleck; and Damon's latest blockbuster Jason Bourne.

    Reminded that Damon had previously joked to The Guardian that Affleck was taking all the good acting roles for himself these days, Affleck reportedly laughed and said, "That's true. But I'd love to get a great two-handed script and do a movie with Matt. But, for whatever reason, those scripts are rare."

    We seem to recall a couple of guys who wrote a script once and, while it was no I Killed My Lesbian Wife, it turned out OK for the both of them.

    If that's what it takes for the right two-handed script to come along, then we suggest Damon and Affleck get to work.

    Ben Affleck Proves His Deep Love for Jennifer Garner Once Again: She's the ''Greatest Mom in the World''

    (Video) Ben Affleck has nothing but love and positive words for his ex, Jennifer Garner.

    The actor sat down for Times Talk at New York University's Skirball Center for Performing Arts on Monday and chatted with NY Times journalist Chip McGrath. Affleck spoke in depth about his career, his various movie choices—including his most recent film, Live by Night, which he wrote, produced, directed and starred in—and all of his successes.

    But despite two Oscars and multiple accolades for his films, his greatest success is still his three children, Violet, Samuel and Seraphina.

    "In my career or otherwise, it is the birth of my children," he said when asked about his biggest accomplishment. "The entrance of my children into the world."

    He continued, "It's a joy to hang out with them. I think the meaning of life is to make good people."

    Luckily, he has some solid help when it comes to raising his children to be good people, noting that Garner is the "greatest mom in the world" and further proving his love for her is never-ending.

    Despite splitting up in 2015, Affleck has continued to praise Garner.

    While talking with E! News in March, the actor told us, "Jen is a superhero mom. She is an amazing mother and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with. We try our best, we put them first and that's what we do."

    Garner has reciprocated that sentiment, explaining that she and Affleck are "great friends," and admitting there's "no other choice" than to put the children first and co-parent as a team. "It has to be. You don't have a choice," she said in an interview in August. "It has to be."

    Though their new normal might look unusual to some, she promised, "We're doing really well."

    People’s Choice Awards Nominees Set

    Here’s another election America must undertake: Voting opens today for the People’s Choice Awards 2017. Nominees were unveiled this morning at Paley Center in Los Angeles, with online voting set to run through December 15 and winners announced during a ceremony January 18 at Microsoft Theater L.A. Live and broadcast on CBS.

    FAVORITE DRAMATIC MOVIE ACTOR
    Ben Affleck
    Chris Pine
    George Clooney
    Mark Wahlberg
    Tom Hanks

    ‘Live By Night’ Trailer: Ben Affleck Learns The Price Of The American Dream

    (Video) “If that’s who you think we are, you’re making a fatal calculation. We’re clerks and bankers and police officers and we even got a judge. And if you’re dim enough to fight us, I’m gonna rain bloody hellfire down on you and all you love.” Sounds like a pretty heavy threat. But is Ben Affleck fazed? Watch the new trailer for Live by Night, and you’ll have a pretty good idea.

    It’s Prohibition in the Roaring ’20s, but the gangster-run speakeasies have no shortage of booze — and power. The lure of “easy” money beckons Joe Coughlin (Affleck), the black-sheep son of the Boston Police Superintendent. He makes the no-turning-back decision to steal a mob boss’ money — and his moll. Not all goes well.

    The resulting payback sends Coughlin south to Tampa, the ladder of the Florida city’s steamy, rum-running underworld. Chris Messina, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana and Chris Cooper lead a cast that includes Max Casella, J.D. Evermore, Remo Girone, Robert Glenister, Anthony Michael Hall, Matthew Maher, Miguel J. Pimentel, Chris Sullivan and Titus Welliver

    Affleck wrote and directed Live by Night, based on Dennis Lehane’s novel. The film opens its limited run on Christmas Day and goes wide January 13. Check out the trailer above, and tell us what you think.

    Ben Affleck's Son Played With Prince George and Princess Charlotte and He Had No Idea

    Just because you're Hollywood royalty doesn't necessarily mean you'd recognize actual royalty!

    Such was the case for Ben Affleck when he failed to realize his youngest son, Samuel, was playing at an indoor park in London with Prince George and Princess Charlotte earlier this year.

    The actor joined the Graham Norton Show for an interview that will air on Friday and recalled the funny incident.

    "Despite going to Windsor Castle, Tower of London and Buckingham Palace, we didn't see one royal," he said of his time spent in London while filming Justice League. "Then, when it was raining, I took my youngest to one of those kids' indoor play parks."

    He continued, "It was pretty empty and then I noticed this weird vibe from the other grown-ups. They were all very well dressed and they had earpieces and I thought, 'For a kids' place, this is tight security.'"

    However, he later understood what was going on. "I was the very last person to realize that Prince George and Princess Charlotte were in there playing with my kid," he said, laughing, "I can now tell him that he got a cold from the King of England!"

    Speaking of their trip to Europe, many people wondered if Affleck and Jennifer Garner were planning to move their kids—Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4—to the city as they were spotted there multiple times earlier this year.

    However, a source told E! News at the time that the family was simply staying in the U.K. while Affleck finished filming Justice League, adding, "They continue to do what's best for the kids."

    Affleck has reiterated that sentiment, telling CBS This Morning, "Life doesn't always turn out exactly the way you want. We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day to day lives and we don't know what the future's gonna hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second."

    He continued, praising Garner, "She's just so good at doing that and has set such a good example and a lead that I follow. She's somebody that I admire and respect and remain excellent friends with."

    Ben Affleck Puts on a Boston Accent and Pleads With New Hampshire Residents to Vote

    (Video) Boston's Benny the Sweet One O'Callahan—aka Ben Affleckis pleading with the people of his "kid brother" state New Hampshire to go out and vote on November 8th.

    In a video with Funny or Die, the actor describes how beautiful the state is and how many activities you can do there before he explains why it's important for the residents of the state to hit the polls.

    "If you give a s--t about women's rights, if you care about keeping environment safe for future generations, ever hear of it? You care about people getting to piss in the f--king bathroom of their choice? Then guess who's got your back in this election? That's right: My basically home state New Hampshire," he said.

    "Seeing how this election is a bigger disaster than the New York Knicks," he continued before pausing to laugh, "The people from New Hampshire are going to have to register to vote. Otherwise this whole damn nation is going to be cursed."

    And although he's being funny, that's an actual fact. New Hampshire is viewed as a key state in the election as it has four electoral college votes up for grabs.

    Thus, Affleck concludes, "Register to vote, New Hampshire, all of New England is counting on you. So go to this website that's situated somewhere around my balls right now and find your polling place."

    Affleck's 'The Accountant' tops charts with $24.7 million

    Ben Affleck is still a box office draw outside of the bat suit.

    His new thriller "The Accountant" opened to a chart-topping $24.7 million this weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. Gavin O'Connor directed the R-rated thriller, starring Affleck as an autistic mathematician. The film didn't play especially well with critics, but audiences, who were 58 percent male and 68 percent over the age of 35, gave it a promising "A'' CinemaScore.

    It's the continuation of what proves to be a long and fruitful partnership between Affleck and Warner Bros. Although "The Accountant," which cost a reported $40 million to produce, didn't quite hit the heights of "Gone Girl's" $37.5 million opening, it is in the range of some of his other R-rated fall openings with the studio. "Argo," for instance, launched to $19.5 million in 2012, and "The Town," took in $23.8 million in 2010.

    "The Accountant" also far-surpassed Warner Bros.' early predictions for the film, which had it in the $15 to $20 million range.

    "We're in the Ben Affleck business and we're proud of it. We've had a lot of movies with him and we have a lot of movies coming up with him," said Jeff Goldstein, Warner Bros. president of domestic distribution. "Audiences just love him."

    Affleck's mob drama "Live By Night," which he wrote, directed and stars in, opens on Christmas. He also has the DC comics films with the studio.

    The weekend's other new star-driven project, "Kevin Hart: What Now?" narrowly took second place over last week's champ "The Girl on the Train." The Kevin Hart concert film, which Universal Pictures distributed, took in $11.98 million. The comedian's 2013 concert film "Kevin Hart: Let Me Explain" opened to a similar $10 million in 2013.

    "We love Kevin Hart and we love our association with him. This is our fourth collaboration with him alone," said Nick Carpou, Universal's president of domestic distribution. "He is tireless in the way that he promotes his projects and the way that he's always working. It's really a pleasure to be part of it."

    In third place, "The Girl on the Train" netted $11.975 million for Universal, bringing its domestic total to $46.6 million. With such a minuscule difference, the Universal films could easily switch places when final numbers come in on Monday.

    Holdovers "Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children" and "Deepwater Horizon" rounded out the top five with $8.9 million and $6.4 million, respectively.

    The weekend's other new opener, the Mattel-inspired "Max Steel," bombed with only $2.2 million. Open Road distributed the film starring Ben Winchell, which currently has a zero percent on Rotten Tomatoes.

    Overall, the year is still up 3.5 percent, but the fall season is down from last year, according to box office tracker comScore.

    "In the wake of the summer season, the fall always seems a little slow. This year is sort of typical in that way. We haven't had an October breakout hit like we had with 'Gravity' and 'The Martian,'" said Paul Dergarabedian, comScore's senior media analyst. So far, the fall's top-grossing film is "Sully," which has grossed $118.4 million to date.

    "I'm thinking we're going to have a renaissance at the box office in a week or two and things could turn around," he added, noting big upcoming films like "Jack Reacher: Never Go Back," ''Doctor Strange," and "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them."

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

    1. "The Accountant," $24.7 million.

    2."Kevin Hart: What Now?" $11.98 million.

    3."The Girl on the Train," $11.975 million.

    4."Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children," $8.9 million.

    5."Deepwater Horizon," $6.4 million.

    6."Storks," $5.6 million.

    7."The Magnificent Seven," $5.2 million.

    8."Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life," $4.3 million.

    9."Sully," $3 million.

    10."The Birth of a Nation," $2.7 million.

    Pre-'Justice League,' Affleck, Simmons bond on 'Accountant'

    Ben Affleck has been thinking about J.K. Simmons a lot lately.

    The two are promoting their new film "The Accountant " together as Affleck puts the finishing touches on his script for "The Batman," in which Simmons will play Commissioner Gordon opposite Affleck's Batman. The two also play the same characters in "Justice League," which just completed filming and will be released next year.

    "He's in my head every night as I fool around with that character and hold his fate in my hands," Affleck said.

    The two Oscar winners bonded over their kids, sports and hosting "Saturday Night Live" while making "The Accountant," and the rapport they developed set them up for their roles in "Justice League," ''The Batman" and beyond.

    "You become more comfortable with somebody," Affleck said. "I respected his work, and then to get to meet him and find out he's such a great, down-to-earth, cool guy just means that when you show up on the next job, you know ahead of time (that) this will be fun. We'll have a good time."

    Knowing Affleck made taking on the Gordon role more comfortable, Simmons said.

    "Joining that universe and recreating an iconic character that some wonderful actors have played before, so it was an intimidating enough process," he said. "I was glad when I got to the set that I wasn't meeting Ben for the first time in addition to all the other pressures I was facing."

    The characters they play in "The Accountant" and Batman movies have some similarities, too: Simmons is a law-enforcement guy and Affleck is gifted and elusive.

    In "The Accountant," Affleck plays Christian Wolff, an autistic math savant who handles finances for criminal enterprises like drug cartels and the Mafia. Simmons is the federal agent investigating him.

    "We start from there, but nothing is as it seems," Affleck said. "The relationship reveals itself as something different in the course of the movie."

    Affleck visited schools and spent time with autistic people across the spectrum to develop his character, one he found challenging, interesting and fun.

    "I liked this guy a lot. I liked this character. I liked how contrary he was and how complicated he was, so it was fun for me to think about and try expressing myself — I'm very verbal, you know, and that tends to be how I express myself. It's not at all how this guy expresses himself," Affleck said. "He's very expressive, but in a lot of other ways. So that was really fun to try to explore."

    The character is a hero in his own way, and he has a complicated relationship with Simmons' character, not unlike Batman and Commissioner Gordon.

    "Well, it's similar and it's different, without giving away too much," Affleck said. "One of the things that's interesting about Gordon and Batman as Bruce Wayne is they are approaching the same problem from opposite sides of the fence and they have a unique affinity and empathy and appreciation for one another. Although they do the same thing in almost diametrically opposed ways, they have a symbiotic relationship and I think, over the years, a genuine friendship."

    "The Accountant" is in theaters Friday.

    Review: A superhero CPA in Ben Affleck's 'The Accountant'

    The bean counter cometh.

    In Gavin O'Connor's "The Accountant," starring Ben Affleck, the paper-pushing CPA — roughly the exact opposite of Schwarzenegger or Stallone — gets his shot at action hero stardom. If we pull out our calculators, we can deduce that the odds of this are slim. Carrying the one and rounding up, you might even conclude that it's a patently ridiculous premise.

    Just image the tagline possibilities. "The only thing he knows better than the tax code is his moral code!" ''Don't write him off!" ''He's the Price Waterhouse Killer!"

    But "The Accountant" has much grander goals of implausibility. The film comes from a script by Bill Dubuque ("The Judge") that, come tax season, may well be at serious risk of an audit. It's about a secretive, autistic accountant for prominent criminals who's a muscular, military-grade hit man by hobby, plagued by his father's relentlessly militaristic parenting, who becomes embroiled in a robotic prostheses company's bid to go public. You know, THAT old story.

    To cite the words exclaimed by John Lithgow's CEO at a climactic moment that's both bloodbath and family reunion: "What IS this?"

    What "The Accountant" is one of the more unlikely movies to repeat the phrase "Just the Renoir." Christian Wolff (Affleck) is on the surface a small-town accountant outside Chicago who spends his days at his bland shopping center office and his nights in an airstream trailer parked inside a storage unit. There he punishes himself with a bar he painfully rolls over his shins and stares quietly at an original Pollack nailed to the ceiling. (His Renoir is deemed more expendable.)

    He has amassed the hidden fortune as an accountant for hire to drug cartels, money launderers and the mafia. His liaisons are set up by an unseen operative who communicates with Wolff only by phone. When it comes time to sift through documents, Wolff — like a conductor preparing for Beethoven — blows on his finger tips and dives in. He is, one client swears, "almost supernatural" in his ability to run numbers and smell out who's cooking the books.

    "My boy's wicked smart," another Affleck bragged of Matt Damon's mathematician in "Good Will Hunting." Whereas Damon went on to play an assassin with amnesia in the Bourne films, Affleck's equally lethal mercenary is distinct for his place on the spectrum.

    Filling the movie are flashbacks to Wolff's childhood, when his army father (Robert C. Treveiler) refused to accept his autistic son's differences. Instead, he raises him and his brother like soldiers, training them with specialists. It's a quirky method of parenting sure to spawn a best-seller: less homework, more pentjak silat (the Indonesian fighting style).

    The origin story — complete with a bizarre but formative stint in prison with a cameo from Jeffrey Tambor — plays like a superhero's. Many of the characters, too, feel straight out of a comic book: J.K. Simmons' Treasury Department investigator, Jon Bernthal's over-inflated enforcer, Anna Kendrick's accounting clerk, the movie's lone smiler.

    Affleck's hulking, number-crunching CPA is no less severe than his Batman. The actor plays him deliberately flat, with an unrelentingly even voice and a dispassionate, anti-social blankness. As was the case in "Batman v Superman," he's better than the overcooked soup he's swimming in.

    There are legitimate objections to be raised about a film like "The Accountant" treating the autistic like savants. But there are genuine gestures here about accepting the gifts of people with autism, and it's worth noting how unusual such territory is for a Hollywood thriller — something O'Connor ("Warrior," ''Pride and Glory") knows how to firmly construct.

    "The Accountant" is, if nothing else, singular in lending an action-movie cliche an absurdly peculiar and elaborate backstory. "I like incongruity," Wolff says in one scene. "The Accountant" does, too, but maybe a bit too much.

    "The Accountant," a Warner Bros. release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for "strong violence and language throughout." Running time: 128 minutes. Two stars out of four.

    Ben Affleck Reveals His Son's Favorite Superhero and It's Not Who You Think

    If you're wondering what Ben Affleck's son will dress up as this Halloween, chances are it's not going to be one of dad's most beloved big-screen roles.

    As the spooky holiday quickly approaches, kids across the country are brainstorming their creative costumes.

    And instead of sticking to a Hollywood character or superhero, Ben let's his kids decide who they want to be once October 31 comes around.

    "I leave it wide open for them," he shared with E! News' Will Marfuggi at the Hollywood premiere for The Accountant. "My son told me a friend of his asked who his favorite superhero was and he said his favorite superhero was Flash and he goes ‘What about Batman' and he goes ‘Batman's just my dad' so he's kind of over it."

    What Ben won't be doing is making the costumes himself for his three kids with Jennifer Garner. Instead, he will leave that to the party stores who excel in a few memorable looks.

    "I'm not going to stand here and pretend that I'm at the loom spinning costumes out of the wheel but I take them to the store where you buy costumes," he joked to E! News. "You know, they have highly flammable plastic outfits that you dress children in once a year and take them around stranger's houses."

    In his latest big-screen project, Ben plays a math genius with more affinity for numbers than people. When he uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his questionable activities.

    "I was surprised by how smart and intricate it was…the unconventional protagonist," Ben previously shared with E! News' Carissa Culiner when discussing what attracted him to the project. "It was a no-brainer…I just wanted to jump on board."

    Experience the movie for yourself when the Warner Bros. picture hits theaters everywhere on October 14.

    Ben Affleck holds up movie premiere to watch Red Sox

    (Video) Talk about devotion.

    It was business as usual Monday for star Ben Affleck as he hit the red carpet solo for the world premiere of “The Accountant” in Los Angeles. But as he made his way into the TCL Chinese Theatre, the diehard Boston sports fan stopped in his tracks to catch the end of the Red Sox’s playoff game against Cleveland on a reporter’s cell phone.

    “I’m gonna have a heart attack,” Affleck mutters at one point.

    The Indians won, 4-3, knocking the Red Sox out of the postseason, and Affleck — who’s been known to make a high-stakes wager in his day — admitted he was “disappointed” by the loss.

    He said he would lend his support another famously cursed franchise for the rest of October.

    This isn’t the first time unfortunate sports results have interrupted Affleck’s press tour.

    While chatting with Sports Illustrated earlier this month, a correspondent had the unfortunate task of informing the Patriots devotee about his team’s shutout loss to the division rival Bills. Upon learning the score, Affleck summed up his frustration with a profane outburst: “F–k!” (Video)

    Damon and Affleck resurrect 'Good Will Hunting' roles for live read

    Matt Damon and Ben Affleck resurrected their “Good Will Hunting” roles, not to mention their Boston accents, in a special one night only live read from the script Friday in New York.

    John Krasinski hosted and served as a guest director for the night before an audience that benefits a non-profit arts organization called Film Independent. Tickets ranged from $65 $150.

    He began saying the “Good Will Hunting” script was special to him, not only because he’s from Boston, but because it makes him emotional.

    Krasinski introduced a cast to read the different roles including his wife, Emily Blunt, in Minnie Driver’s role, and Margo Martindale, reading Robin Williams’ part of a therapist who helps Damon’s emotionally damaged orphan, who also is unusually intelligent, let go of his past and realize his potential.

    Keegan Michael Key and “Hamilton”’s Daveed Diggs also had parts.

    The read kicked off with Krasinski taking Damon’s lead role of Will Hunting when Damon him walked on stage and surprised the audience. Krasinski then attempted to begin Affleck’s role of Hunting’s wise-cracking friend, when he appeared.

    The crowd screamed and gave a standing ovation and Krasinski took over the duty of narrator.

    The reading went off script a few times, like when Krasinski would jokingly protest to Blunt and Damon’s portrayal of lovers and when Affleck and Damon pointed out inside jokes. A few lines were flubbed, but the theatre was silent when Martindale recited Williams’ dialogue in an emotional scene.

    “Good Will Hunting” won Damon and Affleck the Oscar for best writing of an original screenplay in 1997. Williams won the best supporting actor Academy Award.

    Live Read events began in 2011 in Los Angeles with director Jason Reitman gathering actors together to read popular scripts like “Breakfast Club”, “The Princess Bride” and “Reservoir Dogs,” to raise money for Film Independent.

    Recordings are prohibited to preserve the exclusivity and spontaneity of the event.

    Live Reads are co-presented by The New York Times.

    Ben Affleck’s team accused of censoring reporters

    Ben Affleck, who caused a huge scandal in 2015 when he demanded the PBS show “Finding Your Roots” censor its discovery that his ancestors owned slaves, is back at it again.

    This past week, Sam Rubin, a reporter for LA’s KTLA’s morning news, accused Affleck’s team of taking the unusual step of editing and deleting segments of just-filmed TV interviews with the actor at a press junket for the new movie “The Accountant” before releasing the footage to the reporter who carried out the interview. Rubin also said Affleck’s reps rudely interrupted him when a question that they didn’t like came up.

    “When I walked in to pick up my card [with the reel], studio people — who I assume were ordered by these same lame public-relations censors who interrupted my interview — they were editing someone else’s interview, one Ben had already given because he had made a joke in the interview about drug use,” Rubin said Tuesday. “They were taking out a remark he had actually made of his own free will and cutting it out of the interview because they think you might not be able to understand it. You may not get Ben’s sense of humor.”

    Brooke Burns, wife of “The Accountant” director Gavin O’Connor, went on Rubin’s show Friday to deliver apology cupcakes. But the reps ­handling the junket were thrown under the bus.

    “I spoke at length with Ben Affleck’s personal publicist [at Sunshine Sachs], who was very polite and very apologetic,” Rubin wrote on Facebook Friday. “She was not in the room when all of this went down. She, in fact, was ill that day, and had junior staffers work the junket. She assured me that had she been there, this would not have taken place, and I believe her.” We’re not so convinced.

    Affleck is a big star at Warner Bros., and given all the recent headlines about his divorce, they are anxious to protect him. Reps for Affleck and ­Warner Bros. did not comment.

    In 2015, it was discovered through leaked Sony ­e-mails that Affleck had asked “Finding Your Roots” producers to edit out his family past of slave ownership. Affleck released a statement at the time saying, “I was embarrassed.”

    Ben Affleck on Being a Child Actor: Luckily I Didn't Get Famous, Try Crack and Go Crazy

    (Video) Believe it or not, Ben Affleck has been in show business most of his life.

    As the 44-year-old Accountant actor told Jimmy Fallon on NBC's The Tonight Show Thursday, "I did do some child acting. Luckily I didn't end up on a show and get famous and go on crack and get crazy. I had a normal childhood. My mother let me go do this thing and then forced me to come home. It was a PBS series called Voyage of the Mimi. It was for kids. Educational, kind of."

    "You're laughing, but it's not a joke! It combined science and math topics with an interesting adventure that a young man took with scientists," Affleck said. "I still feel like I have to pitch it!"

    In hindsight, Affleck said, "It was a lot of fun. We had a good time."

    The 13-episode series aired in 1984, and 30 years later, it was released digitally via iTunes U.

    Fallon showed a clip from one of the episodes, and Affleck's Boston accent was as thick as ever. The actor joked about his prepubescent days, telling the host, "That was before I had testicles. I used to get all mad at the operator. I'd be like, 'I'm not a woman!' She'd be like, 'Sorry, ma'am.'"

    Affleck had a blast working on the TV series back in the day, but he doesn't want any of his own kids getting into show business at such an early age. "I would do whatever I could to discourage that," the actor-turned director told E! News in 2013. "My kids have enough issues of being exposed in ways that I don't want them to be exposed, in magazines and shows and stuff."

    Ben Affleck’s ‘Live By Night’ Gets Limited Bow On Christmas For Oscar Consideration

    Live By Night, the period crime drama from Ben Affleck will get a limited release from Warner Bros. on Christmas Day, clearly for Oscar consideration. The film will continue in wide release on Jan. 13, 2017. The film, which was written, directed and co-produced by Affleck is based on the novel of the same name by Dennis Lehane and stars Affleck, Elle Fanning, Brendan Gleeson, Chris Messina, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana and Chris Cooper. Warner Bros. and Affleck have had a great track record for Oscar, having won Best Picture in 2013 for Argo.

    The movie is being put into a spot that is crazy crowded with a total of 13 pictures being released on that holiday, some in limited release, others going wide. Many of those are also Oscar contenders. Those include Denzel Washington’s Fences, the Boston boming picture Patriots Day, Passengers which stars Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt and Michael Sheen, Gold (Matthew McConaughey and Bryce Dallas Howard), Assassin’s Creed (Marion Cotillard, Michael Fassbender) and Illumination/Universal’s animated musical Sing.

    Ben Affleck Reveals the Working Title of His Solo Batman Movie

    Ben Affleck became Bruce Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in which he and Superman first appeared as foes but then became allies, but next up Affleck will be appearing as the caped crusader in a solo movie.

    While talking about his upcoming thriller The Accountant, Affleck also shed some light on his upcoming superhero movie that he will star in, co-write and direct. Instead of using another lengthy title for his next time as Bruce Wayne, Affleck revealed that his solo movie has a working title of The Batman.

    "At least that's what we're going with now," Affleck added, per Entertainment Weekly. "I might change it."

    There is still plenty of time for Affleck to rethink that (relatively boring) title.

    Although there's no set release date, The Batman is expected to hit theaters between 2018 and 2020, after The Flash movie but before the Cyborg film. Justice League is set for release in November 2017.

    First, however, Affleck will appear in the highly anticipated Justice League movie.

    The first teaser trailer for Zack Snyder and DC Entertainment's new superhero ensemble movie was posted on YouTube and unveiled at San Diego Comic-Con International 2016, marking the first released footage from the anticipated film.

    In the clip, Bruce Wayne a.k.a. Batman, talks about building an "alliance" of "warriors" with "special abilities" to fight against an "enemy" coming from far away. In the Justice League teaser, his character is shown talking to Diana Prince/Wonder Woman, played by fellow past co-star Gal Gadot, and getting into a physical confrontation with Arthur Currry/Aquaman, played by franchise newcomer Jason Momoa.

    UFC Adds Hollywood, Music, And Sports Stars To Its Ownership Roster

    UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) just added some celebrity glitter to its ownership ranks following the $4 billion acquisition in July by an investor group led by WME | IMG.

    The mixed martial arts power says today that its owners now include Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye, Adam Levine, Anthony Kiedis, Ben Affleck, Calvin Harris, Cam Newton, Conan O’Brien, Flea, Guy Fieri, Jimmy Kimmel, Li Na, LL Cool J, Maria Sharapova, Mark Wahlberg, Michael Bay, Rob Dyrdek, Robert Kraft, Serena Williams, Sylvester Stallone, Tom Brady, Trey Parker, Tyler Perry, and Venus Williams.

    “Expanding our ownership group to include this caliber of talent and entrepreneurs is a strong indicator of UFC’s fast-growing global presence,” UFC President Dana White says. “Our new investors bring an incredible depth of knowledge and experience to help us continue to elevate this brand and capitalize on its entertainment and sports crossover appeal.”

    The sports company, founded in 1993, has soared in popularity in recent years with crossover stars including former champion Ronda Rousey (Furious 7) and Randy Couture (Expendables 3).

    It has more than 40 live events a year and boasts that it’s the world’s largest Pay-Per-View event provider with broadcasts in 29 languages to more than 156 countries and territories with 1.1 billion-plus television households.

    Ben Affleck Jokes About His Kids' Math Homework and Talks Co-Parenting With Jennifer Garner

    Ben Affleck is juggling a lot these days: a successful film career, raising three children and doing math homework. Wait, what? Let us explain…

    E! News caught up with The Accountant star where he admitted to us that he's totally game for helping with this eldest child's homework…for now.

    "I was doing math homework last night," he shared. "When I'm there, you're stuck with your parents helping you with your homework. Jen [Garner]'s very good at math [too]. So far, my eldest kid is in fifth grade and they haven't passed me yet. But I feel like in seventh or eighth grade I'm going to start worrying that they're going to lose me."

    Affleck continued, "It's important to be involved with your kids' schoolwork so you know what's going on and what they're doing and what you're supposed to be supporting and going to school nights."

    And when he's not being a hands-on father, the Oscar-winning actor is hard at work on his ever-successful career.

    So what was it about The Accountant that made Affleck so intrigued?

    "I was surprised by how smart and intricate it was…the unconventional protagonist."

    He continued, "It was a no-brainer…I just wanted to jump on board."

    The Accountant stars Anna Kendrick, Jon Bernthal, J.K. Simmons, Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow and is slated to hit theaters on October 14.

    Ben Affleck on How Parenting Changed Him: 'Your Heart Is Outside Your Body'

    Ben Affleck's movie career is one of the most enviable in Hollywood. He's won two Oscars, gets to play a superhero, writes, directs and acts in critically-acclaimed films, etc. The only problem? His kids would love to see some of Dad's films – but they can't, yet.

    "They're like, 'When do you do a movie we can see?'" Affleck told reporters of his three children with estranged wife Jennifer Garner – Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, during a press conference for his new film The Accountant in Los Angeles Friday. "They just want to know what the rating is. [I'm like] 'You can see this when you're 25.'"

    In the R-rated thriller, Affleck plays the accountant, Chris, a math genius with a mysterious set of special skills who also happens to be on the autism spectrum. Chris grows up with a very strict, very physical father who encourages his sons to fight their way out of conflict, but does so out of love for his "different" son. Affleck told reporters the fictional parenting style gave him pause.

    "That's what I thought was the most heartbreaking thing about the story and it was definitely moving to me as a parent," Affleck said. "I face dilemmas that we all do everyday about what's the right way to raise children, what's the right thing to teach them? Every moment there comes a crossroad."

    The Batman v. Superman star said that he does his best to make the right parenting choices for his children without getting too caught up in the deeply emotional aspects of normal growing pains and childhood vulnerabilities.

    "When you have kids, what's that expression, 'Your heart is outside your body,' all of the sudden you feel so vulnerable and this fear of a child being vulnerable is very very powerful," he said. "I can see why it made for a really interesting character in the father. Here's a guy out of love and compassion and fear for his son, actually ends up kind of brutalizing him and abusing him and it's a really interesting look at what's the appropriate way to channel the intense emotions we have as parents, it's not easy."

    The Accountant opens in theaters Oct. 14.

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Argue Over Their Friendships With Tom Brady

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been best friends for years, but they're both vying for the attention of Tom Brady.

    In a new video to promote a new Omaze charity campaign, Ben and Matt get into an argument during a video call about whom the New England Patriots player likes more. "For just $10 you and a friend can hang out with me and Tom Brady...and I guess also Matt will be there," Ben says during the call.

    "And yes also me because I'm also friends with Tom Brady," Matt snaps back.

    "Lesser friends," Ben notes.

    The A-list actors then go on to explain that you and a friend would grab some pizza, drink some beers and visit their favorite places in Boston with them and "the greatest quarterback who ever walked the earth."

    But the fight gets cut off when Tom texts Ben to tell him he's going to be late. Jealous, a downtrodden Matt says, "I don't have reception here."

    Their argument only escalates from there, with both Matt and Ben listing reasons why is closer to them. Ben mentions the time Matt was caught "staring" at Tom's chin, which Ben then compares to his own.

    "If your chin was anything like Tom's that Batman movie of yours would've made about $4 billion because that's the only recognizable part of you," Matt snaps. "Tom is a superhero."

    Little do they know, however, that Tom dialed into the call and listened to their quarreling. Eventually Tom speaks up to break up their fight and actually tell viewers about the charity.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner in ‘tense’ talks at block party

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner appeared to be in a “tense” conversation, sources said, at a neighborhood block party in Los Angeles over the weekend.

    The separated stars were back in town together, sources said, after Affleck had been working on superhero epic “Justice League.”

    A spy said that the co-parents were having an intense conversation at a “carnaval-themed” block party in their neighborhood, and that Garner looked particularly upset after glancing at something on her phone.

    Reports recently said that Affleck could be rekindling his romance with former flame Jennifer Lopez. But a source told Page Six of Affleck and Garner, who’ve also been rumored to be reuniting after their split last June: “They are both working really hard” at their relationship.

    Who Is Matt Damon's Favorite Affleck Brother to Work With: Ben or Casey?

    Matt Damon worked as a producer on Manchester by the Sea, which sees Casey Affleck in one of the leading roles. But as we all know, Damon has also worked hand-in-hand with good pal Ben Affleck, too.

    Thus, when E! News caught up with the Martian star at a dinner for the film at the Toronto International Film Festival on Tuesday, we couldn't help but ask: Which brother does he prefer working with?

    Damon had no hesitation in answering. "Not to throw him under the bus, but Ben is much easier to work with," he told us. "I mean, with Casey and I, we've done a bunch of movies together. We did [a play] in London 14 years ago, and I'll never forget the day we were on-stage rehearsing he told me how I should play my part."

    Though he had a hard time accepting it, Damon knew Casey's advice was actually really helpful.

    "It was one of those things where I had to kind of take his suggestion," he said, admitting to giving him grief about it. "But I had to kind of hold onto my pride."

    Despite choosing Ben, Damon couldn't help but praise Casey. "He's a really gifted actor and writer," he said, before laughing. "But he can be frustrating!"

    Meanwhile, Damon and Casey's new film Machester by the Sea will be released later this year. It focuses on an uncle (played by Casey) who has to take care of his nephew after the young boy's father dies.

    Needless to say, the plot is bound to be heartbreaking, and Damon admits it's a tearjerker.

    "I never made it through the screenplay without crying," he told us. "It was one of those screenplays, it was just magnificent."

    Manchester by the Sea hits theaters November 18.

    ‘Live By Night’ Trailer

    ‘Live By Night’ Trailer: Ben Affleck Muscles Into Prohibition-Era Organized Crime: Video.

    Why Anna Kendrick Says Ben Affleck Is 'Really Normal-Sauce'

    Ben Affleck hasn't let his star power go to his head.

    Anna Kendrick dished on what is was like starring alongside Affleck in the upcoming film The Accountant, admitting that she was pleasantly surprised by how grounded the actor was on set.

    "He's very smart and very funny and is definitely a practical actor," Kendrick tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "He comes to work to get his job done and to make the best movie possible but is still really normal-sauce off-camera."

    In the film, Kendrick, 31, plays a clerk who befriends Affleck, a socially-awkward accountant who keeps the books for some of the world's top criminals.

    "The idea of the world's sexiest, most dangerous accountant is certainly the kind of delicious dichotomy that makes for a great movie," says Kendrick. "The plot is definitely like a puzzle. I was there when we filmed it and still, the second time I watched the movie I was like 'Oh, it's even better the second time.' "

    But just because Kendrick may play a character entrenched in the world of numbers doesn't mean she's a natural born math whiz.

    "Oh my god no, it's so embarrassing," she jokes. "My mom is an accountant, so I gave her the script and was like, 'Can you please help me understand what is happening in this movie?' I basically managed to retain as much information as she gave to me for the duration of the filming and the second we were done it was like my brain dropped this proverbial 50 pound bag I'd been carrying around. And it was like 'I'm never picking that up again.' "

    The Accountant hits theaters Oct. 14.

    Ben Affleck Celebrated 44th Birthday with Family Trip to Montana

    Happy belated 44th birthday, Ben Affleck!

    The Batman v Superman actor celebrated his Aug. 15 birthday with ex Jennifer Garner and their three children while on a family trip to a Montana resort where they own a condo.

    "The family spent the week together and enjoyed outdoor activities like hiking, biking and swimming," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE.

    Despite separating after 10 years of marriage in June 2015, the actors have maintained an amicable relationship, the focal point of which is their three children – Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and 4-year-old Samuel.

    The family has spent a large amount of time together, including a month-long trip to Europe during the summer while Affleck was filming Justice League in London.

    "Ben is happiest when he's spending time with his family," adds the source. "It was a great birthday."

    Ben Affleck & Fox Plot ‘Witness For The Prosecution’

    2oth Century Fox is closing on a deal that will have Ben Affleck directing and starring in Witness For The Prosecution, an adaptation of the Agatha Christie short story and play that first hit the big screen in 1957. Christopher Keyser will write the script, and Affleck will produce with Jennifer Todd, Matt Damon and the Agatha Christie estate. Billy Wilder directed a screen adaptation in 1957 that starred Tyrone Power, Marlene Dietrich and Charles Laughton, and that film got six Oscar nominations including Best Picture, Best Actor and Actress and Best Director.

    Laughton played a lawyer who represents a man (Power) accused of murdering a wealthy widow with whom she became so infatuated that she left him her estate. The suspect’s wife (Dietrich), while initially unable to testify against her husband, is called as a witness for the prosecution because she was married to another man when she wed the defendant. She fingers him for the murder, to clear her conscience. Twists and turns unfold from there, as one would expect in an Agatha Christie whodunit.

    Affleck last directed the Best Picture winner Argo, and wrapped Live By Night for Warner Bros, his adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel. He’s co-writing to direct the next stand-alone Batman movie and became involved as an exec producer of the Justice League film, starring in the spandex ensemble. He next stars in the Gavin O’Connor-directed The Accountant, which Warner Bros opens October 14. He’s repped by WME.

    Keyser, who has been immersed as executive producer of the FX series Tyrant, is repped by CAA.

    Stand Up to Cancer Reveals Star-Studded Lineup Featuring Emma Stone, Ben Affleck, Celine Dion and More

    The biggest names in film, television and music are coming together to Stand Up to Cancer.

    For the fifth time, the charity is airing a live fundraising special complete with a star-studded lineup.

    Ben Affleck, Matthew McConaughey, Emma Stone, Anna Kendrick, and Ken Jeong are among the celebs set to appear at the event.

    Legendary singer Celine Dion is also scheduled to give a live performance during the broadcast, and Keith Urban will be performing alongside fellow country stars Little Big Town.

    It was previously announced that Bradley Cooper would serve as executive producer for the live telecast, and will work alongside award-winning production team Done + Dusted, in collaboration with the Stand Up to Cancer production team.

    Stand Up to Cancer launched in 2008 as a celebrity-powered telethon, and counts Katie Couric among its co-founders. Its mission is to enlist the entertainment industry in the fight for a cure.

    Four telethons have been broadcast in the U.S. and have been made available to more than 190 countries. To date, over $370 million has been pledged to support cancer research programs, with the initial 2008 event raising more than $100 million alone.

    Stand Up to Cancer will air its fifth televised fundraising special live from The Music Center's Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles on Friday, Sept. 9, at 8 p.m. ET.

    Jennifer Garner on Her New Normal With Ben Affleck: "We Are Definitely a Modern Family"

    "We are definitely a modern family," Jennifer Garner said Thursday.

    That's an understatement.

    For the first time since her explosive Vanity Fair profile was published earlier this year (followed by a softer interview with Savannah Guthrie), the Nine Lives actress spoke in detail about the state of her marriage to Ben Affleck on NBC's Today. Though the couple split in the summer of 2015, Jennifer and Ben continue to cohabitate in L.A. as they co-parent their kids: Violet Affleck, 10, Seraphina Affleck, 7, and Samuel Affleck, 4.

    Earlier this summer, the family traveled to Europe, sparking rumors the pair had reconciled. "Ben was working in London on Justice League and I felt like, 'Well, the kids should have that experience,'" Jennifer, 44, explained. "He and I are great friends and we just all went en masse. The kids and I had an amazing time, and he worked hard and got to join us for some. I want them to see everything's OK."

    Other tabloid reports claimed the actors were back together and planning to take a romantic trip. But, as a source told E! News, "There are no plans for a second honeymoon anywhere. They are 100 percent still separated and focused on co-parenting for the kids' sake." Another insider added, "It is a fabricated story. They are not honeymooning, but they are just continuing along."

    Today's Natalie Morales said it's "really admirable" how the exes "put the children first" and are still a "team" post-breakup. "It has to be. You don't have a choice," Jennifer said. "It has to be." Though their new normal might look unusual to some, she promised, "We're doing really well."

    Family has always been Jennifer's No. 1 priority, and it's the main reasons she wanted to star in Nine Lives (in theaters Friday). "Parenting is about...you can't buy parenting, no matter what," the actress said. "You have to actually get down on the floor and spend some time together."

    "I'm really glad that I'm playing moms because there's no more rich time in a woman's life than when you're having babies and when you're trying to figure out how to parent them and balance everything, and the emotional weight of seeing your children struggle," she added. "Whatever it is, there's so much there to draw from that it feels like I've aged into where I should be as far as acting goes. You know what I mean? As far as my career, I feel like I finally fit."

    ‘The Accountant’ Trailer #2

    ‘The Accountant’ Trailer #2: Ben Affleck & The World’s Scariest Pocket Protector: Video.

    Matt Damon Agrees He Is a Good Card Player – But 'Not Ben Affleck Good'

    Matt Damon is a man of many talents – just ask his costars.

    "He is a good card player," Damon's Jason Bourne costar Alicia Vikander tells PEOPLE. "I guess people kind of already know that. But it's something when even I knew that, and then got to see it myself."

    Vikander observed Damon's card-playing skills during filming in Las Vegas, where much of the third act of the new Bourne is set.

    "It's only because it's your fourth film set in Vegas, no other reason," Vikander, 27, tells Damon, 45, of his card-playing skills. "You've been kind of forced."

    "They keep letting me back in here," he jokes. "I'm not Ben Affleck good. Ben Affleck is not allowed to play, he got banned from all these places, I didn't."

    Damon, who cultivated his card shark skills when he played a high-stakes poker player in the 1998 film Rounders, references Affleck's highly publicized ban from the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in 2014, due to the actor's impressive ability to count cards. Affleck, 43, was not completely banned from casino, however, just the blackjack table.

    "I downloaded that card-counting app and then I didn't do it because Ben can't play blackjack in Vegas anymore," says Damon. "He's been disinvited."

    Jason Bourne surges into theaters Friday.

    No Second Honeymoon for Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: 'They Are 100% Still Separated,' Says Source

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are not back together, a source tells PEOPLE.

    Despite reports that the famous couple are reconciling and returning to the site of their 2005 wedding, Turks and Caicos, for a romantic vacation, the source says, "There are no plans for a second honeymoon anywhere."

    And while no divorce papers have been filed in the year since they split, the source confirms that "Jennifer did not take Ben back."

    Likewise, reports that Garner is pregnant are also false, according to the source. "They are 100% still separated and focused on coparenting for the kids sake."

    This spring, Garner and their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, moved to London for several weeks with Affleck, sharing a rented house and sightseeing in Europe while the actor filmed Justice League.

    Most recently, they were spotted taking their children to a local parade in L.A. to celebrate the Fourth of July.

    "There is no rush to file [for divorce]. They are enjoying life where they are right now," a source close to the couple previously told PEOPLE, while another says, "Nothing has changed [in their relationship]. They're still all about putting the kids first."

    HBO didn't renew 'Project Greenlight,' Damon says

    "Project Greenlight" won't be getting a fifth season on HBO.

    Matt Damon told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he was shocked that HBO didn't pick up his and Ben Affleck's show, which chronicles the production of an independent film.

    "I really liked it and thought that the show went great," Damon said while promoting the latest "Jason Bourne" film. "I'm not one to question (their programming). They do such a great job. But we have to take it out again."

    Damon said that that they'll start shopping the show around, and he thinks that a streaming service like Amazon or Netflix might be a good fit.

    "There are places where I think we could do really well," he said.

    "Project Greenlight" aired on HBO for its first two seasons from 2001 to 2003, before moving to Bravo for season three in 2005. The show came back to HBO for a fourth season last year to much buzz and some controversy starting with Damon's comments regarding diversity, for which he later apologized.

    The show this past season, which was centered on the production of director Jason Mann's dark parlor comedy "The Leisure Class," became a cultural touchpoint.

    Even in production, it already seemed like a relic of a different era, with its white male director focusing on wealthy, mainly white characters at a time when diversity and representation in film were in the spotlight more than ever. Producer Effie Brown became a breakout star of the season, providing fascinating insight and commentary week to week on those issues while also overseeing the production of the film.

    A representative from HBO said in a statement that it was initially imagined as a one-season revival and that they decided in early 2016 that another season "did not make sense for us."

    "We are proud of the show and were pleased with its run throughout the years," HBO said.

    Ben Affleck and The Justice League Cast Surprise Fans and Present First Trailer at Comic-Con

    (Justice League Trailer) That Caped Crusader sure knows how to make an entrance.

    Batman v Superman star Ben Affleck surprised 6,000 fans at San Diego Comic-Con Saturday during Warner Bros' star-studded panel in the convention center's storied Hall H. At the beginning of the panel, Affleck, who is directing and starring in the studio's next Batman film and co-starring in Justice League, appeared alongside his fellow DC film directors David Ayer (Suicide Squad, Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman, Zack Snyder (Justice League Rick Famuyiwa (The Flash, and James Wan Aquaman.

    The actor/director delighted fans by indulging in a "nerdy moment," and pulling out his phone to take a picture of the massive crowd.

    "I've never done this before, it’s kind of nerdy," he said smiling, before snapping the pic. "It’s just not going to happen again, it’s kind of a cool moment for me."

    Of his connection to and appreciation for Batman, Affleck said he appreciates the fact that the character is a superhero, but also is "just like us."

    "[Batman] is one of the most iconic characters of contemporary [times]," Affleck said of the upcoming stand-alone film. "I’m deeply honored and thrilled to get a chance to do it. Thank you for giving me the opportunity."

    The Batman v Superman star, dressed in a black leather jacket, black tee and black pants,later returned to the stage and received a roaring applause when he joined his Justice League co-stars: Wonder Woman Gal Gadot, Superman Henry Cavill, The Flash Ezra Miller (wearing in a Gandalf costume), Aquaman Jason Momoa and Cyborg Ray Fisher (wearing a "Borg Life" t-shirt). The cast were on hand to help introduce the first trailer from their upcoming film.

    The footage showcased Affleck as Bruce Wayne recruiting all of League's members and a humorous scene with Miller's Flash which the crowd loved.

    This first Justice League film sees DC's most iconic superheroes joining forces to save the world from an enigmatic threat. Affleck and Cavill return as the Caped Crusader and Man of Steel, Gadot makes her third appearance as Wonder Woman, while Miller's The Flash and Momoa's Aquaman are fully introduced as part of the League ahead of their solo films arriving in 2018.

    Justice League – Part One arrives in theaters Nov. 17, 2017.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Spend Fourth of July with Their Kids

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are celebrating Fourth of July as a family.

    The pair, who announced their split in June 2015, were spotted at the 68th Annual Fourth of July Parade in Pacific Palisades, California on Monday. Affleck, 43, and Garner, 44, spent quality family time with two of their three children, Violet, 10, and Seraphina, 7.

    "[Ben] and [Jennifer] were sitting together watching the parade. They were not being affectionate," an onlooker tells PEOPLE. "Ben and Violet were holding hands, and Ben was smiling watching the parade and walking around the community."

    June 30 marked the one-year since Affleck and Garner announced they were separating after 10 years of marriage.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple told PEOPLE in a joint statement a year ago. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The parents of three have yet to file divorce papers.

    "Ben still doesn't want the divorce," a source previously told PEOPLE. However, Garner "doesn't seem to mind at all that [the divorce] is not finalized," but "she seems adamant about going through with it."

    Another source close to the couple told PEOPLE recently that "nothing has changed" in the relationship: "They're still all about putting the kids first."

    It's Been a Year! Why Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Still Aren't Divorced

    One year ago today, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced they were separating after 10 years of marriage.

    Despite the painful times surrounding the split, the couple has remained amicable throughout the year, traveling and even living together as a family. As of their 11th anniversary on Wednesday, no divorce paperwork appears to have been filed.

    A friend of Garner's says that "Ben still doesn't want the divorce" but that Garner has denied reconcilation rumors to pals. She "doesn't seem to mind at all that [the divorce] is not finalized," but "she seems adamant about going through with it," the friend says.

    Affleck and Garner spent a month in Europe with their kids – Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4 – while he filmed Justice League, including a family getaway to Paris.

    "She did have the best time in Europe with Ben and the kids," says her friend. "She seemed to enjoy spending time with Ben again."

    "They have a lot of admiration and respect for each other," adds a source close to the couple.

    The couple are continuing to stay together at their family home when they're both in L.A. as Affleck flies back and forth to London for filming.

    Another source close to the couple told PEOPLE recently that "nothing has changed" in the relationship: "They're still all about putting the kids first."

    Ben Affleck -- Slurring, Ranting ... On HBO Talk Show

    Ben Affleck appeared on the series premiere of Bill Simmons' "Any Given Wednesday" tonight and it was extremely bizarre ... to say the least.

    A red-faced Affleck ranted about "Deflategate" on the HBO show and even though we can't say for sure what was up with him ... social media was quick to call Affleck out for his slurred speech and angry tone.

    Sources close to Affleck tell us he's stone cold sober. As for the slurring ... Ben's just passionate about Tom Brady. We're told him and Simmons got into a heated, loud "Deflategate" debate before the cameras started rolling. So when the show started filming at 11AM, Ben was already fired up.

    Watch the clip here and decide for yourself.

    Jennifer Garner Is Not Back Together with Ben Affleck: Source

    Despite their recent European vacation together, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner aren't reconciling.

    A friend of Garner's says the friendly exes – who spent a month together overseas along with their three kids, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, while Affleck filmed Justice League – are proceeding with their divorce. "She seems adamant about going through with it," the pal tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

    Now back home in L.A., Garner is getting their kids ready for the end of school while Affleck, who appeared at the Spike Guys' Choice Awards on June 4, has returned to London to continue filming. The actress "denies that she is back with Ben," adds the friend. "She actually almost laughs when asked."

    As for when the divorce will be official, Garner's friend says there seems to be no rush, adding that the actress "doesn't seem to mind at all that it's not finalized."

    Reunited! Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Joke About Their 'Guys of the Decade' Trophy at the Guys Choice Awards

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's bromance is officially the one to beat.

    The close friends were honored Saturday night with the "Guys of the Decade" award at Spike's 10th Annual Guys Choice Awards, taped at Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City, California.

    "I think it goes without saying that this is an award Matt and I have been dreaming about since we were little boys," Affleck, 43, said in his speech, Damon, 45, at his side. "I did Gigli and Matt did that Liberace movie and all of a sudden it all seemed out of reach. Then I did [Batman v Superman] and all of a sudden it was back in reach again."

    "Now we're the ... coveted Dudes of the Decade ... the Guys of the D---heads?" he continued. "What is it?"

    "No, the D---heads of the Decade award," Damon replied.

    While Affleck and Damon hung together backstage, they spent time chatting apart: Damon talked with Julia Roberts and Robert De Niro while Affleck spent several minutes speaking with Shilo Harris, an Army veteran-turned motivational speaker and writer, following injuries during an IED explosion.

    Affleck and Harris had a "great talk," Harris told PEOPLE.

    "He was a great man," Harris said. "He asked me what I do, and I told him that I was a motivational speaker, and that recently we've been combatting the epidemic of veteran suicides."

    And of the possibility that Affleck might contribute to Harris' work with veterans, he said, "I don't know, but you know what, I kept talking and he kept listening. So I'm very proud of that."

    Affleck and Damon have been close since growing up together in Massachusetts. They proved to be an award-winning pair, when their 1997 hit Good Will Hunting won two Oscars, and have continued to collaborate – currently on HBO movie Thirst, Syfy thriller Incorporated and an interactive competition series called The Runner.

    Damon recently recalled the obstacles he and Affleck faced together as they tried to kickstart their careers, while delivering the commencement address at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Friday.

    "For all the amazing successes I've been lucky to share, few things have shaped me more than the auditions Ben and I used to go on as young actors, where we'd get on a bus, show up in New York, wait our turn, cry our hearts out for a scene and then be told, 'Okay, thanks,' meaning game over," he said. "We used to call it, 'Okay, thanks,' and those experiences became our honor."

    The 10th Annual Guys Choice Awards will air on June 9 (9 p.m. ET) on Spike.

    Teen Choice Awards 2016 Nominations

    Choice Movie Actor: Sci-Fi/Fantasy
    Ben Affleck – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
    Chris Evans – Captain America: Civil War
    Chris Hemsworth – The Huntsman: Winter's War
    Henry Cavill – Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
    Josh Hutcherson – The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2
    Robert Downey Jr. – Captain America: Civil War

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon to Receive 'Guys of the Decade' Honor at Spike's Guys Choice Awards

    They've been lifelong friends, and now Ben Affleck and Matt Damon will be taking home a pretty epic honor this summer.

    The actors are set to receive the "Guys of the Decade" award at Spike's Guys Choice Awards next month, PEOPLE confirms exclusively.

    Affleck and Damon have been close since childhood, and their friendship reached new heights in 1997 when their hit film Good Will Hunting won two Oscars. The duo are currently collaborating on multiple projects, including their HBO movie Thirst, a Syfy thriller called Incorporated and interactive competition series The Runner.

    Joining the superstars on stage will be Anna Kendrick, who's being honored with the "Hot & Funny" award, and Gigi Hadid, who will be picking up the "Our New Girlfriend" award (previous winners for this particular nod have included Kate Upton, Chrissy Teigen and Hannah Davis.

    This year's show – airing June 9 at 9 p.m. on Spike – will have a Rat Pack Las Vegas theme and once again celebrate comedians, entertainers and athletes.

    Shopping, Cafés and Family Time: Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Life in London

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are settling into their new life abroad.

    After spending some time together as a family in Paris, the two returned to London, where they've been spotted enjoying local activities with their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

    Last week, Affleck, 43, and Garner, 44, stepped out with their brood in Westbourne Grove for an afternoon exploring the city. On Thursday, the family was seen going into various shops together. At one point, they stopped in a children's store, where they purchased a stuffed teddy bear.

    "Ben and Jen were pretty quiet and just browsed the shelves for 20 minutes with the kids," an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

    That same day, the family was spotted grabbing a bite to eat at the popular café Granger and Co. An onlooker told PEOPLE the former couple did their best to go unnoticed while eating, with Affleck keeping his head down as they sat inside.

    "It [was] a typical family meal with Ben and Jen fussing over the kids," says a witness.

    After eating, the family continued their afternoon stroll together, popping into a few more shops.

    Affleck and Garner plan to stay a month together in London (with tutors for the kids) while the actor films Justice League.

    "They are enjoying showing the kids London," a source close to the family told PEOPLE.

    The two have sparked reconciliation rumors as they continue to spend time together. A source told PEOPLE they "appeared affectionate" while at dinner in Paris.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Plan to Spend a Month in London Together Amid Reconciliation Questions

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are turning their European family vacation into a month-long stay.

    They plan to stay a month together in London with their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, while Affleck films Justice League, according to a source close to the couple.

    "Jen has said Paris is where she has amazing memories of Ben," another source close to Garner tells PEOPLE in this week's issue.

    Affleck, 43, and Garner, 44, have arranged for tutors to work with the kids so they can keep up with their schooling while living abroad.

    Since arriving across the pond last week, the family has been using their time to travel around Europe. Last weekend, they were seen touring Paris, making stops for gourmet ice cream, shopping and visiting the Eiffel Tower before returning to London.

    The former couple have sparked reconciliation rumors as they continue to spend time together. A source told PEOPLE they "appeared affectionate" while at dinner in Paris.

    So are these signs of a rekindled romance? Not for now, say multiple sources.

    "Ben wants Jen back," says the Garner source, but "Jen is not ready to take Ben back." The source close to the couple says "nothing has changed" in their relationship.

    "They are coparenting the best they can," adds another source who knows both of them. "Whatever incarnation of a relationship this is works for them."

    A Romantic Boutique Hotel, Museums and Ferris Wheel Rides: How Ben Affleck, Jen Garner and the Kids Explored Paris Before Returning to England

    After a relaxing weekend in Paris, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner returned to England Sunday night to continue their European family vacation.

    The couple and their three kids, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, were spotted at St. Pancras railway station Sunday evening in London, where they had just returned from a four day getaway in the City of Light.

    "They were pretty relaxed and just walked through the main concourse of the station with their bags," a source tells PEOPLE. "They didn't really say anything but seemed in good spirits and were smiling a lot. It was all very chilled out."

    Affleck carried some flowers in his bag and Garner was seen holding a miniature plastic replica of the Eiffel tower. "They were in a really good mood. They were laughing and joking with each other," the source notes, adding, "It was really nice that they had no bodyguards with them. They were like a regular family coming back from a holiday."

    The family had arrived in Paris last Thursday afternoon and was spotted standing in line for gelato at the famous Amorino ice cream parlor, located around the corner from their hotel.

    The stayed at Le Pavillon de la Reine, a relatively small, family friendly luxury hotel near Bastille. The entrance way is located under the covered arcade of the historic Place des Vosges, which leads to a shaded courtyard outfitted with cozy tables and chairs.

    According to a source, Affleck, Garner and their children shared a family apartment together. Another source described the couple as "being close," noting that Affleck touched his wife's hand and rubbed her back at the reception desk.

    On Friday, Garner and the kids rode on the Roue de Paris, a large ferris wheel in the Place de la Concorde. Later, they took a trip to Place de l'Opera, where Garner took photos on her cell phone while a hired guide took them on a tour of the famed opera house. They also visited the Sacre-Coeur, or The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Paris, where Garner was seen carrying a tired Seraphina up the church steps.

    Garner and the kids continued on to the Luxemberg Gardens, where they rented two fountain sailboats for a water tour of the famous gardens. They ended the day with a visit to Notre Dame before returning to the hotel to get ready for a family dinner with Affleck.

    The dined at Le Petit Marché, where an onlooker tells PEOPLE, "At first they were alone and appeared to be affectionate, then were joined by the kids. Over dinner, the kids showed Affleck pictures from their day out, and a source says the actor was howling with laughter as he scrolled through the photos.

    Garner kicked off Saturday with an early morning jog before returning to the hotel with croissants for the family. She then set out again with the kids, visiting the famed impressionist museum, Musee d'Orsay and later the Jardin des Tuileries, where the kids played on swing sets, trampolines and a carousel. They had lunch at Laparizienne, an outdoor restaurant on Place du Marché-St Honoré before returning to the hotel.

    After a quick shopping excursion to Isabel Marrant, an upscale shopping district, Garner returned to the hotel courtyard where she stopped to pose for pictures with fans. After wrangling the kids, the actress joined them for a two-hour motor launch ride on the Seine. According to onlookers, Garner looked relaxed and enjoyed a glass of champagne.

    Garner and the kids wrapped up the trip on Sunday with a visit to the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre, where they spent two hours exploring the museum before heading back to the airport for London.

    Affleck is currently living in England while he works on Justice League, due out on Nov. 17, 2017. Both Affleck, 43, and Garner have stressed that they are focused on their children since announcing their split in June after 10 years of marriage. They have not yet filed divorce papers.

    ‘The Runner’ Reality Series Unveils First Trailer

    Ben Affleck & Matt Damon’s ‘The Runner’ Reality Series Unveils First Trailer: Video.

    Ben Affleck Elevates ‘Justice League’ Presence; Becomes Exec Producer

    Warner Bros has made a subtle addition to the Justice League braintrust. Ben Affleck, already set to co-star in the film, has signed on to become its executive producer as well. In that role, he will work with director Zack Snyder and screenwriter Chris Terrio behind the scenes to make the film the best it can be. It seems like a smart move, given that Affleck is already on the premises to reprise his Batman/Bruce Wayne character, and because he’s as strong a storytelling presence as Warner Bros has on its lot. He showed that with his writing-directing efforts Gone Baby Gone, The Town and Argo, the latter of which won the Best Picture Oscar for Warner Bros and was scripted by Terrio, who also won an Academy Award for the film.

    I’m told that Affleck is doing this to be supportive of Snyder, with whom he worked well on Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice, which grossed $864 million worldwide despite not being beloved by the critics. Warner Bros is still figuring out its stylistic superhero mojo, and Affleck will help. Justice League is slotted for a November 17, 2017 release, and Affleck’s Batman is expected to be paired alongside Henry Cavill’s Superman, Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman, and likely Jason Momoa’s Aquaman.

    Affleck, who followed his Batman turn by directing and starring in his scripted adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel Live By Night for an October 20, 2017 release by Warner Bros, is building toward a relaunch of the Batman franchise as a stand-alone. As Deadline revealed last Comic-Con, he has teamed with DC’s Geoff Johns to write the movie he’ll star in and direct.

    Ben Affleck Heads to London and Paris – with Jennifer Garner and Kids Too

    Ben Affleck has some good company in London while he films Justice League.

    His wife, Jennifer Garner, and kids Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, have joined the actor across the pond while he works on the upcoming superhero movie due out on Nov. 17, 2017.

    "They are enjoying showing the kids London," a source close to the family tells PEOPLE.

    And the family is using their time abroad to travel around Europe. On Thursday, a Twitter user spotted Affleck, Garner and the kids waiting in line at the Amorino ice cream shop in Paris.

    Earlier in the week, another Twitter user posted that the family was spotted at Warner Bros. Studios Leavesden for a Harry Potter studio tour in England.

    Since announcing their split in June, both Affleck and Garner have stressed they are moving forward by focusing on their children.

    In a March interview with the New York Times, Affleck told the newspaper that despite their public split, his family planned on joining him in Europe so they could vacation as a family.

    "We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day-to-day lives," Affleck said on CBS This Morning in March. "We don't know what the future's going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second."

    And while sources have said "there's no sign they're getting back together," this is far from the first time the former couple have come together for the kids since their split.

    Affleck and Garner spent Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and even went on a vacation over Valentine's Day weekend.

    Ben Affleck to direct Batman film says Warner Bros. chief

    Ben Affleck will direct a stand-alone "Batman" movie, says Warner Bros. chairman and CEO Kevin Tsujihara.

    Affleck portrayed the caped crusader in this year's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and had been rumored to be the studio's top choice. Tsujihara confirmed the studio was moving forward with him in the director's seat Tuesday at CinemaCon, an annual gathering of theater owners in Las Vegas.

    The standalone Batman feature is part of Warner Bros. plans for an expanded DC Comics cinematic universe, similar to that of the Disney and Marvel collaboration. Warner Bros. has at least 10 features in the works, including "Suicide Squad," ''Wonder Woman" and "Justice League."

    Affleck, who is also directing "Live By Night" for the studio, made an appearance with Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane.

    Ben Affleck and Ryan Seacrest Were in 'High Spirits' While Partying Together in L.A.

    Now this is a power trio.

    On Saturday, Ben Affleck, Ryan Seacrest and billionaire Ted Waitt were spotted letting loose at L.A. hot spot 1 OAK.

    "Ben got to the venue and hung out with Ryan in the VIP booth," says an onlooker. "He was seen in high spirits throughout the whole night and was overheard saying that he was really excited about the success of his movie."

    At a nearby VIP table, Justin Bieber celebrated his sold-out Purpose tour with a group of friends – and bottles of champagne – while singer Rita Ora danced with a group of girlfriends.

    Affleck and the "Sorry" singer even had a friendly run-in. "Justin introduced himself to Ben," adds the source. "He was thrilled to see Ben as he is a huge fan. Justin even joked that he should be in Ben's next superhero movie."

    A fun night out is much-deserved for the Batman v Superman star, who's been busy promoting his new movie over the last few weeks.

    The actor's also been spending time with ex Jennifer Garner and their three children Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

    "Life doesn't always turn out exactly the way you want," he recently told CBS This Morning. "We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day-to-day lives ... We don't know what the future's going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second."

    'Dazed and Confused' gave early glimpse of Matthew McConaughey, Ben Affleck

    The 2014 Oscars gave a true sense of the cultural powerhouse that is Richard Linklater's first studio film, the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused.

    With Linklater sitting nearby, Matthew McConaughey ended his best actor acceptance speech for Dallas Buyers Club with the line he delivered as an unknown actor in Dazed and Confused: "Alright, alright, alright."

    As Linklater, now 55, delivers his "spiritual sequel" with Everybody Wants Some!! (now showing in Los Angeles and New York and expanding across the nation through April 15), the fan legions continue to gravitate toward the high school story of Dazed and Confused set in 1976.

    "I received a letter from a guy who had a brain injury and couldn't remember his past, but he thanked me for the movie because it felt like maybe that was his high school experience," says Linklater. "There's something so common about that movie. It's just about hanging out in high school and with this great cast."

    Here are some of the major stars who stepped out as unknowns in Dazed and Confused:

    Matthew McConaughey (as David Wooderson)

    McConaughey made his mark at age 23 as the 20-year-old oddball still hanging around with the high school kids. Linklater had cast McConaughey even though he was too clean-cut for the part.

    "I told him 'Don't cut your hair and don't shave,' " says Linklater. "And he came back with that look, with that slight comb and the tattoo. The tattoo was not particularly popular (in 1976), but it was pretty radical.

    "Matthew dug in and found that character," Linklater adds. "That's what these actors did, reached in and found these offshoots of themselves."

    Ben Affleck (as Fred O'Bannion)

    Affleck has built a career playing likable guys, but at 21, he stepped out as the paddle-mad, hot-headed senior O'Bannion.

    "It tweaked Ben out because he was the only (jerk) in the film," says Linklater. "But he had this kind of gleeful fun with it."

    Besides, nice people make for better baddies, "because you secretly like them more. They bring more life force," says Linklater.

    Parker Posey (as Darla Marks)

    The indie-film queen broke out as freshmen-hazing Darla and made an immediate impact.

    "That Halloween people were dressing up as Parker's Darla," says Linklater. "That's how this film resonated with those who saw it."

    Renée Zellweger (in an uncredited role)

    Zellweger appears on a pickup truck holding a beer funnel and later walks past Wooderson as he says, "That's what I love about these high school girls, man. I get older, they stay the same age."

    "Renée didn't quite get the bigger part, but it said a lot about her that she just sort of hung out and was there," says Linklater. "At some point, she was kind of a cast member. It was technicality that she doesn't have a line."

    Milla Jovovich (as Michelle Burroughs)

    Jovovich was in a class of her own among the cast of unknowns, having starred in movies like 1991's Return to Blue Lagoon.

    "Milla was probably one of the only known stars," says Linklater. "It was a little odd for her being in a small part. I wish there had been a bigger one."

    Jovovich, then 16, made news marrying her onscreen boyfriend Shawn Andrews (Pickford). The marriage was annulled two months later.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Celebrate Easter Together as a Family with Easter Egg Hunt

    When it comes to celebrating holidays, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner make sure to put family first.

    The former couple reunited on Sunday to spend Easter with their three children, Violet 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4.

    "Affleck and Garner spent Easter Sunday with their kids," a source tells PEOPLE.

    The family started their day by attending a morning church service together in Los Angeles.

    Affleck and Garner, both 43, appeared relaxed as they walked up to church together, each holding on to one of their daughter Seraphina's hands while Affleck carried Samuel in his other arm.

    To keep the celebration going, Affleck – who is coming off of Batman v Superman's record-shattering $170 million domestic opening – and Garner held an Easter egg hunt at their house with friends, says the source.

    The holiday get-together comes after the family spent both Thanksgiving and Christmas together, and even went on a vacation over Valentine's day weekend. The actor also recently said they're planning a family vacation in Europe, where he'll be filming Justice League this spring.

    Since announcing their split in June, both Affleck and Garner have stressed that they are moving forward by simply focusing on their children.

    "We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day-to-day lives," said Affleck. "We don't know what the future's going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes second."

    'Batman v Superman' shrugs off bad reviews, opens to $170M

    Faster than a speeding bullet and impervious to lousy reviews, the superhero faceoff "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" rebounded from a smack down from critics to debut with a massive $170.1 million in North America, the sixth best opening of all-time.

    The stakes were high for the Warner Bros. release, which cost $250 million to make and about $150 million to market. But the studio's bid to launch a DC Comics universe to rival Marvel's empire was met with persistent PR pains and numerous changes in the release date.

    It fought skepticism over Ben Affleck's casting as Batman and a barrage of bad reviews earlier in the week. Things were bad enough to spawn a ubiquitous viral video of "Sad Ben Affleck," which took the actor's response to the reviews and scored it with Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence."

    But the allure of seeing two of the most iconic superheroes battle it out was enough to set a record for the best pre-summer debut. "Batman v Superman" also grossed $254 million overseas, bringing its global total to $424.1 million for the weekend.

    The mighty debut was met with a huge sigh of relief by Warner Bros. which invested its full marketing power in "Batman v Superman." The film, directed by Zack Snyder, is the first of 10 DC Comics adaptations planned by the studio over the next five years. Along with pitting Henry Cavill's Superman against Batman, it introduces a number of other heroes soon to get starring roles, including Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) and the Flash (Ezra Miller).

    Audiences gave the film a mediocre B CinemaScore, which suggested some moviegoers agreed with critics. But many fans (a good number of whom bought tickets well in advance) were undeterred.

    "There was a disconnect there between what critics wrote and the fan interest," said Jeff Goldstein, head of distribution for Warner Bros. "What we're seeing is a huge amount of repeat business."

    "Batman v Superman" dominated Easter weekend with the kind of blockbuster performance usually reserved for Memorial Day or July 4th. In second was the Disney Animation hit "Zootopia," with $23.1 million in its fourth week of domestic release. The go-to family release of the season, it has earned nearly $700 million globally. Universal's "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2," a sequel to the 2002 hit romantic comedy, debuted with $18.1 million — effective counterprogramming to the male-centric "Batman v Superman."

    Opening well above the $116.6 million debut of Snyder's Superman reboot "Man of Steel," ''Batman v Superman" again proved that among comic-book heroes, Batman (who took first billing from Superman, naturally) is second to none. The opening surpasses previous Batman installments "The Dark Knight Rises" ($160.9 million) and "The Dark Knight" ($158.4 million).

    "It proves that the concept is bigger than negative reviews," said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for comScore. "There was no way that if you're a comic book fan or just a movie fan that you're going to miss out on a match-up of such iconic characters. Audiences have to see the movie for themselves."

    The big weekend also breaks a poor stretch for Warner Bros., which was hobbled by a number of underperforming releases like "In the Heart of the Sea," ''Pan" and "Point Break." If the estimate Sunday holds, "Batman v Superman" will be Warner Bros.' best opening ever, topping "Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows Part 2" ($169.2 million).

    "We all know that studios have dips and you can't hit it out of the ballpark every time, although we try," Goldstein said. "And we had a little bit of a dip in 2015, no question. We always believed in our upcoming slate. We knew it was just a matter of getting to the films."

    Whether word-of-mouth will be good enough to help "Batman v Superman" maintain its record-setting pace in the coming weeks remains to be seen, but the March release date means it will have little competition. The film soaked up IMAX, 3-D and large-format screens, drawing a 62 percent male audience.

    "At the end of the day, a superhero movie can be a box-office superhero any month of the year," Dergarabedian said. "For Warner Bros., this is a seminal moment. It proves how quickly fortunes can rise and fall based on your slate of films. This was a bet that paid off really big for the studio."

    Warner Bros. will hope the success continues for its next DC Comics property, the all-villain team-up film "Suicide Squad," due out in August. Marvel and the Walt Disney Co. may also have been eyeing the result of "Batman v Superman" with interest. Their next installment comes in May with "Captain America: Civil War," which likewise pits two heroes (Iron Man and Captain America) against each other.

    Such a clash may feel like a repeat to moviegoers. More likely, "Batman v Superman" whetted appetites for more superhero-on-superhero violence.

    Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to comScore. Where available, the latest international numbers for Friday through Sunday are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

    1. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," $170.1 million ($254 million international).

    2. "Zootopia," $23.1 million ($42.5 million international).

    3. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2," $18.1 million ($8 million international).

    4. "Miracles From Heaven," $9.5 million.

    5. "The Divergent Series: Allegiant," $9.5 million ($9.5 million international).

    6. "10 Cloverfield Lane," $6 million ($2.5 million international).

    7. "Deadpool," $5 million ($3 million international).

    8. "London Has Fallen," $2.9 million ($4 million international).

    9. "Hello, My Name Is Doris," $1.7 million.

    10. "Eye in the Sky," $1 million.

    Ben Affleck Talks Co-Parenting with Jennifer Garner: She Has 'Set Such a Good Example and a Lead That I Follow'

    When it comes to co-parenting, Ben Affleck says he is lucky to have a partner like Jennifer Garner.

    After announcing their plans to divorce in June, the former couple have only had positive things to say about each other, and on Friday, Affleck, 43, continued to praise Garner while appearing on CBS This Morning.

    "I am a giant fan of Jennifer," he said. "She's just a fabulous person. She's just a wonderful person. She's a great mother. She's a real talent."

    While it's been a difficult time for the former couple, Affleck said they are moving forward by simply focusing on what they've vowed to do from the start: putting their children Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 4, first.

    "Life doesn't always turn out exactly the way you want," said the Batman v Superman star. "We're doing our very best and we're putting our kids first and that's how we're focusing on our day to day lives and we don't know what the future's going to hold, but each step that we take is one where we prioritize our children and everything else comes seconds."

    And according to Affleck, there's no one better at navigating just how to put up a united front than Garner.

    "She's just so good at doing that and has set such a good example and a lead that I follow," he said. "She's somebody that I admire and respect and remain excellent friends with."

    Ben Affleck Reflects on How Good Will Hunting Changed His Life for the Better: I'm Now on People's Lists

    If Ben Affleck is starring in your movie, something good is about to happen!

    Whether it's his critically acclaimed roles in Argo and Runner Runner or the box office success from He's Just Not That Into You and Gone Girl, Hollywood can't get enough of the A-list celebrity.

    On the heels of the release of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, E! News decided to travel back in time to 1997 when Ben was starring in Good Will Hunting. Before the film's release, the actor couldn't help but address how much the project was going to change his life.

    "Your life changes within your work. That all happens like way in advance of the movie coming out. So like the word on this movie is good. The word on that movie is good...Now I'm doing this big, enormous sort of science fiction studio movie with Bruce Willis and Billy Bob Thornton and a bunch of really cool people and that's kind of fun," he explained to E! News. "That's a change in my life that I would be considered to be like a lead in an enormous, huge, expensive, high-concept event movie and then by being in that, I'm like now considered a viable candidate for other movies."

    He continued, "When we first wrote Good Will Hunting, I don't think I was on many people's lists you know. In that regard it's changed my life."

    Little did Ben know that the movie would help him win a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Screenplay alongside his close friend Matt Damon.

    To top it all off, Ben admitted to E! News that all the "buzz" surrounding the film before his release didn't really affect him. After all, he saw more than a few projects with hype not go so well.

    "I never know what to make of the buzz," he shared with E! News. "My theory of the buzz is that the whole buzz thing is like, ‘I hear your movie is great.' I'm sure there are people out there who really thought they had a winner and the buzz was great and then when the movie came out, it got panned by the critics and didn't make a nickel and they were standing there around there going, ‘We had good buzz. What can I get for my buzz?' You really can't ride a bus on a buzz."

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theatres tomorrow.

    Ben Affleck Reveals How Zack Snyder Convinced Him He'd Be 'Perfect' to Play 'Morally Bankrupt' Batman

    Turns out Ben Affleck didn't need much convincing to play Batman in the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    "When Zack [Snyder] asked me I didn't think I would be right for the role," Affleck reveals on the U.K's The Graham Norton Show which airs Friday. "He said, 'He's completely broken down, he's older, falling apart and morally bankrupt – you are perfect for it!' "

    Once on board, studio bosses tried to prepare the 43-year-old for the inevitable criticism from super fans, and although he prepared himself for a backlash, Affleck thought: "'That wont happen to me, I'll be fine' But when the announcement went out and I went online one person had just said, 'Noooooooo!!' "

    Luckily, he bumped into his caped crusader predecessor Christian Bale at a fancy dress shop in Los Angeles, and the Batman Begins star had some practical costume advice to offer. "The only advice he gave was to have a zipper put in the costume. He said, 'I did three movies without a zipper and it was hell!' I took his advice." Adding jokingly, "Clooney's advice is unrepeatable!"

    The actor, who is currently going through a separation with wife Jennifer Garner, described the 43-year-old actress as a "superhero mom" at Sunday's New York City premiere of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He added that Garner is "an amazing mother and I'm really lucky to have her as a partner to co-parent these kids with."

    Promoting the film in London on Tuesday, the cast – which includes Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg and Gal Gadot – paid tribute to the victims of the terror attacks in Brussels with a moment of silence.

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters on March 25.

    Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill face off in 'Batman v Superman'

    The oldest actor ever to don the Dark Knight's cape and cowl by a good five years, 43-year-old Ben Affleck wasn't about to get into a competition with his 32-year-old "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" co-star Henry Cavill over who's the better fighter. Not even a friendly one.?

    "Henry's great at it. And I'm just too old for that (expletive)," said Affleck, whose Batman, earthly limitations and all, takes on the Man of Steel in the Zack Snyder film out Friday.

    "Ben's being very generous but it's not that tricky to do the Superman stuff," Cavill quickly responded. "What you're doing is you're throwing punches and then something super powered takes over. The CGI kicks in."

    "He's great with heat vision! You should see it," Affleck said, laughing.

    Anyone who knows anything about the world's most famous superheroes knows that it's not exactly a fair pairing. After all, no matter how much Batman bulks up or spends on gadgets and armor, he's still a man. Superman is something else. His actions in 2013's "Man of Steel" proved it, and also set into motion the events that lead to the showdown in "Batman v Superman."

    Superman's "Man of Steel" triumph came at a cost. The bad guy was defeated, but his actions left a city destroyed, thousands of lives lost, and it made a powerful enemy in the superhero next door — Batman.

    Affleck's Batman is older, wiser, and a little more jaded than we've ever seen him before. He's also suspicious of this all-powerful god-like being and decides that something must be done.

    Thankfully, that fundamental day versus night, man versus alien rivalry didn't carry over when the cameras stopped rolling, although Affleck laughed that he was still getting used to the idea that he's not the young guy on set anymore.

    "This is a hard movie, mechanically. It was disjointed in a lot of ways putting it together," Affleck said. "It was good that we got along and I had somebody like Henry to help me get through it. If we had hated each other it would have been an agonizing process. It was a long 120 days."

    Plus, Cavill said, consistently trying to one-up someone is exhausting.

    Besides, both actors had enough to think about, between making their characters distinctive and also getting into fighting shape. They had an advantage over many of their Hollywood counterparts just by nature of the fact that they're both north of 6 feet tall, but they still needed to build muscle and quickly lean down before filming started so they wouldn't have fat faces either, Cavill said.

    Affleck said the costumers essentially became his conscience during the process.

    "They have to keep coming over and doing measurements over and over again because the suit has to fit just right," Affleck said. "It gives you good track of your body. You feel like if you're not getting bigger the costumers will know it and think you must be slacking off."

    Ultimately it was about establishing a believable reality for Batman's brute power on screen.

    "Audiences really want and respect that actors will get themselves physically in the kind of shape that it's plausible to do this stuff," Affleck said. "Hugh Jackman's got to look right. He's got to look like Wolverine. When you see him, it's impressive and it makes you believe it."

    Physical presence aside, Cavill and Affleck both relished in the scope and scale of the endeavor — and its ultimate reach. Affleck, in his first outing as the Dark Knight, will continue on in the "Justice League" movies too, the first of which starts shooting this year.

    "This has become the widest, broadest genre for communicating and storytelling, particularly internationally. You're able to use these stories to evoke interesting themes and tell stories that you think might have resonance. There's something really powerful in that," Affleck said.

    Chris Terrio, who won an Oscar for his "Argo" script, co-wrote "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" and certainly made sure to lace it with big ideas that go much deeper than many contemporary comic adaptations.

    "When Superman shows up he engenders a lot of fear. He's so powerful that people feel threatened and so there's this notion of how we behave when we're threatened and how it provokes our lesser selves — we have the urge to strike out at someone because they're powerful," Affleck said.

    Superman, too, looks a little different from the selfless do-gooder who people know and love in this film.

    "Superman is an ideal. He's something to aspire to be," Cavill said. "We're going through an evolution of Kal-El becoming the true Superman who we know in the comic books. In this he's making mistakes and learning from them and having emotional, knee jerk reactions and realizing that those are not the way to deal with things when it comes to being earth's savior...it's a difficult line to toe. People care a lot about these characters."

    "It's not easy being earth's savior," Affleck said.

    "No," Cavill laughed. "It's not."

    Review: Worlds collide in 'Batman v Superman'

    Zac Snyder's thundering and grim "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" offers the kind of blunt, mano-a-mano faceoff usually reserved for Predators, Godzillas and presidential candidates. ?

    And just as has often been said of this election year, "Batman v Superman" takes a once almost charming tradition and plunges it into the gutter. Long gone are the telephone booths, corn fields or any other such tokens of innocence. And given the prevailing climate, Snyder may have judged the rock'em-sock'em moment wisely. Gentlemen, keep your fists up and your capes neatly tucked.

    "Batman v Superman," as heavy and humorless as a Supreme Court decision, is an 18-wheeler of a movie lumbering through a fallen world. It hurtles not with the kinetic momentum of "Mad Max: Fury Road" nor the comparatively spry skip of a Marvel movie, but with an operatic grandeur it sometimes earns and often doesn't.

    This is "Paradise Lost" for superheroes. It twists and grinds two of the most classic comic heroes, wringing new, less altruistic emotions out of them until their dashing smiles turn to angry grimaces.

    After a handsome, impressionistic montage of Batman's iconic childhood, the film picks up where Snyder's Superman reboot "Man of Steel" left off but from a different perspective. Bruce Wayne (Ben Affleck) is driving through the falling debris of Metropolis while Superman (Henry Cavill) careens carelessly above.

    Snyder has channeled the backlash over the high death-toll finale into Wayne, who bitterly watches Superman from the dust-filled air on the ground — a cheap evocation of Sept. 11 designed to add solemnity where there isn't any.

    Months later, the two are still distrustfully circling each other. Snyder, working from a script by Chris Terrio ("Argo") and David Goyer ("Man of Steel"), delves into their opposite natures: one a godlike power from another planet who favors primary colors, the other a well-equipped human prone to a darker palette.

    At a party thrown by Lex Luthor (the badly miscast Jesse Eisenberg), the billionaire-inventor who's secretly weaponizing Kryptonite, their two alter-egos are surprisingly passive aggressive. Kent, the reporter, queries Wayne about "the bat vigilante problem," while Wayne, citing the laudatory coverage of Superman in the Daily Planet, voices his distaste for "freaks who dress like clowns."

    Both are combating a new environment for superheroes best articulated by none other than astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, who, on TV, describes supermen as altering man's assumed supremacy in the universe like Copernicus' discoveries did. "We're criminals, Alfred," Batman, fresh from torturing a foe, tells his butler (Jeremy Irons, adding an icy flare to the character). "We've always been criminals."

    Luthor's plot gradually brings the heroes into the same orbit, along with Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). But it's the genuine rigor of Snyder's engagement with the psychology of Superman and Batman that keeps the film grounded and the rivalry plausible. Seeing the two warp toward villainy may be a trick, like "Seinfeld's" Jerry and Kramer switching apartments, but "Batman v Superman" is serious about contemplating the curious positions these all-powerful beings occupy in a world that has grown to resent their might.

    It's in some ways an ideal film for Snyder, an exceptionally un-subtle filmmaker with the sensibility of a car crash. But as the director of "300," he knows his way around a ramming collision. And unlike Marvel films, DC Comic adaptations have, for better (Christopher Nolan's "Dark Knight" trilogy) and worse ("Man of Steel"), been works of distinct directors.

    Snyder's command is less sure when it comes to, well, normal life. "Batman v Superman" would rather spend its lengthy running time in the throes of myth than somewhere like the offices of the Daily Planet, where the eminently pert Amy Adams (Lois Lane) breezes in and out.

    As for the much discussed casting of Affleck, Keaton and Bale have little to worry about. But Affleck is a worthy heir to the part, albeit with a chin that's a dead giveaway in the suit. If anything, there's only so much room for individual performance here; when armored, Affleck's already beefed-up Batman looks like a tank.

    There's an elemental fun in positing the winners of superhero square offs. Is the Flash faster than Superman? Is Aquaman or Wonder Woman the better tipper? Is everybody just kind of weirded out by the Silver Surfer?

    Such debates are predicated on their inherent silliness, something the self-serious "Batman v Superman" ignores. Snyder's task is considerable in that he's marrying the realistic crime world of Batman and the more fantastical realm of Superman, plus providing the requisite cameos (including Jason Momoa's Aquaman and Ezra Miller's Flash) to tease movies to come.

    But what's there to fight about anyway? The most important battle was already decided: Batman, long our favorite, already has top billing.

    "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice," a Warner Bros. release, is rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America for "intense sequences of violence and action throughout, and some sensuality." Running time: 151 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

    Ben Affleck says he's serious about playing Batman

    Ben Affleck hopes Batman fans who were skeptical of him playing the caped crusader in "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" realize how seriously he took the role.?

    "The most difficult thing about making this movie, honestly, was the physical aspect," Affleck told The Associated Press on Sunday on the red carpet for the film's New York premiere at Radio City Music Hall.

    Affleck said he wanted to be in shape, so he worked out hard.

    "Having to be in the gym every day, six in the morning ... I wasn't used to that kind of workout regimen," Affleck said. "Fans have come to expect that if you're going to play a superhero, you got to look in the body like a superhero. I knew the camera was going to be looking at me and the guillotine was there so I knew I had to be ready."

    When Warner Bros. made the announcement nearly three years ago that Affleck would play Batman, some fans weren't thrilled, and the backlash led to petitions asking the studio to remove him.

    Eventually, it blew over, and the two-time Oscar winner feels proud to be part of the Batman legacy.

    "I'm really honored to be part of a tradition that Christian Bale and Christopher Nolan, great talents, worked on. Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, Tim Burton, great talents. So I just wanted to do my best. I think we did something different, but something that is still very much Batman," Affleck said.

    Co-star Jesse Eisenberg shared a similar experience when he was cast as Superman's arch-nemesis, Lex Luthor.

    Eisenberg, famous for his role as Mark Zuckerberg in "The Social Network," empathized with his critics.

    "I can assure them as critical as they are of me, I'm more critical. No one is more concerned or critical or worried about doing a good job than I am," Eisenberg said.

    Amy Adams, who plays Lois Lane in the film, praised both Eisenberg and Affleck.

    "I think the audience is going to have to decide for themselves. (I) got to see it, and I was blown away," Adams said. "They both bring something we've never seen before in these characters, but something that really pays homage to the canon, so I think they are going to be really happy."

    "I think people are going to like it," Affleck said. "All you can do is do your best."

    Affleck says Batman-fan son too young to see new film

    Ben Affleck might be Batman to his four-year-old fan-boy son, Samuel, but that doesn't mean he'll get to see his dad in action in "Batman v Superman" with the rest of the world when it hits theaters next week.

    "Four years old is a little young to see this whole movie," Affleck said in a Friday interview. "I don't want him to have nightmares."

    Affleck has often said he partly took on the role for his three kids — his son in particular. And from dressing up as the dark knight for Samuel's themed birthday party to tipping the FedEx delivery guy a few bucks to stage a fake fight just because Samuel believes that he's the Joker, it's a part that hasn't gone away for Affleck when the cameras stop rolling, especially with the starry-eyed youngster around.

    Samuel has seen his dad in trailers for the film and whatever footage is available online, though, and, according to Affleck, those two-minute clips are basically "his whole attention span anyway."

    Affleck said at the very least, his oldest daughter, Violet, 10, can definitely see the PG-13 rated film. In addition to Violet and Samuel, Affleck and Jennifer Garner also have a 7-year-old daughter, Seraphina. The couple separated last year after 10 years of marriage.

    As for Samuel, Affleck said he'll be able to see some of "Batman v Superman" soon, even if it's chopped up.

    "I'll have to con one of the editors into giving me a truncated version of the movie without some of the scarier stuff," he said.

    It's On! Ben Affleck Fights Back Against Matt Damon's Dig At Batman

    It was back in September that Matt Damon launched a war against his bestie Ben Affleck.

    "Jason Bourne would kick the s--t out of Batman—absolutely!" Damon told E! News. "Batman's gotta take on Superman first. If he could beat him then maybe he could take on Jason Bourne."

    So what does Mr. Affleck have to say about them there fightin' words?

    "Matt is going around saying this all over the place but not to my face," Affleck told E! News' Maria Menounos while he was promoting Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice with his co-star Henry Cavill. "But Matt can't even beat me up, never mind Batman. You know what I'm saying? He has a long way to go."

    The two lifelong best friends will be seeing each other sooner than later. "They're just finishing the Bourne movie now when we have our premiere over in London," Affleck said. "I'll see Matt and he can take me up on it."

    No doubt Affleck was probably in the best shape of his life while shooting Batman v Superman.

    Director Zack Snyder had a gym on set. "He was very supportive of the idea of everyone working out, being in shape, being fit," Affleck said.

    Unfortunately, Cavill had to deal with Superman's...hair product!

    "It stings the eyes," Cavill said. "Like when it's raining, it's coming down and you're covered with your own hair gel all over your face. It burns."

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is in theaters on March 25. Amy Adams reprises her role as Lois Lane. Gal Gadot plays Wonder Woman and Jesse Eisenberg is the creepy villain Lex Luthor. Rounding out the cast are Jeremy Irons, Diane Lane, Laurence Fishburne, Holly Hunter and Scoot McNairy.

    Ben Affleck's Daughter Not So Impressed By Batman, Wanted Dad to Be in Harry Potter

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's four-year-old son Samuel may think it's cool that his dad is Batman, but their daughters Violet and Seraphina not so much.

    "I think the girls are into it but my oldest daughter is a super Harry Potter nut so she's wanted me to be in that," Affleck told E! News' Maria Menounos earlier today while promoting Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice alongside his co-star Henry Cavill. "I told her, 'I didn't have the option to be in a Harry Potter movie—this is what I got.'"

    The Oscar winner thinks Violet, 10, and Seraphina, 7, will be more into Wonder Woman, played by Gal Gadot. "She's a cool role model for girls," Affleck said. "I didn't want to make a movie where the guys were the heroes and the women were the damsels in distress. [Wonder Woman] comes in and was more heroic than the both of us."

    The Affleck kids have gotten used to being on movie sets.

    "They've been on a million of Jen's sets and my sets," he said. "And we typically take them to the other's set and hang out…They've learned to really behave well on set and they're used to it, so they get it that we play other people and that's why we have a certain kind of life."

    They don't always get to see the final product. "The last 10 years have been mostly R-rated movies so this is one they get to see," Affleck said.

    However, Affleck will show Samuel an edited version that doesn't include the "scary" scenes.

    What a dad!

    Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is in theaters on March 25.

    Ben Affleck Says His Massive Back Tattoo is 'Fake For a Movie'

    Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice star Ben Affleck is setting the record straight about his huge back tattoo.

    "[It's] fake for a movie," Affleck, 43, told Extra's Mario Lopez. "I actually do have a number of tattoos … but I try to have them in places where you don't have to do a lot of cover up … they get sort of addictive, tattoos, after awhile."

    Ben Affleck Says His Massive Back Tattoo is 'Fake For a Movie'| Batman vs. Superman, Movie News, Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill

    The back piece, which is a full color picture of a phoenix taking flight, takes up Affleck's back completely.

    His onscreen foe Henry Cavill, who plays Superman, happens to be the exact opposite, revealing to Lopez that he has no tattoos, not because of any backlash he might receive, but just because he doesn't want them.

    Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice hits theaters March 25.

    Ben Affleck Jokes He Had 'Too Many Complexes to Sort Through’ When Preparing for Batman

    Playing a role like Batman is bound to bring the little kid out of any grownup actor.

    But when asked where his excitement for the role comes from – his little boy hero complex or his adult hero complex – Ben Affleck couldn't decide.

    "I have too many complexes to sort through," the actor joked at the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice press conference in Los Angeles Friday. "I think I tapped into equal measure of my adult geekness and kid excitement. Every day there was something to kind of geek out about. It was exciting every day."

    He explained that he and audiences continue to be drawn to the character because Batman is "a guy who on the one hand is powerful and exciting and can do things we all wish we could do but is also still a human being and struggling with his own vulnerabilities."

    Affleck's personal interest in the Caped Crusader dates back to his childhood in Boston. "There is a store called Million Year Picnic, which is still open I think, which is where I bought my first Frank Miller comic book," he recalled.

    "That really took my appreciation for this genre to another level," he continued. "I like the idea that both Bruce Wayne and Batman were both unhealthy people who were dealing with unhealthy behavior at night as a result of psychological scars they got from childhood. That duality was something that was really interesting to explore."

    Despite his familiarity with the Batman comic books written by Frank Miller, on which the new film is loosely based, Affleck said he did not rely heavily on the source material in his preparation. "For me there was really enough material in the screenplay and with Zack [Snyder]'s direction there was plenty for me to grab on to and use my imagination and build this character."

    Nevertheless, previous actors' acclaimed portrayals of Bruce Wayne loomed large. "It's certainly daunting because of the people who have played this character before and the great filmmakers," he admitted. "Most recently Christian [Bale] and Chris [Nolan] who made brilliant movies," he said, referencing Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy. "There is that element of healthy respect you have for the project and for the characters and their history."

    Ben Affleck & Matt Damon Reality Series ‘The Runner’ To Launch On Verizon Go90

    Sixteen years after they first pitched the concept, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s reality competition series The Runner finally is coming to fruition with a pickup by Verizon’s recently launched free, ad-supported video platform, go90. For the latest incarnation of the reality chase, Affleck and Damon have teamed with their partners on Project Greenlight, Adaptive Studios’ Marc Joubert and Perrin Chiles, and top unscripted producer Craig Piligian of Pilgrim Media Group, a Lionsgate company. All five executive produce the series, which is slated for a launch this summer.

    On The Runner, where the top prize is $1 million, one person, the chosen “Runner”, attempts to make it across the U.S. unnoticed over the course of 30 days while following clues about his or her itinerary, including mandated checkpoints. At the same time, eight two-person teams, “Chasers,” equipped with mobile devices that also receive clues, try to track the Runner’s moves and make a capture before the next checkpoint is reached. People at home can play along on go90 in real time and provide tips and information that can help capture the Runner for cash rewards. Real-time video updates are provided on go90 throughout the game, with multiple updates released each day.

    ‘The Runner integrates real high-stakes competition, live elements, a need for speed, and the ability to fight and persevere,” said Piligian. Added Joubert, “The Runner is our way of meeting a Millennial audience where they live – on their smartphones and on social media.”

    Affleck and Damon first sold The Runner to ABC in 2000. The series was slated for a midseason launch during the 2001-2002 season but was halted in the aftermath of 9/11 when security concerns compounded the already big challenges of the complex and expensive production.

    The project was revived by Yahoo in 2006 when Affleck and Damon were joined by top reality producer Mark Burnett. Financial and production considerations thwarted a green light.

    Advancements in technology over the last decade are said to have contributed to The Runner‘s resurrection, making it a more feasible proposition that it was in 2000 or 2006. A reality show with a similar concept, Hunted, was ordered to series by CBS last fall. It hasn’t been scheduled but appears unlikely for a summer run, which would’ve pitted it against The Runner.

    Casting for The Runner is currently underway. The project was packaged by WME.

    Ben Affleck: Jennifer Garner is ‘allowed’ to talk nanny scandal

    Two weeks after Jennifer Garner’s head-turning Vanity Fair interview about her crumbling marriage to Ben Affleck, the action hero is issuing his own statement.

    “Jen’s great,” Affleck, 43, told the New York Times in an interview that ran Monday. “She’s a great person. We’re on great terms. I just saw her this morning, so that’s the reality that I live in.”

    The pair officially called it quits in June 2015, then were dogged by rumors that Affleck and the nanny for their three kids, Christine Ouzounian, were dating.

    Some headlines suggested Ouzounian was the cause of their split, but Garner, 43, denied Ouzounian had anything to do with their failed 10-year marriage. She called any involvement on Affleck’s part “bad judgment” and insisted their marriage was over months before the reports.

    “She felt like she wanted to discuss it and get it out there and get it over with,” Affleck said of Garner’s VF comments. “So she could say, ‘Look, I already talked about it — I don’t want to do it again.’”

    He added, “It’s fine. She’s allowed to talk about it.”

    Since their divorce has become a hot topic, Affleck and Garner have remained close, flocking to Montana in February for a family vacation with fellow couple Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Spotted Eating Brunch Together with Kids: 'The Vibe Is Much Happier'

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck reunited for some quality family time together on Sunday.

    The amicable exes were spotted getting brunch together with their daughters Seraphina, 7, and Violet, 10, in Los Angeles. They were seen picking up food from the Amandine Patisserie Café.

    "Ben and Jen spent Sunday with their kids. They had brunch together, Jen then ran errands alone and also attended a charity event," a source tells PEOPLE.

    The two were all smiles as they chatted and walked through the parking lot after brunch before parting ways in their respective cars.

    "Ben and Jen seemed totally fine. They actually acted like they enjoyed hanging out," adds the source. "They were smiling and very friendly. Things definitely seem much better. They also hung out at home over the weekend. The vibe is much happier."

    The afternoon outing comes just one week after the former couple were seen having a "nice moment" together at the Vanity Fair Oscar party. There, the two shared a friendly hug and kiss as they mingled among fellow partygoers.

    "They had a nice moment where they caught up and a lot of their friends were there – and they chatted and then they left," a source told PEOPLE.

    Affleck and Garner also reunited to celebrate their son Sam's 4th birthday last week with a superhero-themed bash, where Affleck dressed up at Batman.

    The Caped Crusader taunts the Man of Steel in new ‘Batman v Superman’ TV spot

    The Caped Crusader taunts the Man of Steel in new ‘Batman v Superman’ TV spot: Video.

    Ben Affleck surprises ‘Batman v Superman’ fans with Batmobile prank

    Ben Affleck surprises ‘Batman v Superman’ fans with Batmobile prank: Video.

    Jennifer Lopez on Ex Ben Affleck's Massive Phoenix Back Tattoo: 'It's Awful!'

    It's safe to say, Jennifer Lopez is not a fan of Ben Affleck's body art.

    The actress and singer dished about her ex-fiancé on Watch What Happens Live Monday, telling host Andy Cohen how bad Affleck's massive Phoenix back tattoo looks.

    "It's awful! What are you doing?" Lopez, 46, said during the "Plead the Fifth" segment. "His tattoos always have too many colors, they shouldn't be so colorful. They should be cooler."

    In December, Affleck, 43, showed off his large-scale ink featuring a large phoenix taking flight with additional art surrounding it.

    The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star also has a dolphin on his right hip covering up the name of his high school sweetheart, and has been seen with barbed wire across his right bicep, a large design featuring a fish and a skull and crossbones on his right arm and some initials inscribed on his shoulder blade.

    Affleck met Lopez on the set of Gigli in 2002, and super couple Bennifer was born. The pair got engaged that same year, and planned to wed in Santa Barbara, California, on September 2003, but he called off the ceremony with four days' notice because of "excessive media attention." The couple officially announced their split months later.

    This isn't the first time Affleck has been brought up during a Lopez WWHL appearance. The Shades of Blue star Lopez took credit for her ex's fashionable moments in 2014 saying, "He had some good fashion moments with me. Yeah!"

    Inside Leonardo DiCaprio and Ben Affleck's Top Secret Oscars After-Party

    The party doesn't start until Leonardo DiCaprio wins big!

    While there were plenty of reasons to celebrate inside the Dolby Theatre on Oscar night, the real fun may not have begun until the cameras turned off.

    E! News can confirm The Revenant star celebrated his big Best Actor win with a private party at an undisclosed location.

    Around 25 people including Lenny Kravitz, Ben Affleck and Richie Akiva showed up to a private home as awards season came to an end. The guests were invited to the bash after receiving small gold Oscar statuette pins.

    A source tells us that the small, intimate gathering was a success and that the final guests didn't leave until the early morning hours.

    To say the 2016 awards season was a big one for Leo would certainly be an understatement. After taking home a Golden Globe as the Best Actor in a Drama Movie, the 41-year-old started a winning streak that continued all the way to the Oscars.

    "Thank you all so very much. Thank you to the Academy, thank you to all of you in this room," he told the crowd after receiving a standing ovation. "To my parents, none of this would be possible without you. My friends, I love you dearly. You know who you are."

    He continued, "Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted."

    Awards aside, there was also one person who may have made Leo's season a bit better. Yes, we're talking about his Titanic co-star Kate Winslet.

    Whether sharing innocent hugs on the red carpet or cheering each other on from their seats, this pair's consistent reunions may have left everyone a big winner.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck 'Had a Nice Moment' Together at Oscars Afterparty

    Hollywood is a small world for these friendly exes.

    Just one day after reuniting with Ben Affleck to throw their son a birthday party, Jennifer Garner and the actor wound up at the same Oscars soiree, where they were spotted briefly greeting each other.

    Both stars attended the famed 2016 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Graydon Carter, mingling with the likes of Best Actor and Actress winners Leonardo DiCaprio and Brie Larson.

    When they initially arrived, the amicable exes were seen standing a few feet away from each other without interacting as they chatted with fellow party guests.

    Later in the evening, Affleck and Garner shared a friendly hug and a kiss, and at one point Garner held his lapels as she appeared to compliment his look. The two later parted ways, with Garner staying toward the back of the room with close friends Victor Garber and J.J. Abrams.

    (Earlier, Affleck was spotted meeting up with pal and Best Actor nominee Matt Damon on the patio.)

    "They had a nice moment where they caught up and a lot of their friends were there – and they chatted and then they left," a source tells PEOPLE of the former couple.

    Garner, who presented during the awards with Benicio Del Toro looked sophisticated in an off-the-shoulder black Atelier Versace gown.

    Affleck also appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Sunday, jokingly smuggling Damon onto the late-night show's set as part of a long-running gag with the host.

    On Friday, Garner's illuminating cover interview with Vanity Fair was published, dropping several bombshells about her painful split from Affleck after 10 years of marriage.

    Garner said that Affleck's alleged affair with the couple's nanny (which he vehemently denies) came after their decision to separate, and that she would marry him all over again if she had to "go back" in time.

    Ben Affleck 'Is the Love of My Life': The Biggest Bombshells from Jennifer Garner's Vanity Fair Interview

    Jennifer Garner is speaking out about her painful split from Ben Affleck for the first time – and she has a lot to say.

    From addressing the nanny scandal to not being kissed in nearly eight months and of course, Affleck's new tattoo, Garner, 43, doesn't hold back.

    Here are the nine biggest bombshells from the Vanity Fair interview.

    On not being able to sleep alone: Garner admitted that she's had trouble sleeping since the divorce, turning to watching television in bed at night to soothe her thoughts. "I need something to switch my brain off," she said, adding that her eldest daughter Violet has been sleeping in her room. "I am sleeping next to my daughter. I am happy to have her; she's happy to have me."

    On Ben Affleck's alleged nanny affair (which he adamantly denies): "We had been separated for months before I ever heard about the nanny," said Garner. "She had nothing to do with our decision to divorce. She was not a part of the equation. Bad judgment? Yes."

    On avoiding the media circus following the split: "I just won't do it anymore. I took a silent oath with myself last summer," she said. While some interpreted her silence as her being emotionless, but she says it's the opposite. "It hurts me so much, and I care so much." Instead, she remains focused on her kids and the "big picture," not letting anger rule her emotions.

    On Affleck being the love of her life: "I didn't marry the big fat movie star; I married him, she said. "And I would go back and remake that decision." Despite any heartbreak she's felt since their split, Garner said Affleck will always have a special place in her heart. "He's the love of my life. What am I going to do about that? He's the most brilliant person in any room, the most charismatic, the most generous. He's just a complicated guy"

    On not being kissed in eight months: The actress revealed that filming a love scene in her upcoming film Wakefield was the first time she had been kissed in nearly eight months – so naturally it felt a little strange. "It's nine in the morning and you think, I could really use a shot of alcohol."

    On still turning to Affleck when things get tough: "We still have to help each other get through this," she said. "He's still the only person who really knows the truth about things. And I'm still the only person that knows some of his truths."

    On wanting Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt to get back together: If there's one thing Garner can understand, it's secretly rooting for your favorite celebrity couple. She said she's not upset when those around her, including her fans, want to see her and Affleck figure out a way to make things work between them. "When Jen Aniston and Brad Pitt broke up I was dying to see something that said they were getting back together."

    On getting asked out on a date: While Garner probably won't date until the divorce is final, that certainly hasn't stopped a few brave souls from taking a shot – even in the airport. Garner recalled being asked out while standing in line for the bathroom before a flight. "I was so floored," she said, adding that she isn't so interested in modern-day romance techniques. "I want flowers; I don't want to text," she said. "What does that make me? What kind of dinosaur am I?"

    On Affleck's full back tattoo: Let's just say, Garner isn't a big fan. "You know what we would say in my hometown about that? 'Bless his heart.' A phoenix rising from the ashes. Am I the ashes in this scenario? I take umbrage. I refuse to be the ashes."

    Ben Affleck Is a 'Sexy, Smart and Seductive' Batman, Says Costume Designer

    Ben Affleck is Batman.

    Affleck, 43, is taking on the role of the Caped Crusader in the upcoming Batman v Superman, and according to costume designer Michael Wilkinson, fans are going to be "blown away" by his portrayal of the beloved DC Comics character.

    "I think people are going to be blown away by his Bruce Wayne and his Batman," Wilkinson told PEOPLE at the 18th Costume Designers Guild Awards on Tuesday night. "It just feels right, like he was born to be this character."

    Wilkinson said Affleck embodies the perfect combination of characteristics to put his own spin on the character, while staying true to the Batman fans have grown up with.

    "He's sexy, he's smart and seductive," he said. "He's strong and a little intimidating and scary, he's a real brawler, there's nothing precious about his Bruce Wayne. He rolls up his sleeves and gets it done."

    And with the help of Wilkinson, Affleck certainly looks the part. Wilkinson also revealed the actor's initial thoughts when seeing himself in the iconic costume for the first time.

    "I remember he just kind of looked at himself in the mirror, pretty happy with how he looked," he said. "The costume is very intimidating and huge and I think he intimidated himself when he looked in the mirror, so that's a good sign."

    So what should fans expect from the upcoming film?

    "Hold onto your socks because they're about to blown off," he said.

    Also starring Henry Cavill, Batman v Superman hits theaters March 25.

    A More Violent, R-Rated Version of Batman v Superman Will Be Released On Home Video

    The dark-er knight?

    A more violent and graphic version of the upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice will be released when the film becomes available on the home video market.

    Fans can see the Zach Snyder-directed film first on March 25, and then get even more action with the extended cut, dubbed the "Ultimate Edition," according to the film ratings board.

    The bonus scenes earned an R rating from the Motion Picture Association of America because of violence, according to Entertainment Weekly.

    The Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill-starring theatrical version of the film has a PG-13 rating for "intense sequences of violence and action throughout, and some sensuality."

    Batman v Superman finds the two iconic comic book heroes facing off, with Affleck's Bruce Wayne harboring a personal vendetta against the Man of Steel (Cavill).

    Inside Ben Affleck's Life Post-Split: It's 'Not That Easy' Divorcing in the Public Eye, Says Friend

    Ben Affleck is still adjusting to his newly single life.

    Since splitting from Jennifer Garner in June after 10 years of marriage, Affleck, 43, has been diving into work. The actor is currently filming his latest directorial effort in Live By Night and promoting the highly anticipated Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, out March 25.

    And it seems that keeping his mind on work has helped him heal.

    "He is happier and a more fulfilled person when he's busy all day and night working," a film source tells PEOPLE in this week's cover story. "He's smart, dedicated and restless."

    Regarding his romantic life, a friend says "he is not dating anyone."

    While the former couple continues to sort out the details of their pending divorce, Affleck is doing his best to stay positive.

    "Ben is doing great," adds a source close to Affleck. "He is as happy as he can be in this position. I don't think it's that easy, and definitely not that easy to do it in the public eye."

    And as always, he relishes his life as a father, making sure to spend as much time with his three kids as his hectic schedule will allow.

    "He's putting on a united front out of respect for the children and for her and for each other," adds a friend of the couple. "On that Ben has never wavered."

    What nanny? Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner hit the slopes

    Despite their divorce and his much-dissected, alleged affair with the nanny, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are on a cozy ski vacation together with Tom Brady and Gisele Bündchen in Montana.

    The Hollywood couple and their kids are at the exclusive Yellowstone Club in Big Sky, along with the Patriots star and his supermodel wife. The family trip with Brady’s brood comes despite the fact that Affleck’s nanny Christine Ouzounian was famously photographed on the actor’s chartered jet wearing the QB’s Super Bowl rings.

    A source at the resort told us that Affleck, Garner, Brady and Bündchen are there with their kids and were spotted at the bar late on Monday night.

    “They had some serious après-ski and shut the bar down. They started drinking bloody marys, then beer and bourbons. They kept the bar open late for them. They all ate nachos, even Gisele,” the source said. They were joined by CBS journalist Sharyn Alfonsi and husband Matt Eby.

    Our source added, “There were no nannies in sight, but Jen doesn’t look like she is harboring any resentment. Jen and Ben weren’t lovey-dovey at all, but were super-friendly and happy, relaxed. They were both attentive to their kids and laughing with Tom and Gisele. ”

    Another source close to Affleck and Garner said of the couple, “They are not back together — they have just found a new normal where they get along and work together for the sake of the kids.” The source also insisted that Affleck is not drinking, “He’s getting in shape for ‘Batman.’”

    The Yellowstone Club is a favorite among celebs like Affleck and Garner because it’s very private and only those who own homes there, plus their guests, are allowed to ski on the mountain.

    Meanwhile, Brady has been spotted strapping on a leg brace before hitting the slopes. This week he posted a Facebook picture of himself about to ski down a difficult double-black-diamond trail.

    He wrote, “At least it’s safer than cliff jumping,” referring to his post-Super Bowl pastime last year, which sent Patriots fans into a frenzy over his possible injury from a risky sport.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Head Take the Kids to Montana for a Family Valentine's Day Weekend

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are holding to their promise to stay friendly for the kids – even during Valentine's Day weekend.

    They were seen boarding a private plane Friday, with a source telling PEOPLE that the family arrived at a ski resort in Montana, where they own a condo and they all spent Christmas together last year.

    Affleck and Garner arrived at Van Nuys Airport outside Los Angeles with daughter Seraphina, 7, and son Samuel, 3. Their eldest daughter, Violet, 10, did not appear to be with the group.

    The exes, who splint June after ten years together, are still living on the same property, with Affleck staying in the guesthouse.

    Garner, who was just named as a presenter for the Oscars, and Affleck are working hard to make their pending divorce as smooth as possible for their three kids, a source told PEOPLE.

    "[Garner] wants to get along with Ben for the kids' sakes," a source close to the couple said.

    That included spending the Christmas holidays, where they enjoyed a winter getaway at a ski resort in Big Sky, Montana.

    "They had a nice Christmas," a source told PEOPLE.

    "Jen and Ben seem happy to be on vacation. They both enjoy the privacy of Montana."

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    Syfy Picks Up ‘Incorporated’ Thriller From Matt Damon & Ben Affleck To Series

    Syfy has given a 13-episode series order to Incorporated, its futuristic thriller pilot from Matt Damon, Ben Affleck & Jennifer Todd’s Pearl Street Films, CBS Television Studios and Universal Cable Prods.

    Created by David & Alex Pastor, who wrote and directed the pilot, Incorporated is set in a near future where corporations have unlimited power. It centers around Ben Larson (Sean Teale), a young executive who conceals his true identity to infiltrate a very dangerous corporate world to save the woman he loves. But he’ll soon learn that he’s not the only one whose secrets may have deadly consequences.

    Eddie Ramos, Dennis Haysbert and Julia Ormond co-star in the series, slated to premiere in fall 2016. Ted Humphrey will serve as executive producer/showrunner, with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Todd also executive producing. Pearl Street Films’ Margaret Chernin will serve as co-producer.

    “The most powerful science fiction holds up a mirror to our world,” said Dave Howe, President, Syfy & Chiller. “Incorporated is exactly that type of smart, provocative series, delivering a fresh, edge of your seat thriller that challenges notions of the world we live in today.”

    Incorporated is part of the creative revamp at Syfy, which started with Expanse, already renewed for a second season. It is being followed by The Magicians, which has been well received, and the upcoming Hunters, from The Walking Dead executive producer Gale Anne Hurd.

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    Poster, Video.

    Ben Affleck and Zoë Saldana are Prohibition Era Chic Filming Live by Night

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Zoë Saldana sure make fictional criminal activity look glamorous.

    Not that they're criminals, of course, but the project they are currently filming — Affleck’s latest directorial effort Live by Night is set in the world of crime.

    Dressed in dapper and elegant fashion from the time period, the Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice star and happy new mom look very much the part of two characters straight out of the roaring 20s. Judging from the series of photos taken of the two stars on the chilly Los Angeles set (temperature evidence courtesy of the warm weather coat Saldana is wearing between takes), Affleck and Saldana's characters seem to be having a tête-à-tête in a busy market square, surrounded by a few youngsters. They also seem to be keeping things light on set and smiling a lot, despite Affleck's extra work stress of working in front of and behind the camera.

    The film is based on Dennis Lehane's award winning crime novel set in the Prohibition Era. The story revolves around a group of individuals living in a world of crime and also stars: Sienna Miller, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper.

    Live by Night is slated for release December 31, 2017.

    Batman Asks Superman “Do You Bleed?” In New ‘Dawn Of Justice’ TV Spot

    Batman Asks Superman “Do You Bleed?” In New ‘Dawn Of Justice’ TV Spot: Video.

    Batman v Superman Director Zach Snyder Explains Why Ben Affleck Is the Perfect Batman: 'He's Got the Chin, He's Got the Chops'

    From Christian Bale to George Clooney, plenty of talented actors have donned the cape and cowl over the years, but Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice director Zack Snyder thinks he's finally found the ultimate caped crusader in Ben Affleck.

    "He's an amazing Bruce Wayne, let's just be frank about that. And then when he puts the cowl on, you know he's got the chin for it," Snyder tells PEOPLE while dishing about his (and the Batmobile's) role in this year's Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest.

    While the director acknowledges the casting raised some eyebrows from fans (and even Affleck himself) early on, Snyder says he always knew he had the right man for the job.

    "Casting Ben felt like a no brainer to me," he explains. "I know that there was some backlash, but he's just so perfect to me, especially in his size and his age."

    The Batman Affleck portrays in Batman v Superman is loosely modeled after artist Frank Miller's version of the character from his comic book, Batman: The Dark Knight Returns. In the graphic novel, Bruce Wayne is already in his 50s and on the verge of retirement. He's also depicted as taller and more muscular than in other illustrations.

    "I'm sure once the fans discover it, they'll feel the same way I do," he adds. "He's certainly got the chops for it, so I didn’t quite get the initial reaction."

    When the first images of Affleck in the costume hit the web, fans began to see things from Snyder's perspective. "I took that picture of him next to the Batmobile," he remembers. "When I looked at the back of the camera to see what it looked like, I was like, 'Holy s---, that is ridiculously perfect.' "

    Speaking of the Batmobile, Snyder reports the new ride can be driven in real life, although he's not exactly sure if it's street legal. In fact, the lucky finalists from this year's Doritos Crash the Super Bowl contest got a chance to take a spin in the legendary car with Snyder himself.

    The contest selects the best homemade Doritos commercials and gives a $1 million grand prize to the best director. Plus, the winning ad will be played at this year's Super Bowl.

    "It's a privilege to me to be around these young talents," Snyder says. "All their videos totally crack me up."

    Batman v Superman hits theaters Mar. 25.

    Separate Bedrooms, Family Fun: Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Montana Vacation

    It was a white Christmas for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

    The amicable exes celebrated Christmas as a family with a winter getaway in Montana.

    "They had a nice Christmas," a source tells PEOPLE, adding that some relatives joined the former couple and their three children, Violet, 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 3, at the private, members-only ski resort in Big Sky, Montana, where the family arrived Dec. 21.

    The kids spent most of their time running around outside and playing in the snow, while Affleck and Garner, both 43, took full advantage of their time off from their busy schedules to relax.

    "Jen and Ben seem happy to be on vacation," says the source. "They both enjoy the privacy of Montana."

    Affleck and Garner stayed on the same property in Montana, but have been sleeping in separate bedrooms – just like at home in L.A., where sources tell PEOPLE in the magazine's new issue that Affleck has been staying in the guest house at the family's home.

    Sources also tell PEOPLE that the couple still plan to proceed with their divorce – but at their own pace.

    "They don't seem in a rush to figure out the divorce details and will deal with it in the new year," says the source.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Divorce Isn't on Hold: 'It's Hard to Imagine Her Changing Her Mind,' Says Source

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner still may be spending ample time together under one roof, but a source tells PEOPLE in this week's issue that their divorce is still proceeding.

    "This more seems like a transitional period," the source says.

    The two even celebrated the holidays with their three children: Violet, 10, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, in the mountains of Montana.

    According to the source, the actor continues to stay in the guest house on the family's L.A. property as he and Garner remain focused on parenting.

    "They interact every day. Mostly about the kids and simple things," the source adds. "Jen wants Ben around for the kids."

    After the New Year, Affleck, 43, will continue to shoot his new period film, Live By Night, on which he serves as screenwriter, director and actor. Meanwhile, Garner, 43, will begin promoting her new film, Miracles From Heaven.

    "Jen's doing great now," says the source. "It's hard to imagine her changing her mind."

    Exes Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Find It 'Annoying' to Still Be Living Together But It's for 'the Best,' Says Source

    Six months after Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced they were splitting, the Gone Girl actor, 43, continues to live in a guesthouse on the family's Los Angeles estate.

    And while the two appear to have an amicable relationship – even spending Thanksgiving and Christmas together as a family – a source says that both Affleck and Garner, 43, are discovering that living with an ex can be rather challenging.

    "It's obvious many times that they both find it annoying to deal with each other," an insider tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "Understandably so. It's a strange situation to live together and yet be separated."

    But the couple is willing to put their differences aside to do what's best for their three children, Violet 10, Seraphina, 7, and Samuel, 3.

    "They both seem to find the situation frustrating, but for now at least, they also seem to think it's best," says the source.

    "They are doing what is working for the kids," adds a Garner source.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Will Spend Christmas Together: "They Continue to Put the Kids First"

    The holidays are great for bringing families together, including Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner.

    Affleck and Garner, who announced their split over the summer, will be spending Christmas together with their children, a source tells E! News. "They will be together as a family," the insider explains. "They continue to put the kids first and spend time with each other for the sake of their children."

    Even though they're not together romantically anymore, the insider explains that they're "in a good place right now." The former couple won't be spending the holidays in Los Angeles, though. Instead, another source tells us that they'll be packing their bags and heading to snowy Montana, the perfect weather for a white Christmas.

    The former couple is parents to Violet Affleck, 10, and Seraphina Affleck, 6, as well as son Samuel Affleck, 3, and are planning on spending the holidays all together with both sides of the family as one unit because they fully believe that family comes first.

    "They are a unit," a source previously told E! News. "They are all about the kids and making sure they are okay. They are committed to parenting together."

    Affleck and the Miracles From Heaven actress have continuously put on brave faces while going through "nannygate," the scandal that alleged the Batman v. Superman star was dating his nanny, celebrating their kids' birthdays together at Disneyland. Although is rep vehemently denied the affair allegations, the couple has had to work on their issues behind closed doors.

    "There was a lot of tension between them for a while, but it wasn't all about the nanny," a source close to the couple told E! News in October. "It's never easy for a couple going through a split."

    Fortunately, these two have become the image for friendly exes and seem to have made it work, but even the friendliest of exes will still have their struggles. "There are still a lot of issues, but she has put them aside for the sake of her family," added the source. "Jen's number one priority is the kids and always has been...When they [she and Ben] spend time together, it is for the kids."

    Batman v Superman poster

    Batman v Superman posters: Ben Affleck

    Yes, It's Real! Ben Affleck Shows Off Massive New Back Tattoo

    (Pic, Pic2) Ben Affleck's got some serious ink.

    The Oscar winner, 43, was spotted on set of Live By Night on Tuesday, showing off some major body art.

    As Affleck walked around set, the hospital gown he was wearing for the scene flapped open, exposing a giant tattoo on his back. His full ink featured a large Phoenix taking flight, with additional art surrounding it.

    And PEOPLE has learned that the tattoo is the real deal.

    A glimpse of the tattoo was first seen earlier this summer, but this is the first time it's been visible in its entirety.

    And this large-scale body art is not the only tattoo Affleck has sported. The actor had a dolphin on his right hip covering up the name of his high-school sweetheart, and has been seen with barbed wire across his right bicep, a large design featuring a fish and a skull and crossbones on his right arm and some initials inscribed on his shoulder blade.

    But his tattoo wasn't the only shocking part of his day on set. Affleck looked bloody and all banged up while shooting scenes for his upcoming film.

    The actor was seen wearing a white hospital gown and sporting a bandage on his nose with several cuts and bruises on his face. His right knuckle also had a huge gash, while his left hand was wrapped in gauze.

    His new look – tattoo and all – is fitting for his role as a Prohibition era mobster. The period drama, on which Affleck serves as screenwriter, director and actor, takes place in the 1920s and tells the story of a police captain's son navigating a criminal underworld.

    Since filming began in October, Affleck has been working around the clock on his latest directorial effort.

    "Ben has spent every possible hour of the day working," a source on the set told PEOPLE. "He is the first to arrive in the morning, sometimes as early as 5 a.m., and the last to leave at night."

    Also starring Sienna Miller, Zoë Saldana, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper, Live By Night is expected to hit theaters sometime in 2017.

    Ben Affleck Is Not Having an On-Set Romance with Sienna Miller: 'Ben Has Acted Very Professional,' Source Says

    (Pic) Ben Affleck has not struck up an on-set romance with his Live By Night costar Sienna Miller, a source tells PEOPLE.

    "There are no signs of a romance between them," says the source.

    Speculation of a romantic relationship first began when Affleck, 43, and Miller, 33, were spotted holding hands while filming in Los Angeles on Monday, Dec. 7. But while the two may play love interests in the film, they're not in a real-life relationship, two sources say.

    "The paparazzi are there every day they are filming," a second source on set tells PEOPLE. "These photos are often used out of context. He is a great director who likes to hang out on set with those he is directing."

    The first source adds, "He has had some special scenes with Sienna, including kissing scenes. They seem to get along great, but Ben has acted very professional."

    Filming for Live By Night began in October and has seen the cast in Georgia, Boston and now L.A. Affleck, who split from Jennifer Garner in June, serves as screenwriter, director and actor on the project.

    And according to the first source, the Oscar winner has been enjoying his time working on his latest directorial effort.

    "Ben seems very happy to film and direct," says the source. "He is in the best mood. He is very chatty and friendly with everyone on the set. He makes sure to create a fun and positive work environment"

    The period drama takes place in the 1920s and tells the story of a police captain's son who becomes a powerful player in the criminal underworld.

    Also starring Zoë Saldana, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper, Live By Night is set to hit theaters in 2017.

    A battered and bloody Ben Affleck surfaces

    (Pic) Did Ben Affleck catch Jennifer Garner on the wrong day?

    The “Batman v. Superman” star looked like a bloody mess on the Los Angeles set of his upcoming film, “Live By Night,” on Tuesday.

    With several bruises scattered on his arms and face most prominently, a glum Affleck, 43, sulked around in his hospital gown before taking a seat outside a trailer. Before wrapping for the day, the Oscar winner also donned a facial mask to protect his dinged-up schnoz.

    Affleck and ex-wife Garner, 43, have both been burying themselves in work after announcing their divorce in June. While the actress shot “Miracles From Heaven” in Atlanta earlier this year, the father of three has several films in production, including the highly anticipated “Justice League.”

    New ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice’ Trailer

    New ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice’ Trailer: video.

    Jennifer Garner & Ben Affleck 'Had a Great Time' Spending Thanksgiving Together as a Family, Source Says

    It was a family affair over the holiday weekend for Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck.

    Since announcing their split in June, Affleck and Garner, both 43, continue to spend time together as a family – and Thanksgiving was no different.

    The amicable exes reunited to spend Thanksgiving with their three children, and were joined by Affleck's side of the family.

    "They spent it as a family unit – all for the kids," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. "They had a great time."

    Garner was photographed taking a stroll with Affleck's mom, Christine Boldt, and her 6-year-old daughter, Seraphina. The former in-laws appeared to be all smiles as they walked into church together in Los Angeles on Sunday.

    While Affleck wasn't spotted with his mother and Garner, he took a break from his busy schedule in Boston shooting his next film Live By Night – which he stars in and directs – to spend the weekend back home with his family.

    "[Affleck] looked very happy all weekend. He spent a lot of time at the family house," a second source tells PEOPLE.

    And with holiday season in full swing, Affleck and Garner plan to spend Christmas together as well.

    "Jen and Ben are figuring out right now how they can best spend the holidays together," a source told PEOPLE, adding that Garner, "wants to get along with Ben for the kids' sake."

    New ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice’ Teaser: World’s Finest?

    New ‘Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice’ Teaser: World’s Finest?: video.

    Ben Affleck Admits Feeling a 'Ton Of Pressure' For Upcoming Movie Batman v Superman

    The upcoming superhero mash-up Batman v Superman certainly has comic book fans on the edge of their seats awaiting its early 2016 premiere – and expectations are high.

    Now Ben Affleck, who stars as Batman, has spoken out about feeling the pressure for it to perform well for studio Warner Bros.

    "You'll see next year they are going to have a great year," Affleck told Variety. "They are now developing … probably the single greatest under-exploited IP asset in the entertainment business, the DC comic world.

    "And now they have started to exploit that and you are going to see that blossom. And, when it does, it's going to be massive."

    However, great reward comes with great risks and Affleck, 43, knows the pressure is on.

    "I think there is a ton of pressure on it," he said. "I mean I would be bull–––––ing you to say there isn't. If it doesn't do well that will be extremely disappointing."

    Doing his best to ensure that the film is a success, the father of three has made the movie his priority, scheduling other filming around Batman v Superman – due out March 25 – as well as another DC spinoff, Variety reports.

    Affleck also believes that pushing the film's release date was a smart decision, saying that Warner Bros. CEO Kevin Tsujihara's involvement in the movie and emphasis on releasing a quality product will have a big pay off.

    "I was really impressed by… the fact that he cared," Affleck said. "It was not like some guys, especially at that level, where it would be, 'We need a franchise movie … we just need a movie with the names 'Batman' and 'Superman' on it and it doesn't matter what it is.

    "For him, that wasn't it. He was willing to take longer to make the movie to get it right to make it a movie of higher quality."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Spending the Holidays Together With Their Kids: "They Are a Unit"

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's marital relationship has changed, but their role as parents is staying the same.

    The exes have made it very clear that children are their first priority, and for the sake of daughters Violet Affleck, 9, and Seraphina Affleck, 6, as well as son Samuel Affleck, 2, they're doing their very best to keep family life normal. That's why, sources tell E! News, that Jennifer, 43, and Ben, also 43, will be spending the upcoming holidays together with their kids.

    "They are a unit," says a source. "They are all about the kids and making sure they are okay. They are committed to parenting together."

    They will be spending time with both sides of the family as one unit, adds a source. Neither Ben not Jen want to split up and do separate things when the holidays are all about family time and being with loved ones. Both exes feel, as well, that even though they aren't a couple, still being a family is the most important thing.

    Both Jen and Ben have continuously put any personal differences aside in order to remain amicable and able to spend time together with the kids. Even throughout "nannygate"—when rumors, which Ben's rep adamantly denied, claimed the actor was dating the Affleck children's former babysitter—the former couple worked through things behind closed doors.

    "There was a lot of tension between them for a while, but it wasn't all about the nanny," a source close to the couple told E! News last month. "It's never easy for a couple going through a split."

    "There are still a lot of issues, but she has put them aside for the sake of the her family," added the source. "Jen's number one priority is the kids and always has been...When they [she and Ben] spend time together, it is for the kids."

    This past month, for example, Ben's been in Georgia filming, but on the occasions he's been able to return to California to see Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel, a source tells E! News that Jen has planned fun outings for the entire family to do together. This past Saturday, they fivesome visited Duff's Cake Mix to decorate cakes together. Both Ben and Jen are working very hard to have a friendly relationship for the kids, says a source, adding that they agree the most important thing is to provide a stable and loving home for the kids.

    Ben Affleck Shows off Vintage Ride on Set of Live By Night After Weekend with Kids in L.A.

    (Pic) Every good mobster needs a getaway car.

    Ben Affleck was spotted looking like a serious crime boss as he was seen driving an vintage car on set of his upcoming film Live By Night on Monday.

    The actor, 44, kept a tight grip on the steering wheel and a stern look on his face as he shot scenes for the Prohibition-era film.

    After filming for several weeks in Brunswick, Georgia, Affleck – who is directing the movie and wrote the script – moved production to Lawrence, Massachusetts, a town 30 miles north of Boston. Later this month, filming is scheduled to move to Boston's North End.

    And while Affleck has spent "every possible hour of the day working" since filming began in October, he took a break this weekend to fly back to Los Angeles and spend time with his kids.

    On Saturday, Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who announced their divorce this June, spent the day as a family with their three kids, Violet 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel 4, decorating cupcakes and stopping at a toy store.

    "The kids seemed very happy to be with Ben. They took turns holding his hand for much of the day," a source tells PEOPLE. "Ben and Jen also seemed okay. They chatted a bit, but mostly seemed focused on making the day fun for the kids."

    The actor returned to set on Monday, where a second source tells people he's been "very focused on making a great movie."

    The film, which is based on Dennis Lehane's award-winning novel about gangsters during Prohibition, also stars Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper.

    Although an official release date has yet to be set for the movie, it's expected to hit theaters sometime in 2017.

    Ben Affleck Working 'Every Possible Hour of the Day' on First Film Since Split with Jennifer Garner: Sources

    True to the title of his new film Live by Night, Ben Affleck has been working around the clock on his latest directorial effort.

    "Ben has spent every possible hour of the day working," a source on the set tells PEOPLE. "He is the first to arrive in the morning, sometimes as early as 5 a.m., and the last to leave at night."

    The Argo filmmaker, who split from Jennifer Garner in June, wrote the script for the film, and is also directing and starring in the project. The movie takes place in the 1920s, and Affleck has been spotted on the Brunswick, Georgia, set wearing suspenders and short neckties with his suits, along with various fedoras pulled low over his eyes.

    "After every shot, even the ones he is not acting in, he has to go back to base camp and go through the screen monitor to make sure it is perfect," the source adds, noting that "he has not been spotted enjoying the towns in Georgia because he simply has no free time."

    Clearly proud of the project, Affleck blasted out a photo of his screen monitor to social media on Oct. 28. "First day. First shot. #livebynightmovie," he captioned the photo, which features him walking with a young boy along a wooden pathway in a marsh.

    Although the shooting began in Brunswick, Georgia, Affleck added a personal touch to the production by filming scenes at his Hampton Island home, where he's been seen living with his personal trainer and dog.

    The film, which is based on Dennis Lehane's award-winning novel and focuses on a group of individuals living in a world of crime in the Prohibition era, also stars Sienna Miller, Zöe Saldana, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper.

    Although an official release date has yet to be set for the movie, it's expected to hit theaters sometime in 2017.

    Ready for Halloween? Ben Affleck Goes Completely Retro for His Newest Film

    (Pic1, Pic2) Ben Affleck is really embracing the Prohibition Era.

    The actor was spotted on the set of his upcoming film Live By Night, which he is starring in, directing and writing, in full 1920s garb on Wednesday. In several photos from the Brunswick, Georgia, set, he wears suspenders and short neckties with various suits and a fedora pulled low over his eyes. He was also spotted riding in the passenger side of an old-fashioned car.

    Affleck also took to all forms of social media Wednesday to share a photo from the first day of shooting. "First day. First shot. #livebynightmovie," he captioned the photo, which features him walking with a young boy along a wooden pathway in a marsh.

    The film, which is based on Dennis Lehane's award-winning novel and focuses on a group of individuals living in a world of crime in the Prohibition Era, also stars Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper.

    Ready for Halloween? Ben Affleck Goes Completely Retro for His Newest Film| Live by Night, Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Elle Fanning, Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana Although an official release date has yet to be set for the movie, it's expected to hit theaters sometime in 2017.

    Ben Affleck Shares First Photo from the Set of Live by Night

    (Pic) Ben Affleck has started production for his newest film and he sure is proud of it.

    On Wednesday, Affleck took to all of his social media platforms to share a photo from his first day on set of Live by Night, where he not only stars in the film alongside Sienna Miller, Zoe Saldana, Elle Fanning and Chris Cooper, but also directs it and helped to write the screenplay.

    "First day. First shot. #livebynightmovie," he captioned the photo of himself and a young boy walking along a wooden pathway in the middle of a field.

    The film – based on the award-winning crime novel written by Dennis Lehane – takes place in the Prohibition Era and focuses on a group of individuals living in a world of crime.

    There's no release date for the movie yet, but it's expected to hit theaters sometime in 2017.

    Ben Affleck zings ‘True Detective’ Season 2

    Even Ben Affleck dissed the critically maligned second season of HBO’s “True Detective” on Tuesday.

    While hosting a screening of Cary Fukunaga’s Netflix film, “Beasts of No Nation,” Affleck said: “He did ‘True Detective’ Season 1, and so anyone who saw ‘True Detective’ Season 2 knows how talented Cary is.”

    He added, “That joke wasn’t sanctioned!”

    The LA screening was co-hosted by John Legend and Elizabeth Banks.

    Goodbye, Ben Affleck's Beard! Actor Shaved His Lengthy Facial Hair

    (Pic) Bearded Batman, no more!

    Ben Affleck looked very different Tuesday while attending a screening of the film Beasts of No Nation in Los Angeles. What made him stand out so much? He shaved! Towering over John Legend, Affleck and his muscular build revealed a fresh face at the event, which made his friend look even smaller LOL.

    Now beardless after what seems like years with the full-blown scruff—OK, it made its debut in June—Affleck somehow looks like a weight has been lifted—probably because he lost a few pounds of hair after shaving. But seriously, he donned the facial hair throughout the trials and tribulations of his marriage this summer, so seeing him without it almost represents a "moving forward" message.

    Perhaps his all-black ensemble is an homage to his beard, but we may never know. Goodbye, wonderful facial hair. Hello, clean shave.

    Jennifer Garner and Affleck have made it perfectly clear that neither harbors ill will toward each other after Nannygate AKA the time now former-nanny Christine Ouzounian entered the picture. Instead, they're focusing on co-parenting their three children to the best of their abilities.

    "It's not as fresh in her mind and some of the shock has worn off," one pal told E! News of Garner's ability to move on. "She will never forget about it, but she's also not harping on it every day."

    That being said, another source close to the duo added, "There are still a lot of issues, but she has put them aside for the sake of the her family."

    "She has not forgiven him for things that have happened, but she's committed to keeping her children happy," the source revealed. "But that sometimes means doing what she would rather not do."

    Do you think the Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice star looks better with a beard or clean-shaven?

    Matt Damon: It Was ''Really Painful'' Being Ben Affleck's Friend When He Dated Jennifer Lopez

    Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's bromance is one to admire.

    The Martian actor came to his buddy's defense while speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, explaining how Affleck's relationship with Jennifer Lopez had the public perceiving him in a way that was so far from the truth.

    "There's nobody who's more misunderstood," he says of the 43-year-old actor. "Ten years ago, the public image of him could not have been farther apart from who he actually is. It was like he was being cast in a role, that he was a talentless kind of meathead, with his whole relationship with Jennifer Lopez."

    Damon continued, "He just got cast as this person that he wasn't. It was just really painful. It was painful to be his friend, because it wasn't fair, you know? To my mind, nobody really got him at all. And through his work, he climbed from the bottom of the mountain all the way back up to the top and past where either of us had ever been."

    (In other words, Ben went from Gigli to Argo.)

    The high-profile stars famously got together in 2002, and became the first celeb pairing to inspire a hybrid name. Thus, "Bennifer" was born, but the twosome called it quits in January 2004 after a rocky engagement.

    After their big breakup, Affleck eventually found love with his now-estranged wife, Jennifer Garner, whom he married in 2005, while Lopez got together with her now-ex-husband Marc Anthony.

    Damon wouldn't speak on the rumors surrounding his split with Garner. Meanwhile, the two actors' agent insists these two guys are alike in many ways and "very committed."

    "In the marketplace, everything gets exaggerated," says WME's Patrick Whitesell. "These guys are both super interested in doing a range of things—Matt's diversity as an actor and Ben going down the road of writing, acting and directing. They're all things that come from an artistic place, and they love the challenge of it. That spark is where they are very similar. And on a philanthropic level, they're both very, very committed."

    They're just meant to be.

    Matt Damon Says 'There's Nobody Who's More Misunderstood' Than Ben Affleck

    After all these years, Matt Damon still has Ben Affleck's back.

    "There's nobody who's more misunderstood," Damon told The Hollywood Reporter about his longtime BFF, who weathered a complicated split from wife Jennifer Garner this summer.

    The Martian star says the media's misperception of Affleck started early in his career, particularly after the Gone Girl actor's high-profile relationship with Jennifer Lopez – and he's been unfairly typecast in Hollywood ever since.

    "Ten years ago, the public image of him could not have been farther apart from who he actually is," he said. "It was like he was being cast in a role, that he was a talentless kind of meathead, with his whole relationship with Jennifer Lopez. He just got cast as this person that he wasn't."

    Damon, 44, said watching his childhood friend suffer was hard.

    "It was just really painful. It was painful to be his friend, because it wasn't fair, you know? To my mind, nobody really got him at all."

    But he said that no matter what the media's perception of his close friend might be, the one thing people shouldn't do is discredit Affleck's talent – and the work he has done to prove himself over the years.

    Damon even admits that Affleck's career – which included a 2013 Best Picture Oscar for Argo – might just be more impressive than his own.

    "Through his work, he climbed from the bottom of the mountain all the way back up to the top," he said. "And past where either of us had ever been.”

    Matt Damon & Ben Affleck To Produce HBO Film About Water Crisis ‘Thirst’

    HBO Films has teamed with Matt Damon and Ben Affleck for Thirst, a movie set against the backdrop of the global water crisis. The project, now in development, will be written by Charles Leavitt (In the Heart of the Sea) and directed by Elliott Lester (Nightingale). Damon and Affleck executive produce alongside Lester, Josh Weinstock, Jennifer Todd and Drew Vinton. Leavitt and Margaret Chernin co-executive produce.

    “Both Elliott and Chuck are creative forces who bring an extraordinary vision to the material and we are very excited to be a part of it,” Damon and Affleck said.

    Thirst expands Damon and Affleck’s relationship with HBO where they executive produce a revival of their cult filmmaking reality series Project Greenlight. “We are extremely pleased to continue our collaboration with Matt and Ben,” HBO Programming president Michael Lombardo said. “As two of today’s most gifted filmmakers, they are once again using their cinematic talents to bring awareness to this pressing global issue.”

    Lester and Weinstock also recently worked with HBO on the Emmy-nominated Nightingale.

    Ben Affleck & Jen Garner -- Dinner for Two ... Without the Kids

    (Pic) Jennifer Garner went on a romantic dinner date in Malibu -- with her estranged husband Ben Affleck, and for once this was NOT about family time.

    Ben and Jen were seen leaving Nobu Sunday night in Malibu. While the maybe exes have been together semi-frequently since annoucing their divorce in June, it's usually because they're doing things with their 3 kids.

    The Nobu date was strictly for adults. According to ET, they drove there together and left together ... but there was no PDA.

    Baby steps?

    Ben Affleck Heads Back to Boston

    (Pic) Ben Affleck is back on his home turf.

    The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice actor, who recently split from wife Jennifer Garner, returned to Boston on Thursday, where he was spotted strolling through the North End, Boston's historic Italian neighborhood.

    The Cambridge-bred Affleck and a large group of friends headed down Salem Street and stopped in front of local favorite Pauli's North End, where he chatted for a bit with the restaurant's owner, Paul Barker. Sporting a furry beard with a touch of gray, Affleck was hardly incognito (He wasn't wearing sunglasses, nor even his trademark Red Sox hat!) while he chatted with Barker.

    "We invited him in for some lobster rolls, but they had a meeting or something. He said he'd definitely be back," said Barker.

    "He was very friendly," Barker continued. "He was taking pictures with a bunch of people. He's just a really friendly, nice guy. He seemed like he was out having fun."

    Despite his recent split from Garner, Affleck seemed upbeat during his visit. Clad in a T-shirt, black jeans and sneakers, he stopped to take pictures with every fan who asked.

    "He's a true Bostonian. He wasn't trying to duck anybody," said Barker. "He was very, very, very nice. It was a great experience. We get a lot of celebs that come in, and he's just so down to earth. When I took a picture with him, and then people started to notice, he didn't say no to anybody. He's just a class act."

    Affleck was also spotted walking around South Boston on Thursday with his group, checking out locations. He's expected to start filming his adaptation of Dennis Lehane's book Live by Night in Boston this fall. Affleck is writing, directing and starring in the film which costars Sienna Miller and Zoe Saldana.

    Ben Affleck 'Enjoys Time with His Family and that Includes Jen'

    Things are starting to look up for Ben Affleck.

    When Affleck first returned home to Los Angeles a few weeks ago, people couldn't help but notice a change in the Boston-bred actor: he looked happier.

    Affleck has been more at ease of late. He's been spotted with his kids on numerous weekend outings, and now that Jennifer Garner is home, they are spending time together as a family.

    "His family is all he cares about. This is what makes him happy and it makes sense that he looks happier," a source tells PEOPLE."He enjoys the time with his family and that includes Jen. They are still working hard at this."

    While the two still plan to move forward with their divorce, they continue to hold firm to their commitment to put their kids first.

    Affleck, 43, and Garner, 43, spent Sunday together with their three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3. They took a trip to the farmers market and attended a church service together.

    The now amicable exes were seen leaving a family counseling center together earlier this month, and sources say they are learning the best way to make this transition as a family.

    "It's still really hard and every day Ben's learning new positive ways to cope and that goes on both sides," says the source. "He's just focused on his family."

    Affleck and Garner are working out their new normal, and simply trying to figure out their next steps.

    "They had to take a step away from each other at first and now they are coming back together and you have to find your footing first and then move forward," says the source.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Spend Day Together Taking Their Kids to School

    (Pic) It was a good first day back to school for the kids… and for mom and dad.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner spent Tuesday morning together dropping off their kids – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – at their first day of school.

    "They smiled and chatted during the morning run," says a source. "There was no obvious tension between them."

    Things appear to be getting back to normal for the couple. Garner, who spent the summer filming Miracles From Heaven in Atlanta, was back to her usual L.A. routine over the Labor Day weekend running errands, stopping by a local nail salon and attending Sunday morning church services.

    On Sept. 3, the couple was also spotted together visiting a family counseling center in L.A.

    But despite the show of solidarity, a source says, "there is no reconciliation. They are working with a professional because there are emotions involved and they want to make this transition as easy as possible for their family."

    Instead, the two are doing what they've done since announcing their split on June 30, and simply putting their kids first.

    "They were focused on making sure each kid had a good first day back at school."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Are All Smiles in L.A.

    (Pic) This is divorce done right.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, who announced plans to divorce in June after 10 years of marriage, were spotted at an appointment in L.A. Thursday. The exes smiled as they walked to Affleck's car. Though neither actor was wearing a wedding ring, they remain committed to being friends for the sake of their children. In fact, a source tells E! News that the duo is "doing great" and focused on "making sure the divorce is amicable for each other and for the kids."

    The Daredevil co-stars spent the summer in Atlanta, where Jennifer was filming Miracles from Heaven while Ben tended to their three children: Violet Affleck, 9, Seraphina Affleck, 6, and Samuel Affleck, 3. Since the family returned to L.A. in late August, Jennifer and the kids have been staying in the family home, which is undergoing renovations. Ben, meanwhile, is living in a rental down the street.

    Last week, E! News exclusively revealed that Ben took his two daughters to see Taylor Swift's fifth and final concert at the Staples Center in L.A. Thursday The trio even got to meet the "Wildest Dreams" singer, 25, backstage. "The girls had been begging to go," a source said of the family. "He was so excited for them." Two days later, Jennifer took Seraphina to paint ceramic pots at Color Me Mine in Santa Monica. On Sunday, she took all three kids to church and the farmer's market.

    Since announcing their split in June, Ben and Jennifer have been putting on a united front for their kids' sake. "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time," the actors told E! News. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner All Smiles as They Step Out Together in L.A.

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner seem to be working hard to keep things friendly between them as they transition into a new phase in their relationship.

    The pair, who split in June after 10 years of marriage, were spotted out together on Thursday at an appointment in L.A. and they were smiling as they walked to Affleck's car.

    Neither of them were wearing their wedding rings, but at the time they announced their plan to divorce, the couple told PEOPLE in a statement that they planned to "go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children."

    The amicable exes spent the summer in Atlanta, where Garner was filming Miracles from Heaven while Affleck was on daddy duty with their three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    Since the family returned to L.A. at the end of last month, Garner and the kids have been staying in the family home, which is currently under renovation, while Affleck is living in a rental down the street.

    Ben Affleck Takes His Daughters to Taylor Swift's Concert and Meets the Singer Backstage

    (Pic) Ben Affleck is a pretty rad dad.

    E! News can exclusively reveal that the recently single actor took his two daughters—Violet Affleck, 9, and Seraphina Affleck, 6—to Taylor Swift's fifth and final concert at Staples Center in L.A. Wednesday night. "They all had a great time," a source says of the Afflecks. "This was something they really wanted to do."

    "The girls had been begging to go," the source adds. "He was so excited for them."

    The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star, 43, scored extra cool points when they went backstage to meet Taylor. "Everyone was ecstatic!" the source says of meeting the "Shake It Off" singer. "He was excited," the source adds, "as were they."

    Once again, Taylor asked several stars to join her on stage last night. While Ben wasn't among them, she sang "Good for You" with Selena Gomez, "Smelly Cat" with Lisa Kudrow and "Mirrors" with Justin Timberlake. The amazing father-daughter night was "made even better by JT's appearance," the source said.

    (Ben and Justin, of course, co-starred in 2013's Runner Runner.)

    In addition to Ben and his daughters, other famous attendees spotted at the concert Wednesday included Miranda Cosgrove, Nina Dobrev, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Calvin Harris, Julianne Hough, Jaime King, Lauren Paul, Ruby Rose, Emma Stone, Zelda Williams and Reese Witherspoon, among many others.

    Taylor's 1989 World Tour resumes Saturday at Petco Park in San Diego, Calif.

    Ben, meanwhile, has spent a good portion of the summer in Atlanta, where his ex, Jennifer Garner, has been filming the movie Miracles From Heaven. In June, the actors announced plans to divorce after 10 years of marriage.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time," Ben and Jennifer told E! News in a statement. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The exes—who also have a 3-year-old son, Samuel Affleck—have continued to participate in family outings post-split. In fact, the whole clan spent Ben's 43rd-birthday weekend at Disney World and the Universal Orlando Resort.

    Ben Affleck Steps Out in L.A. Without Wedding Ring

    (Pic) Ben Affleck was spotted without his wedding ring while running errands in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

    The actor looked casual in a blue polo and jeans while carrying a drink, but his finger was noticeably missing a gold band.

    Jennifer Garner and Affleck, both 43, have been spotted wearing their wedding rings on and off. Friends of the former couple say they are wearing their rings in an effort to help their three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, adjust to their split.

    The kids "are a big part of why they're still wearing [the rings]," a source told PEOPLE. "They just want them to be okay."

    Affleck has been spending quality time with the kids back home in L.A., while Garner finishes production on Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta.

    The actor recently took his kids shopping at their local farmers' market (where he was last seen wearing his ring) and on a fun trip to a family farm just outside of L.A.

    "Ben spent the whole weekend focused on the kids," a source told PEOPLE. "The kids were all high energy and seemed to enjoy the outing."

    Ben Affleck 'Looked Like He Had as Much Fun as the Kids' on a Recent Family Trip to a Farm

    With only a few weeks left until school starts, Ben Affleck is spending as much quality time with his kids as possible.

    After a weekend full of crafting and shopping at the farmers market, the family embarked on another outing, this time to a local farm just outside of Los Angeles.

    (Affleck is with the kids in L.A. while their mom, Jennifer Garner, wraps production of her film Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta.)

    On Monday, Affleck was spotted with his three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel 3, at Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark, California.

    "At the farm, Ben and the kids did tons of fun activities," a source told PEOPLE.

    "They rode the cow train and shopped for fruit and vegetables. They rode ponies and took a tractor ride though all of the crops."

    As they wandered around the farm, Affleck carried Sam on his shoulders.

    He even joined the kids and took a ride down the tractor slide. "Ben looked like he had as much fun as the kids did," said the source.

    "This is them keeping a normal life, keeping the family solid," adds a source close to couple. "He flew back to be with the kids this weekend."

    Since announcing their divorce earlier this summer, Affleck and Garner have shown a united front for their children.

    They have gone on numerous family outings where they have been seen laughing and talking, even amid painful allegations that Affleck had an affair with ex-nanny Christine Ouzounian. Affleck's rep vehemently denies the allegations.

    "He's happiest when he's with his family," says a close friend.

    And despite personal heartbreak, "Jen will always make sure that Ben spends as much time with the kids as he wants," a family source told PEOPLE.

    Ben Affleck Spends Fun Weekend with Kids Back Home in L.A.

    Ben Affleck was on full-time daddy duty this past weekend.

    While Jennifer Garner, who's been working all weekend, stayed in Atlanta to wrap up filming Miracles from Heaven, Affleck, 43, spent his days off with his three kids back home in Los Angeles.

    "Ben spent the whole weekend focused on the kids," a source tells PEOPLE. "They all seemed to have a fun weekend. Ben took them on several outings and looked happy."

    The schedule included an afternoon visit to Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft's on Saturday, where Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, picked up "We Made It" kits from Garner's children's craft line.

    On Sunday they hit up their local farmers' market – a favorite weekend spot for the family. Still wearing his wedding ring, Affleck also sported a Harry Potter shirt that he bought during his family birthday trip to the Florida theme parks.

    The group looked happy as they strolled down the streets, picking out fruits and vegetables from the various stands and sipping on lemonade.

    "The kids were all high energy and seemed to enjoy the outing. They were almost fighting about who should hold Ben's hands," said the source.

    "Ben was playing around with them and they were all laughing."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Were 'Laughing and Talking' During a Family Outing in Atlanta

    Just days after a family trip to Orlando, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are still spending time together.

    As the estranged couple continue to weather the fallout from Affleck's alleged affair with former family nanny Christine Ouzounian, a source tells PEOPLE the couple looked relaxed and happy while taking their dog and three kids for a walk in Atlanta, where Garner continues to film Miracles from Heaven.

    "They were laughing and talking to each other and looked like they were having fun," said the source.

    The latest sighting comes just days after Affleck rang in his 43rd birthday with Garner and their kids Saturday at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando Studios, followed by a trip to Disney World a day later.

    Although onlookers thought the couple appeared distant during the trip, a source close to the couple said the pair "are both making the best of a hard situation" and "they did it together and the kids had a great time, which is what they both wanted."

    Garner got back to work after the Florida trip, and was spotted on set in Atlanta this past week.

    Affleck, meanwhile, was seen meeting with his Eastern Congo Initiative co-founder Whitney Williams at a luxury hotel in Atlanta Thursday. The Argo director was spotted wearing his wedding ring when he met with Williams, with whom he's working to raise money and awareness for the impoverished region.

    Garner and Affleck announced their split in June while on a family vacation in the Bahamas. A short time later, Ouzounian's friends told PEOPLE the California native admitted to an affair with Affleck. A source close to the Oscar winner, meanwhile, maintains the actor had "a work relationship and a friendship" with her, but nothing more.

    On Friday, Ouzounian was spotted taking a walk around Los Angeles, looking casual in gray jeans, a flowing white shirt and shades.

    The former nanny has been keeping busy since she ended her position with the family. After a stay at the swanky Hotel Bel-Air, she's been seen driving her new Lexus convertible around Southern California and sporting a bikini while soaking up the sun at Newport Beach last week.

    Emily Ratajkowski Reveals What She Learned from Gone Girl Co-Star Ben Affleck

    Emily Ratajkowski was a total newbie when she arrived on set to play Ben Affleck's mistress in Gone Girl. Sharing a scene with a two-time Oscar-winner would be intimidating for any new actress, but Ratajkowski says she just tried to learn as much as she could from Affleck and her other costars.

    "They led by example. They're all amazing actors, and I just really rose to the occasion being around that," the model and actress, 24, told PEOPLE on Thursday at the Los Angeles premiere of her new film, We Are Your Friends.

    The star of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" video also spoke of working opposite Affleck in the latest issue of Editorialist magazine. "It was monkey see, monkey do," she said. "You see how this person is doing it, and you rise the occasion."

    Ratajkowski, who was joined at Thursday's premiere by her musician boyfriend Jeff Magid, knew she wanted to be an actress from a young age. But she says We Are Your Friends – set in the electronic dance music scene – has a good message for young people who don't have their life mapped out yet.

    "One thing I loved about this movie is that not everyone knows what they want," she told reporters at the premiere. "I think we get so much pressure when we go to college to pick a major and figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life, and sometimes it's just about taking the right steps that you know are right for you to even start figuring that out."

    Ratajkowski stars opposite Zac Efron in the Max Joseph-directed film. Efron, 27, attended the premiere with girlfriend Sami Miro and family members, including his mom.

    "I've been working so much, so it really means a lot to have my family come out and support it," he told reporters at the premiere. "My work does keep me from seeing them, and I don't get to see them as often as I want, so when they do come to support me, it's a great feeling."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Were 'Both Making The Best of A Hard Situation' on Family Trip: Source

    They've been dealing with a difficult divorce – and the thermometer in Orlando in August has been over 90 degrees. But Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck still managed to put their kids first last weekend, taking Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to Universal Studios Florida and Disney World to celebrate Affleck's 43rd birthday. "They are both making the best of a hard situation," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE.

    While witnesses have said the couple looked tense, the source points out the outings wouldn't be easy for any parent, and the famous couple also had to contend with gawkers. "It's hard to get through an amusement park sometimes with three kids," said the source. "It's not always easy, especially when there are a lot of onlookers." The most important thing to Affleck and Garner: "They did it together and the kids had a great time, which is what they both wanted."

    The family spent the weekend visiting the various Florida theme parks. They started at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal on Saturday (Affleck even sported a Harry Potter t-shirt) and continued the festivities at Fantasyland in Disney World Monday, where they took the kids on the Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride twice.

    One onlooker applauded the two parents for sticking together during this hard time.

    "Looks like a family to me, with a very brave face."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner 'Seemed Like Awkward Strangers' Celebrating His Birthday with the Kids: Onlooker

    Ben Affleck may have rung in his 43rd birthday with ex Jennifer Garner and their kids – but it seems their reunion wasn't without a little awkwardness, according to one onlooker.

    Affleck and Garner took their three kids – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to celebrate his birthday Saturday at Universal Orlando Studios, where they treated the kids to souvenirs. But "neither of them looked too happy," an onlooker at one of the shops tells PEOPLE.

    "They didn't even look at each other. They were talking to the kids, but they didn't talk or even look in each other's direction," adds the onlooker. "They seemed like strangers – awkward strangers."

    A source close to the couple tells PEOPLE that they were focused on putting their children first.

    "As always, it's about the kids and they will always put them first," the source said. "Everyone had fun. They put them first no matter what.

    "All Ben wanted for his birthday was to be with his children."

    Another source close to the couple added, "They have had a great weekend and the eyewitness saw them engaging s a family."

    Affleck and Garner, 43, announced their split in June and have been determined to focus on their kids in the wake of the divorce news. In addition to jetting off to the Bahamas for a family trip in June, the pair has spent time together with their children in Atlanta, where Garner is filming her movie Miracles from Heaven.

    The latest family getaway comes just weeks after news broke of an alleged affair with the couple's former nanny, Christine Ouzounian, 28. (Affleck sources have repeatedly denied that he and Ouzounian ever had a romantic relationship.)

    Ben Affleck Celebrates 43rd Birthday at the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with Jennifer Garner and Kids

    (Pic, Pic2) Ben Affleck rang in his 43rd birthday with his family.

    The actor was spotted with ex Jennifer Garner and their three kids – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – at Universal Studios Orlando on Saturday.

    The pair, who announced their split exclusively to PEOPLE in June, were spotted by Twitter users at Universal Orlando's The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

    "Jennifer Garner is in the same Harry Potter shop as me wtf," Tweeted one onlooker Saturday afternoon.

    And another shared a Snapchat shot of the couple:

    This is the latest public outing for the family since Affleck and Garner, also 43, brought their kids to the United States after taking a trip to the Bahamas last month.

    Garner has been busy filming Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta amid rumors that Affleck had a fling with their nanny, Christine Ouzounian, 28. (Affleck sources have repeatedly denied that they ever had a romantic relationship.)

    Affleck has been making frequent trip to Atlanta to visit with his children, who are staying with Garner in a rental home while she works on her project. As PEOPLE previously reported, Affleck and Garner took their children to see Inside Out last weekend.

    "He's happiest when he's with his family," a close friend told PEOPLE.

    Ben Affleck Reunites with Kids in Atlanta for Birthday Weekend: 'He's Happiest When He's with His Family'

    Ben Affleck has headed back to Atlanta, Georgia, to celebrate his birthday this weekend with his children despite the ongoing scandal surrounding his relationship with his former family nanny Christine Ouzounian.

    The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice actor, who turns 43 on Saturday, was spotted Friday in the Southern state, to which he's been traveling back and forth throughout most of the summer. Affleck and estranged wife Jennifer Garner's children (Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3) are residing in Atlanta while the actress films Miracles from Heaven. The actor headed straight to Garner's Atlanta rental house after his flight, PEOPLE has learned.

    Affleck was seen out with the kids as they attempted to visit the Imagine It! Children's Museum. After finding it closed, they headed instead to the city's Fernbank Science Center.

    Since announcing their divorce on June 30, Affleck and Garner have shown a united front for their children. Both stars have continued to wear their wedding rings, even amid allegations that Affleck had an affair with Ouzounian (Affleck's rep vehemently denies the allegations).

    "He's happiest when he's with his family," says a close friend.

    A friend of Affleck's previously told PEOPLE, "He's focused on his kids and his work. He's trying to ignore this circus."

    Ouzounian, 29, hit the streets of L.A. this week driving a brand-new Lexus convertible, sparking rumors that Affleck gifted her the lavish car.

    "He did not buy her the car," a friend of the star told PEOPLE. "It's not from him."

    The source also denied claims from a friend of Ouzounian that the pair were "in touch every day, all day long."

    "They are not in communication. They are not talking," Affleck's friend said.

    Ouzounian has attracted plenty of attention, ringing up an estimated $12,100 tab at the Hotel Bel-Air, and trying on Tom Brady's Super Bowl rings in newly surfaced photos.

    Despite the heightened scrutiny, Affleck's pal Matt Damon told reporters on Monday that the actor was doing "great."

    "He's great, he's great," Damon said when the pair hit the red carpet at the premiere of the HBO series Project Greenlight in Los Angeles. "He's got a big smile on his face."

    Ben Affleck -- He Didn't Buy Nanny a Lexus ... He's Radio Silent with Her

    Ben Affleck is not funding the new, lavish lifestyle of his former nanny ... this according to people very close to the situation.

    Former nanny, Christine Ouzounian, proudly posted a pic of her new convertible Lexus, leading people to believe Ben was underwriting her.

    Our sources say absolutely not.

    As for Ben flying Christine back from the Bahamas and to Vegas with Tom Brady, we're told a group of people were on the plane, and various people were trying on Brady's Super Bowl rings, including Christine.

    There are several reports Ben has put Christine up in a high end L.A. hotel, but our sources say that's absolutely not true.

    The sources do not take issue with reports that Ben had some sort of friendship with Christine, but they insist he currently has absolutely no contact with her.

    Ben Affleck’s friends deny ex-nanny affair

    Ben Affleck‘s friends insist that there was no mile-high monkey business between the actor and his sexy ex-nanny, Christine Ouzounian, when they flew with Affleck pal Tom Brady to Las Vegas in June.

    “Christine flew with Ben from the Bahamas to Vegas because she was helping him with his poker tournament for his charity,” the Eastern Congo Initiative, a pal told The Post on Tuesday — the same day the paper published an exclusive June 27 snap of a beaming Christine wearing Brady’s four Super Bowl rings aboard the private jet.

    “There were many other people on the plane, including other assistants and staff working for Ben who were helping with the event, and many of these also tried on Tom’s Super Bowl rings and took photos,” the source said. “Ben and Tom Brady are good friends, and he is grateful that Tom agreed to attend his charity event.”

    “When they landed in Vegas, Christine helped out with the organization of the tournament, assisting clients and guests who attended. She was not hiding, she was there to help out,” at the tournament, the friend said. “After the tournament ended Ben returned to the Bahamas to the family. Christine went home to LA.”

    Affleck and actress wife Jennifer Garner announced that they were divorcing three days after the photo of Ouzounian aboard the jet was taken.

    The source said Affleck denies that there was any affair between him and the nanny or any other women.

    “There was no affair during his marriage to Jen nor since their separation,” the source said.

    The Hollywood power couple had been separated for 10 months before they announced their divorce June 30.

    The source added that Affleck, 42, spent last weekend with Garner, 43, and their kids in Atlanta, where she is filming, and denied reports that they were not speaking amid the allegations that he’d been cheating with the curvy, 28-year-old Ouzounian.

    “Jen and Ben speak every day as they continue to co-parent their children. They were together all weekend in Atlanta.”

    Affleck was spotted wearing his wedding ring Monday during an appearance with Matt Damon promoting the HBO series“Project Greenlight,” which they are producing.

    Meanwhile, Brady and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell are due back in Manhattan federal court Wednesday for a settlement conference in the Deflategate scandal.

    Beforehand, they and their lawyers will meet in federal Judge Richard Berman’s chambers to report on their progress in the player’s union’s appeal of the four-game suspension Goodell handed down after the star QB was found to be using underinflated balls in an NFL game in violation of league rules.

    Ex-Affleck nanny took private jet to Vegas with Ben and Tom Brady

    (Pic) Here’s Ben Affleck’s favorite nanny enjoying some mile-high fun on a private jet trip to Vegas with the actor and his buddy Tom Brady, while playfully posing with the QB’s four Super Bowl rings.

    In the photo, obtained exclusively by The Post, Christine Ouzounian, 28, is wearing the bling along with tight white jeans, a black tank top — and a satisfied smile.

    The nanny is clearly relaxed, kicking off her shoes and striking a sexy pose on her seat.

    Ouzounian had been in the Bahamas with Affleck, 42, and his unsuspecting, now-estranged actress wife, Jennifer Garner, 43, before the pair’s hush-hush jaunt to Sin City on June 27 for a poker tournament.

    Affleck, an avid gambler, had initially asked Ouzounian to join him on a flight back to LA from the Bahamas — while his clueless spouse stayed behind with their three kids, a source said.

    “He assured her it was OK. Technically, he was her boss,’’ the source told Hollywood Life.com.

    “But along the way, he convinced her to go to Las Vegas with him for [a] poker tournament. They even stopped and picked up Tom Brady for the trip. While in Vegas, Ben hid Christine the entire time.

    “When they got back to LA, Jen heard about their trip without the kids and flipped out. She fired Christine right away, and Ben did nothing about it,” the insider said.

    Three days after the photo was snapped, Affleck and Garner announced that they were splitting up.

    Ben Affleck Wears Wedding Ring to Premiere as Matt Damon Says 'He's Doing Great'

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Matt Damon both arrived at the premiere of HBO series Project Greenlight on Monday night in Los Angeles, California – with Affleck continuing to wear his wedding ring.

    Affleck, 42, appeared jovial as he walked the red carpet at the Ace Hotel, dressed in a blue suit with no tie and displaying facial hair. He did not stop to answer questions from reporters, but managed to sign his autograph on a Daredevil poster, as he shared a laugh with fans to say, "You guys are crazy," an onlooker tells PEOPLE.

    It's not the first time the actor has been seen wearing his wedding band since he and estranged wife Jennifer Garner announced their plans to divorce after ten years of marriage.

    While Affleck managed to avoid any questions on the red carpet, Matt Damon did speak about how is friend is doing, saying: "He's great, he's great. He's got a big smile on his face."

    Talking about Affleck's upcoming birthday on Aug. 15, Damon joked: " Yeah, I wish him well, but he's forty-three, it's kind of like, meh. What is forty-three? It's not forty, it's not forty-five, it's forty-three. It's a forgettable birthday."

    On Friday, Affleck was seen sporting his wedding ring as he returned to Atlanta to be with Garner and their children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    Allegations recently surfaced that Affleck was having an affair with the family nanny Christine Ouzounian, 28, something that he strongly denies.

    Affleck and Garner, 43, announced that they would be divorcing in June.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple told PEOPLE in a joint statement. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    How Much Was Ben Affleck's Ex-Nanny's Bill at the Extravagant Hotel Bel-Air?

    It's the home away from home for the stars – but all that luxury does not come cheap.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's former nanny, Christine Ouzounian, was comfortably holed up in the extravagant hotel from at least July 29 to Aug. 4, in an apparent attempt to keep a low profile amid rumors of an affair with her famous ex-employer – rumors which Affleck continues to deny.

    Based on the length of Ouzounian's stay, and factoring in meals and amenities, a Hotel Bel-Air source conservatively estimates the 28-year-old's expenses at a cool $12,100.

    That number would certainly put a strain on the budget of the average out-of-work nanny, but a source tells PEOPLE that Affleck, who's been known to use the hotel as an escape for himself in the past, is "taking care of Christine's expenses." Another source close to the actor contends, however, that he "did not cover the Bel-Air bill. You would not find his card there, plain and simple."

    Her room alone, a junior bungalow suite, runs $1,500 a night plus tax – putting her six-night stay in the neighborhood of $10,400 just for accommodations.

    Accounting for meals, many of which she was spotted taking at Wolfgang Puck's eponymous restaurant at the hotel – where a source says she was likely treating her friends to food and drinks – that tab would run around $200 a day on the low end, or $1,200 for the week.

    Ouzounian also took advantage of the hotel's spa during her stay, with two visits to the facility appearing on her bill, the hotel source confirms. With each treatment averaging 60 minutes, the charge comes to $250 per trip (or $500 total) including tip.

    Regardless of whether Affleck is footing the bill, an eyewitness tells PEOPLE that "Christine is enjoying her hotel stay," adding that "she acts like she is on vacation. She has been spotted by the pool several times, the spa and Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. She seems relaxed and happy. She hangs out with girlfriends, reads magazines and is on her phone a lot."

    A friend of Ouzouzian claims to PEOPLE that the ex-nanny and Ben "are in touch every day, all day long. He got them phones just for each other."

    After Affleck and Garner's June 30 split, their former nanny told friends that she and Affleck slept together, as detailed in this week's PEOPLE cover story, and sources close to Garner also say the two had a fling.

    Meanwhile, sources close to Affleck tell PEOPLE that the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star had only a "work relationship and a friendship" with the blonde, adding, "Ben's friendly, but it's not always meant to be flirty."

    Ouzounian told friends that she and Affleck had romantic rendezvous at the Hotel Bel-Air starting this spring, sources have told PEOPLE.

    Ouzounian's friend says that the ex-nanny is "doing well" and that she said of Affleck, "He trusts me."

    Ben Affleck Reunites with Jennifer Garner and Kids in Atlanta

    Ben Affleck returned to Atlanta this weekend to be with his kids and estranged wife, Jennifer Garner.

    Affleck, 42, was spotted arriving to Garner's rental home in Atlanta on Friday. A source told PEOPLE that he intended to reunite with his family this weekend.

    On Saturday, the couple were joined by their kids for a family outing that included lunch and a trip to a local movie theater.

    The couple, who recently announced their divorce after 10 years marriage, have been "talking every day," a source previously told PEOPLE.

    "They are still getting through and doing their own stuff and taking care of the kids, but it's not easy on them."

    Garner has been staying in Atlanta with their three children – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – while filming Miracles from Heaven and Affleck, 42, has already visited the family several times since the split announcement.

    Allegations recently surfaced that Affleck was having an affair with the 28-year-old family nanny, Christine Ouzounian, which he vehemently denies.

    But for Garner, 43, it was "the final straw," a source previously told PEOPLE.

    Inside Jen's Heartbreak

    "She's grieving," a source close to her told PEOPLE for this week's cover story, "but she has an amazing support system. She just had no idea what was going on."

    Garner expects divorce mediation to be civil and swift.

    "Jen will always communicate with Ben where the kids are concerned," a Garner source previously said, "but that's it."

    Ben Affleck Spotted Out in Los Angeles, Still Talking to Jennifer Garner 'Every Single Day' Amid Nanny Scandal: Source

    (Pic) "Deeply hurt" Jennifer Garner is coping with her shattered marriage to Ben Affleck and new cheating allegations. Subscribe now for the real story, only in PEOPLE.

    Ben Affleck turned up back in his L.A. neighborhood on Thursday, two weeks after allegations first surfaced that he had an affair with his and Jennifer Garner's former nanny Christine Ouzounian.

    Affleck returned to L.A. after spending last weekend on Hampton Island, Georgia, where he threw a barbecue at his coastal home.

    In the photo, Affleck appears full-bearded behind the wheel of his car. The star has been returning to Los Angeles sporadically over the summer, opting to spend most of his time with Garner and their three children (Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3) while she films Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta. The couple announced on June 30 that they were divorcing.

    Despite the scandal (the actor's rep vehemently denies the star had an affair with Ouzounian), a source close to the star tells PEOPLE that he and Garner have been in constant contact.

    "Ben and Jen are talking every single day. About the kids, about each other," the source says. "They are still getting through and doing their own stuff and taking care of the kids but it's not easy on them. They are talking not through intermediaries."

    A source close to Garner tells PEOPLE, however, that the couple are only speaking if needed.

    "Jen will always communicate with Ben where the kids are concerned but that's it," the source says.

    Ouzounian, 28, has also recently been in Los Angeles, where she was seen at the Hotel Bel-Air, Affleck's go-to home away from home.

    According to a source close to the ex-nanny, Affleck and Ouzounian – who told friends they were having an affair – are in touch every day, and another source said that the star is footing her hotel expenses.

    A source close to Affleck maintained to PEOPLE the actor only has a "work relationship and a friendship" with the blonde, adding "Ben's friendly, but it's not always meant to be flirty."

    Warner Bros Pushes Two Ben Affleck Movies Back On Release Calendar

    Warner Bros has pushed back two movies involving Ben Affleck. The Accountant, the Gavin O’Connor-directed film that Affleck stars in, has been pushed from its January 29, 2016 berth to open October 7, 2016. At the same time, Warner Bros has moved from October 7, 2016 to an undated 2017 berth for Live by Night, Affleck’s adaptation of the Dennis Lehane novel that he also plans to star in. That one begins shooting in November so there was no way the original date was going to work, given the post production schedule and Affleck needing to begin shooting Justice League Part 1 next spring.

    This shines a light on the story Deadline broke during Comic-Con, that Affleck was quietly teaming with DC’s Geoff Johns to write a freestanding Batman movie that Affleck hopes to direct and star in. Warner Bros would not even confirm this at the time, but I believe the hope was to get the draft done before he goes off to helm the Miami-set crime tale Live By Night, a film that reunites him with Lehane. Affleck made his directorial debut on Lehane’s novel Gone Baby Gone. This positions Warner Bros to be able to rebirth its Batman franchise and get production underway after Live By Night. Warner Bros has a steady stream of DC Comics movies coming, but having a new Batfilm by the director of the Best Picture winner Argo has to be a welcome prospect though there’s no big rush. Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice bows March 25, 2016, and Justice League comes out November 17, 2017. That’ll provide Affleck’s Batman movie with two storylines, with the film picking up from there.

    Ben Affleck Nanny Hides Away at Hotel Bel-Air – and Source Says Affleck Is Footing the Bill

    Christine Ouzounian, the former nanny to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, has been keeping a low profile following allegations that she and Affleck were having an affair.

    The 28-year-old Ouzounian has been staying at the Hotel Bel-Air, Affleck's longtime go-to home away from home – and a source tells PEOPLE "Ben is taking care of Christine's expenses at the hotel."

    Affleck's rep has denied the star had an affair with Ouzouzian, and could not be reached for comment about whether he is now footing her hotel bill.

    Ouzounian was first spotted entering the posh L.A. hotel on July 29, the day news broke of the alleged fling. She was photographed there again on both July 31 and this past Sunday. An eyewitness also tells PEOPLE that Ouzounian was still staying at the retreat on Tuesday.

    "Christine is enjoying her hotel stay," the eyewitness says. "She acts like she is on vacation. She has been spotted by the pool several times, the spa and Wolfgang Puck's restaurant. She seems relaxed and happy. She hangs out with girlfriends, reads magazines and is on her phone a lot."

    A friend of Ouzouzian claims to PEOPLE that the ex-nanny and Ben "are in touch every day, all day long. He got them phones just for each other."

    Media attention has surrounded the ex-nanny and her involvement in Affleck and Garner's June 30 split. Ouzounian told friends that she and Affleck slept together, as detailed in this week's PEOPLE cover story, and sources close to Garner also say the two had a fling. A source close to Affleck told PEOPLE that the Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star had only a "work relationship and a friendship" with the blonde, adding "Ben's friendly, but it's not always meant to be flirty."

    Ouzounian told friends that she and Affleck had romantic rendezvous at the Hotel Bel-Air starting this spring, sources have told PEOPLE.

    Ouzounian's friend says that the ex-nanny is "doing well" and that she said of Affleck, "he trusts me."

    For much more on Affleck and Garner's difficult split –, the nanny allegations and how Garner is coping, pick up this week's issue of PEOPLE, on newsstands Friday.

    Ben Affleck Hosts a Barbecue Party at His Coastal Georgia Estate Amid Nanny Scandal: Inside His Private Getaway

    As Ben Affleck weathers his split from Jennifer Garner amid explosive claims of a dalliance with a family nanny, the Oscar winner has retreated to a familiar spot: coastal Georgia.

    Affleck, 42, has been spending time on serene Hampton Island, an ultra-private waterfront community about 35 miles south of Savannah where he first purchased property in 2003.

    A source tells PEOPLE that this past weekend, the Gone Girl star hosted a party for nearly three-dozen guests on the island, catered by The Smokin Pig BBQ Joint in nearby Richmond Hill.

    "They prepared barbecue and all the fixings for 35 people," said the source.

    The conservation-minded area has been a beloved retreat for Affleck for more than a decade – he previously found sanctuary there following his split from Jennifer Lopez in January 2004.

    "Mostly when I want to go and be at peace by myself, you know, I live down this long dirt road, and people are very respectful of people's privacy down there and [when I want to] be my calmest and happiest, that's where I go," he said on Larry King Live in March 2004.

    Affleck has been in Georgia while Garner continues to film Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta. Initially spending time on her rental property with their three children, he has not been spotted on the property since news broke last week of the alleged affair.

    A source close to Affleck contends there was "no romantic relationship" between the actor and nanny Christine Ouzounian, although sources close to Garner told PEOPLE the actress learned the pair were intimate.

    "To Jen, this is the ultimate betrayal," one friend tells PEOPLE.

    Meanwhile, Affleck has been leaning on his mother for support.

    He also will continue spending time in Georgia when he begins filming his latest project, Live by Night, in November.

    In February, he was spotted scouting locations for the film in Brunswick, Georgia, not far from Hampton Island.

    "I am looking between Savannah and the end of the Georgia coast," Affleck said, according to The Brunswick News. "This area has always been so hospitable to me."

    Kevin Smith: Ben Affleck knows exactly who he is

    Despite what the tabloids think of Ben Affleck, Kevin Smith has plenty of nice things to say about him.

    “For years, early in my career, they would write about us like Scorsese and De Niro,” Smith said Tuesday at a screening of “Mallrats” as part of Nitehawk Presents: BuzzFeed Throwback Theater. “Like not good but the bad version of them. A lot of my early work features Ben because I love him, he’s one of the most charming people I’ve ever met.”

    “When I met him, he knew exactly who the f–k he was,” the director explained to the crowd who gathered to watch Smith’s 1995 film at 50 Kent on the Williamsburg, Brooklyn, waterfront.

    He continued, “Hanging out with him on ‘Mallrats,’ he was really f—ing sweet. That’s what I loved about Affleck. Real f—ing sweet. Like, he was working on ‘Good Will Hunting,’ and Castle Rock was producing it at that time, and then we brought it to Miramax. So he didn’t shoot every day on ‘Mallrats.’ His was kind of a smaller part.”

    ‘So my man would be like, ‘Would you mind if I went back to Los Angeles and worked on the ‘Good Will Hunting’ script because we’re getting closer to shooting? And I said, ‘Yeah dude, as long as you come back when we gotta shoot your scenes, totally.’ So before he left, he would write — he did this three f—ing times — he wrote a note, which, in the day of the text, he’d probably just sent a text, but this was 1995. So I went to my office at the mall and there was a note on the desk and it was from f—ing Affleck and he was like, ‘I just wanted you to know I’m having a really good time, thanks for letting me go to this thing, most movies I work on aren’t fun, this is really fun, so it’s not a good sign for its box office prospects.’’

    As the years went on, Smith, 45, continued to cast Affleck, 42, in several of his films, including “Chasing Amy” (1997), “Dogma” (1999), “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back” (2001) and “Clerks 2? (2006).

    “I always just thought he was so f—ing charming and funny and smart. He’s way over-educated and again knows exactly who he is. So I always felt he could be a leading man. I was like, ‘Dude, why aren’t you a leading man?’ and he was like, ‘Because you cast me the guy who f—s people in Volkswagens and s–t.’”

    Ben Affleck Worried Christine Ouzounian Is Pregnant in Wake of Nannygate Scandal? ''Not True,'' Says Source

    It's now been over a month since Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner announced they are divorcing—and the A-list duo continues to remain in the headlines.

    Most recently, a report claimed the parents of three, daughters Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, and son Samuel, 3, are no longer speaking following the actor's alleged affair with former nanny Christine Ouzounian, although a source tells E! News that's simply not the case for the couple of over a decade.

    "They have children together. They talk all the time," a source tells E! News of Ben and Jen, adding that the Gone Girl star is more than welcome at their Los Angeles home (an insider previously told E! News that Affleck plans to live in a separate house on their Brentwood property so the two can co-parent).

    Additionally, a recent Star magazine report claimed that Affleck is worried Ouzounian is pregnant following their rumored affair. "Not true," the insider says.

    Ben Affleck Meets With Ex-Nanny: See the Pic That Sparked the Scandal

    (Pic: Ben Affleck Meets With Ex-Nanny) More details are now coming out about Ben Affleck's late-night meet-up on July 17 with his ex-nanny, Christine Ouzounian.

    Both Ben and Christine smile big in this photo taken at a rental house, where Ben was staying at the time. The 42-year-old actor is seen coming out of the house to greet 28-year-old Christine, who was driving his car. According to an eyewitness, she was also seen driving Ben's Lexus earlier in the day to run errands, and spent about two hours at the house before leaving.

    A source previously told ET exclusively that Christine actually "tipped off the paparazzi" about the rendezvous, so that photos would be taken of her and Ben together.

    Late last month, Ben's rep slammed reports that the Oscar winner is romantically involved with Christine, calling them "complete garbage" and "full of lies." But Christine is reportedly claiming to friends that her relationship with the A-list star did indeed become intimate, according to People. ET can confirm she was seen at the Hotel Bel Air last month, where Christine's friend told the magazine that Christine would talk of trysts with Ben there.

    Meanwhile, Jennifer Garner is currently in Atlanta filming her latest movie, Miracles From Heaven. Last Sunday, she spent her day off visiting sick children at an Atlanta hospital with her co-star, Kylie Rogers, posing for pics with patients and their families. But while it may look like Jennifer is unbothered by the nanny rumors, E! News reports that the 43-year-old actress is actually "livid" over the story and "eager for it to go away."

    Christine was let go by the former couple after working for the family for a "matter of months," a source previously told ET. Her closest friends thought she was being strangely tight-lipped about the reason for her firing, the source added, though Ben wrote a glowing recommendation letter on her behalf.

    She also joined Ben and Jennifer in the Bahamas last month, around the time the two announced they were divorcing, though Ben returned to Los Angeles alone.

    Ex-nanny at center of Affleck-Garner divorce is loving the fame

    The ex-nanny at the center of the Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner breakup seems pleased with her newfound publicity.

    Au Pair with Privileges Christine Ouzounian has undergone a media-savvy makeover in the days since being accused of sparking her employers’ split by having an affair with the “Gone Girl” star.

    The notorious beauty has been gussying up for the cameras outside her LA home with designer shades, careful makeup and a hair-flip-worthy highlights and blowout.

    The 28-year-old has hired a crisis p.r. firm, and on Wednesday took a star turn in tight jeans, treating paparazzi to a saucy wave and a smile as bright as her chandelier earrings.

    Affleck has denied through a rep that he had any love connection with the shapely Ouzounian.

    His protests haven’t quelled the rumors.

    Garner and Affleck separated when Ouzounian began working with the couple’s three kids in the spring.

    Since then, Affleck and the nanny have been photographed together repeatedly, including on June 30, in the Bahamas.

    She was fired the next day — but again photographed with Affleck on July 17.

    The allegedly naughty nanny has signed a non-disclosure agreement with her former bosses, Radar Online reported on Friday.

    But stay tuned.

    “Christine told friends that she no longer works for the couple,” a source told Radar Online.

    “And anything that happened with Ben after she was fired isn’t covered by the agreement.”

    Jennifer Garner Keeps Working, Ben Affleck Keeps a Low Profile Days After Nanny Infidelity Claims

    Just days after explosive claims of infidelity, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are moving forward – in their own ways.

    Garner, 43, has kept busy working on the set of her latest film, Miracles from Heaven, while weathering claims that the family's recently employed nanny, Christine Ouzounian, had an affair with the Oscar winner.

    Multiple sources told PEOPLE Ouzounian, 28, confirmed her romance with Affleck to friends, telling one pal she is "in love" with Affleck after their tryst purportedly began this spring.

    Affleck, 42, vehemently denies the claim, explaining they had "a work relationship and a friendship," but things never got physical.

    Garner and Affleck announced their split on June 30 while on a family vacation in the Bahamas. Shortly after, the family has spent significant time in Atlanta while she is in the midst of filming.

    Although Garner is said to be "livid" about the scandal, she has stayed composed in public, even finding time to make a surprise visit to an Atlanta hospital last Sunday to visit a young fan battling cancer.

    Affleck has kept a low profile since the nanny scandal broke, although a source close to the actor said he's been in Atlanta this week along with their three children.

    Ouzounian, meanwhile, was spotted out in Los Angeles Wednesday – the same day news of the scandal broke – and is now said to be holed up at the Hotel Bel Air.

    Affleck made the upscale hotel his unofficial L.A. home following the split, with one friend telling PEOPLE he and Ouzounian would meet there discreetly.

    Ben Affleck's Nanny Claims They Were Intimate While in the Bahamas, Prompted Firing by Jennifer Garner, According to Friend

    Rumors about Ben Affleck's alleged affair with his and Jennifer Garner's nanny, Christine Ouzounian, continue to swirl despite Affleck's rep denying the Us Weekly story. But now a friend close to Ouzounian, as well as other sources, tell E! News more details about the caretaker's relationship with both Affleck and Garner.

    "She was not doing her job of being a nanny," one source close to the couple explains.

    The insider further insists that Ouzounian had nothing to do with the couple's divorce, adding, "This was not the reason they announced the separation. It was one of many things."

    "Ben is absolutely not dating anyone. There is nothing physical of romantic between Ben and Christine," the source adds. "Dating is not his focus and it hasn't been his focus throughout the separation period. He was tired of Jen's negative energy and constant berating—but that does not mean he cheated."

    The couple, who met on the set of Daredevil, let Ouzounian go on July 1, one day after they announced their divorce. But photographs of Ouzounian and Affleck, taken July 17, seemed to show them hanging out together even though she was no longer working for them.

    But another source tells E! News that Ouzounian actually tipped off the paparazzi to have them take photographs of her with her former employer. Affleck supposedly became "very upset" upon discovering the photographers.

    As E! News previously reported, the reports of an alleged affair are categorically "not true," according to a rep for Affleck. "It's tabloid journalism hiding behind blind sources," the rep added. "It's a shameful ploy to stay relevant for the magazine."

    Affleck's rep adds that they're considering taking legal action.

    Meanwhile, a close confidant of Ouzounian tells a different story. The friend tells E! News that according to Ouzounian, their great employment arrangement—she had previous experience with high-profile families—ultimately transitioned into something inappropriate.

    "What started out as a flirtation quickly turned into more," the pal says.

    But Garner didn't let her go for a while because she was a "sweet girl" and her children "adored" her.

    When Affleck and Ouzounian began to hang out more, she told her friend that he would set "covert meet-ups" and their professional relationship turned romantic.

    "...Eventually she couldn't contain her excitement and spilled the beans that she was dating Ben Affleck...she told her friends she was completely in love with him," Ouzounian's friend explains. "Ben told Christine things that led her to believe they were going to be fully together. Over the course of the last few months, their relationship became very real and serious to Christine."

    Although Garner was "very, very suspicious" of her nanny, the friend adds that Ouzounian told her she wasn't fired until Garner "found out that Ben and Christine had been intimate" while in the Bahamas. According to Ouzounian's friend, that was Garner's breaking point.

    E! News has reached out to Ouzounian and Affleck for comment.

    Ben Affleck Nanny Christine Ouzounian Wasn't Obsessed with Celebs, Thought Job Was a 'Good Business Opportunity,' Friend Says

    Christine Ouzounian, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's former nanny who found herself at the center of a cheating scandal this week, sought work caring for celebrity children simply because she believed it paid "good money" – and didn't care about having intimate access to stars, says a friend.

    "She was never obsessed with celebrities and only saw working as a nanny for celebs as a good business opportunity to make good money," a childhood friend of Ouzounian tells PEOPLE.

    Multiple sources confirmed to PEOPLE that Ouzounian, 28, told pals she was having an affair with Affleck, 42, and is "in love" with him. Affleck has strongly denied the claim, stating the pair has "a work relationship and a friendship," but nothing more.

    Ouzounian's friend says she is "shocked about the Ben situation," in part because she knows the Santa Monica native is close to her family and seemingly grounded.

    "Christine still lives in the family house where she grew up with her twin sister. She was always very focused on her studies, work and a very caring, reliable friend. She loves the beach, hiking and is very much a normal Southern Cali girl," she says.

    Ouzounian stepped out in Los Angeles Wednesday, a smile on her face as she was photographed looking chic in blue jeans, a sleeveless white top and carrying a blue leather bag.

    Ouzounian began working with Affleck and Garner's three children this spring, and one pal said she was with the family in the Bahamas when they announced their divorce on June 30.

    Affleck and Ouzounian were photographed visiting each other at Affleck's L.A. rental house on July 17. Sources say the duo have not seen each other since July 19 after spending the night together there.

    Inside Ben Affleck's Retreat at the Hotel Bel-Air

    (Pic) Amid the drama surrounding his split from Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck has often spent time at his go-to home away from home in L.A., the Hotel Bel-Air.

    Built on 12 acres of land and surrounded by gardens, the Hotel Bel-Air is "where the rich and famous go to hide," as the hotel's homepage puts it. Once frequented by stars such as Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly and Judy Garland, the hotel features 12 bungalow suites with guarded private entrances, where Affleck has often stayed over the years.

    Affleck and Garner's ex-nanny Christine Ouzounian has told friends that she and Affleck had romantic rendezvous at the Bel-Air. Affleck has denied having an affair with the 28-year-old. Ouzounian was spotted entering the Hotel Bel-Air solo on Wednesday, while Affleck remains in Atlanta, where he has been spending time with Garner and their three kids.

    During the months before Affleck and Garner announced their plans to divorce, the actor was seen at the hotel several times. He also stayed there following his 2003 split from Jennifer Lopez and during the early days of his relationship with Garner, and visited on and off in recent years.

    "He's been to the Bel-Air," says the source close to Affleck. "It's not a secret hotel for him."

    The hotel, which is owned by the Sultan of Brunei, has been boycotted by many stars due to the leader's implementation of Sharia law in his home country, CNBC reports.

    Jennifer Garner Was 'Livid' About Ben Affleck's Alleged Fling with Nanny; Affleck Denies Affair

    Christine Ouzounian worked as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's nanny for just a few months – but her relationship with Affleck quickly became something much more intimate, according to sources.

    Multiple sources confirm to PEOPLE that Ouzounian, 28, told friends she was having an affair with Affleck. "Christine is in love with him," says one friend of Ouzounian's.

    Affleck has denied having any romantic relationship with Ouzounian, with his rep denouncing a report as "complete garbage and full of lies." A source close to Affleck says he and Ouzounian had "a work relationship and a friendship. There has never been a romantic or sexual relationship."

    According to the friend, Affleck and Ouzounian began the affair last spring, not long after she was hired, and would often meet at the Hotel Bel Air. ("Not true," counters the source close to Affleck.) "It's been going on for a long time," adds the friend, who says Ouzounian showed her pictures of her sitting on Affleck's lap and the two of them kissing. A second source in touch with Ouzounian's circle confirms Ouzounian told friends she and Affleck were intimate. "For Christine, it was a relationship," says the source. "A friend warned her she was going to end up heartbroken."

    Ouzounian's friend says that the nanny even accompanied Affleck along with his and Garner's three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to the Bahamas in June before Garner flew down separately to join them. While in the Bahamas, the power couple announced their divorce on June 30.

    Once Garner arrived, Ouzounian left the Bahamas with Affleck and attended a charity poker event in Las Vegas with him. Garner was still in the Bahamas with the kids when she found out about the affair, says Ouzounian's friend. Garner "was livid," says the friend. "And I don't blame her because if my children bonded with you and you did this? It's just the biggest betrayal."

    "This was not one of the reasons for the breakup," says the source close to Affleck. "There was no affair during or after [their marriage]. Ben and Jen have been separated for months."

    Sources say Affleck and Ouzounian, who were photographed visiting each other at Affleck's L.A. rental house on July 17, have not seen each other since July 19 after spending the night together there. Garner, who has been shooting Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta, continues to focus on her kids, says a source. "She's being unbelievably strong for them," adds the source. "They remain her priority."

    PEOPLE has not been able to reach Ouzounian for comment.

    Ex-Nanny Told Friends She 'Is in Love' with Ben Affleck; He Denies Affair

    (Photo: Ben Affleck and Christine Ouzounian in April 2015) Christine Ouzounian worked as Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's nanny for just a few months – but her relationship with Affleck quickly became something much more intimate, according to sources.

    Multiple sources confirm to PEOPLE that Ouzounian, 28, told friends she was having an affair with Affleck. "Christine is in love with him," says one friend of Ouzounian's.

    Affleck has denied having any romantic relationship with Ouzounian, with his rep denouncing a report as "complete garbage and full of lies." A source close to Affleck says he and Ouzounian had "a work relationship and a friendship. There has never been a romantic or sexual relationship."

    According to the friend, Affleck and Ouzounian began the affair last spring, not long after she was hired, and would often meet at the Hotel Bel Air. ("Not true," counters the source close to Affleck.) "It's been going on for a long time," adds the friend, who says Ouzounian showed her pictures of her sitting on Affleck's lap and the two of them kissing. A second source in touch with Ouzounian's circle confirms Ouzounian told friends she and Affleck were intimate. "For Christine, it was a relationship," says the source. "A friend warned her she was going to end up heartbroken."

    Ouzounian's friend says that the nanny even accompanied Affleck along with his and Garner's three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to the Bahamas in June before Garner flew down separately to join them. While in the Bahamas, the power couple announced their divorce on June 30.

    Once Garner arrived, Ouzounian left the Bahamas with Affleck and attended a charity poker event in Las Vegas with him. Garner was still in the Bahamas with the kids when she found out about the affair, says Ouzounian's friend. Garner "was livid," says the friend. "And I don't blame her because if my children bonded with you and you did this? It's just the biggest betrayal."

    "This was not one of the reasons for the breakup," says the source close to Affleck. "There was no affair during or after [their marriage]. Ben and Jen have been separated for months."

    Sources say Affleck and Ouzounian, who were photographed visiting each other at Affleck's L.A. rental house on July 17, have not seen each other since July 19 after spending the night together there. Garner, who has been shooting Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta, continues to focus on her kids, says a source. "She's being unbelievably strong for them," adds the source. "They remain her priority."

    PEOPLE has not been able to reach Ouzounian for comment.

    Ben Affleck blasts reports he’s dating former nanny

    Ben Affleck is slamming reports that he’s romantically involved with his children’s former nanny.

    Us Weekly claims the 42-year-old actor began dating one-time nanny Christine Ouzounian, who was hired to care for Affleck and estranged wife Jennifer Garner’s three young kids in the spring of this year, during a 10-month separation period from Garner.

    The magazine adds that when Garner, 43, discovered the alleged affair, the nanny, 28, was immediately fired.

    “[Ouzounian] says Ben really, really likes her. They’ve even talked about living together. She’s saying this is true love,” an insider said.

    But Affleck’s camp says it couldn’t be further from the truth.

    “The story is complete garbage and full of lies. You shouldn’t be able to hide behind ‘blind sources’ and attempt to destroy families going through a difficult time. The tabloid [Us Weekly] decided to construct stories in order to sell magazines. It’s like story time in kindergarten. It’s shameful and desperate,” a rep for Affleck told Page Six on Wednesday.

    Affleck and Garner announced in late June they were divorcing after 10 years of marriage.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Reunite Amid Divorce for a Family Day in Atlanta

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are putting their kids first.

    Despite announcing their divorce last month, the actors seem to be working on maintaining a normal family life for their three kids Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3. With Garner filming her upcoming movie Miracles From Heaven in Atlanta, Affleck was spotted out and about with Garner and the fam over the weekend at a school fair.

    People reported that Affleck would be in Atlanta for the summer, adding that the former married couple of ten years was in no rush to file for divorce.

    In the photos, both are wearing their wedding rings as Affleck hides under a baseball cap and Jen looks summertime chic in a flowy frock and white tennies. Earlier this month, Garner was spotted running errands wearing her wedding ring on as well.

    Last week, the 42-year-old Oscar winner arrived in Atlanta with the family's irresistibly adorable pup in tow before heading to Garner's $2 million rental property where he is living in the guest house.

    The estranged couple's arrangement confirms what one source previously told E! News, saying that their split was "not contentious," adding, "They grew apart. They were great parents together but they were not always on the same page."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Are 'Concentrating on Being a Family,' Aren't Focused on Divvying Up Assets, Source Says

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are focusing on spending time together as a family, rather than hurrying to sort out assets in the wake of their split, a source tells PEOPLE.

    The former couple, who were spotted together with their three children on Saturday, are spending most of the summer in Atlanta, Georgia, where Garner is currently filming the drama Miracles from Heaven.

    "He's going to be there for most of the summer," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE of Affleck, adding: "That was the plan. He's happy to be there with the family."

    The source says the pair, who plan to divide their assets via mediation, aren't in a "rush" to file for divorce and instead are "concentrating on being a family right now."

    "[Garner]'s finishing a film, so there hasn't been like, 'Okay, let's get this done now,' because they always were like, 'This is happening and still moving forward,' " the source says, concluding, "I don't think they're talking about it."

    Both the stars were spotted wearing their wedding rings on Saturday as Garner, 43, ran errands and Affleck, 42, left a gym. Later in the day, the exes got together to take Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, to a local school fair, spending time in a bouncy castle, a batting game and a face-paint tent.

    "This is not easy on him," the source tells PEOPLE of how Affleck is handling the split. "I'm sure it's not easy on Jen either, but this is hard for him ... and he's happy to be with the family."

    Affleck and Garner, who were married for 10 years, will continue to live on the same property when they return to Los Angeles. They're renting actress Brooke Shields' home while theirs undergoes extensive renovations.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Step Out Separately (but Still Wearing Their Wedding Rings) in Atlanta

    (Pic) It's been nearly a month since Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their divorce, but both still appear to be wearing their wedding rings.

    On Saturday, Garner stepped out in Atlanta, Georgia, where she's currently filming, while wearing her wedding band.

    The actress was spotted chatting with a friend in a parking lot. Garner, 43, carried brown shopping bags in one hand, her ring on displaywhile holding a cell phone.

    The actress wore white sneakers with a light-colored dress, and pulled her hair back in a ponytail.

    Affleck, who has been flying to Atlanta between work commitments to spend time with the couple's three children (Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3), was also photographed wearing his ring on Saturday.

    The Batman V. Superman star had the band on after hitting the gym on Saturday.

    A source told PEOPLE the couple has continued to wear the marriage symbols to help their children cope with the divorce.

    "They just want them to be okay," the source said.

    A source also told PEOPLE that the two actors will continue to live together on their Los Angeles property. However, due to extensive renovations, they're now renting actress Brooke Shields' nearby home.

    When Garner wraps filming in Atlanta, Affleck plans to temporarily move into Shields' home with the family.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner’s next real estate move

    Ben Affleck will rent Brooke Shields’ LA home once the new Batman and his estranged wife Jennifer Garner leave Atlanta — where Garner’s currently filming a movie, sources tell Page Six.

    Affleck and Garner, who announced their split in June, are currently in Georgia together with their three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, while Garner films the Christian-focused drama “Miracles From Heaven.”

    Despite their recent divorce announcement, Garner and Affleck have insisted they will live on the same property in the Pacific Palisades once they return home, but not in the same house, as they continue to co-parent their kids.

    The pair are currently renovating the 8,800-square-foot home they purchased for $17.5 million in 2009, but sources tell us the separated Hollywood couple “don’t want to live in a construction zone.” Pictures emerged in June of an additional structure being built near their home, which was assumed would be a “man cave” where Affleck would live to be close to their kids.

    Shields’ five-bedroom, 5 ½-bathroom home is conveniently just a few houses away from Affleck and Garner’s Pacific Palisades property, we’re told. Shields and her writer hubby Chris Henchy put the mansion up for rent in June for $30,000 a month. Shields bought the property in 1997 for $3.3 million, but spends most of her time in New York.

    But another source close to the divorcing couple insisted Shields’ home wouldn’t be Affleck’s “bachelor pad,” but a family refuge from his currently under-construction home with Garner. Affleck would still “remain with his family on this new property,” we’re told.

    Affleck and Garner have done their best to put on a united front since announcing the divorce. Shortly after the split, they took a family vacation to the Bahamas while news of their breakup made headlines.

    And last weekend, Affleck was spotted holding a yellow golden retriever puppy, which sources say the family rescued while in Atlanta.

    Ben Affleck -- C'mon, You GOTTA Love Me Now!!

    (Pic) Ben Affleck - 1 / Everyone else - 0

    Nothing wins more than a Golden Retriever puppy, and Ben knows it ... which is why he landed in Atlanta on Monday with an armful of fur.

    We're guessing it's for his kids, or maybe just a great photo op. Either way -- smart move.

    Somewhere Jennifer Garner's looking for a baby seal.

    Ben Affleck Makes Surprise Appearance at ESPYs and Reveals Who 'Broke His Heart a Hundred Times'

    (Pic) Ben Affleck made a surprise appearance – wearing his wedding ring – at the ESPYs in Los Angeles on Wednesday to present retired New York Yankees captain Derek Jeter with the Icon Award.

    "If you're from Boston you always wanted to hate our next honoree," said the Bean Town-bred actor, 42, who announced last month that he and wife Jennifer Garner would be divorcing after 10 years of marriage.

    "There was something about him that made the boos ring a little hollow," said Affleck of Jeter, 41. "Maybe it was his inimitable class, maybe it was he won with dignity and loss with grace, maybe it was simply that we knew, no matter what, he was a winner regardless."

    Along with his ring, which Affleck is wearing to symbolize his and Garner's dedication to their three children, the Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice star presented the award in a dark suit.

    "He broke my heart a hundred times, if not more," Affleck said of Jeter during his speech. "He broke it again when he retired because he was absolutely one of the very best to ever play the game of baseball. So to you, Derek Jeter, I tip my hat and thank you for every last moment of your incredible career."

    This is not the first public appearance for Affleck, who stopped by last weekend's San Diego Comic-Con to support Batman vs. Superman.

    Beyond the spotlight, Affleck has spent much of his time since the June 30 announcement "playing Mr. Mom," a source told PEOPLE. "As difficult as [the divorce] is, from what we've seen, it's pretty amicable."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Are Still (Mostly) Wearing Their Wedding Rings for Their Kids

    Making his first public appearance since his split from Jennifer Garner was announced, Ben Affleck was at Comic-Con in San Diego to promote his upcoming film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But plenty of eyes were also on the actor's wedding band – still on his ring finger.

    Friends of the former couple say the rings (Affleck, 42, has worn his off and on; Garner, 43, has been spotted wearing hers) symbolize their effort to help their three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, through their divorce as easily as possible. The children "are a big part of why they're still wearing [the rings]," a source tells PEOPLE in this week's issue. "They just want them to be okay."

    Garner and the kids are spending their summer in Atlanta, where Garner is shooting Miracles from Heaven. Affleck, who spent several days with his family in Atlanta last week, "plans to be there with them as much as he can," says a source close to both. "He's playing Mr. Mom, and that is what he wants to do. As difficult as it is, from what we've seen, it's pretty amicable."

    Garner "is doing great. The kids are with her, which is all she wants," says a friend. "She's as strong as ever."

    Did Ben Affleck Sic His Dog on the Paparazzi? Actor Photographed Looking Peeved Amid Jennifer Garner Divorce

    (Pic) Has Ben Affleck had it with the paparazzi?

    The 42-year-old actor was spotted arriving to an office in Beverly Hills Tuesday morning with his adorable German Shepherd dog. The Oscar winner appeared to be a little annoyed by the media attention and was snapped pointing to the photographers while saying something to his four-legged friend, who wasn't on a leash.

    While we're totally not sure if Affleck actually tried to sic his pooch on the paps, he did look a little peeved. And understandably so.

    Affleck and Jennifer Garner have been the subjects of constant media attention the past two weeks after they announced they are divorcing after 10 years of marriage.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the former lovebirds said in a statement last month. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    This past weekend, Affleck made his first post-split appearance at Comic-Con in San Diego where he was promoting his upcoming flick Batman v Superman. Meanwhile, Garner and their three kids were in Atlanta.

    And just the other day, Affleck was photographed not wearing his wedding ring.

    Ben Affleck -- Nobody Does a Dodge Better than Me

    (Pic) Ben Affleck now has a car suitable for his newly-formed Batman muscles ... a 2015 Dodge Challenger Hellcat.

    Ben was tooling around in his newest acquisition Tuesday near the family home in Pacific Palisades. It's a rare ride ... only 2,000 were manufactured.

    The car goes for $90k and it has plenty of power ... 707 horsepower.

    One final fun fact ... Ben bought the car over the phone. That's Affleck money.

    Ben Affleck Spotted Without His Wedding Ring

    (Pic) Ben Affleck may have been wearing his wedding ring during his Saturday appearance at San Diego Comic-Con, but the actor was spotted without his band on Monday.

    A ringless Affleck, 42, was photographed walking on the street in Santa Monica, California, on Monday afternoon, two weeks after announcing his split from wife Jennifer Garner.

    At Comic-Con, the actor seemed to be in a serious mood as he answered questions about his upcoming movie Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. He was also spotted wearing his ring in Atlanta on Thursday during an outing with daughter Violet.

    Meanwhile, Garner, 43, who has been less in the spotlight since the split while filming Miracles from Heaven in Atlanta, was spotted wearing her own wedding band on Sunday.

    The couple announced on June 30 that they were splitting up after 10 years of marriage.

    Ben Affleck watches the kids while Jennifer Garner works

    Amid reports that cheating ended their marriage, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are both in Atlanta — and although sources told Page Six that Garner’s taken off her wedding ring, Affleck’s there caring for their kids while she works in Georgia through mid-August.

    Our spies said Garner, who’s starring in the movie “Miracles From Heaven,” was at a 6:30 a.m. spin class at Flywheel in Atlanta on Wednesday, where she noticeably did not have her wedding band on. “Jennifer kept a low profile. The class was full, but no one bothered her or tried to stop her” to interact, a spy said, adding that Garner came with her assistant and was “in and out quickly.”

    We’re told Jen spun in the back row of the class while her aide sat closer to the front. “They left immediately after, but Jen did stop to thank the instructor,” said a source.

    Garner has been spotted wearing a wedding ring while in costume on the set for her film, co-produced by Bishop T.D. Jakes, although it’s unclear whether that ring was a prop for her role.

    Meanwhile, Affleck flew to Atlanta Tuesday to be with Garner and their kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, while she works.

    “They are trying to make this as normal and amicable as possible for themselves and for the kids,” a source said. “He’s staying at the same property in Atlanta with Jen and the kids, and he’ll remain there until she’s done shooting in mid-August.”

    We’re told the family also plans to live together at their Los Angeles home once they return from Atlanta.

    It was unclear whether Affleck would travel to San Diego to promote his upcoming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” at Comic-Con.

    US Weekly reported Wednesday that Garner has told pals Affleck had “admitted to cheating with an attractive love interest,” and a “devastated” Garner kicked him out of their $17.5 million Pacific Palisades home — “but eventually decided to forgive him.”

    However, sources close to Affleck insisted he didn’t stray. Their reps had no comment.

    ‘Batman v Superman’ trailer debuts at Comic-Con

    ‘Batman v Superman’ trailer debuts at Comic-Con: Video.

    Holy sequel! Another Ben Affleck Batman flick coming your way

    Holy smokes Batman! It looks like Ben Affleck just can’t get enough of the Caped Crusader.

    Deadline reports the actor is teaming up with DC Comics’ chief creative officer Geoff Johns to write a stand-alone Batman film that Affleck will also direct and star in.

    The new movie will pick up where the character leaves off in the “Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice” film, in which Affleck plays the Dark Knight.

    Although things are reportedly moving fast with the project, the actor and Johns have no plans of starting production efforts on it until Affleck finishes directing the film adaptation of Dennis Lehane’s crime novel “Live By Night,” which starts production in November.

    Also, Affleck isn’t the only one who is keeping busy. Johns has a lot on his plate these days as well. “The Flash” writer is not only staying on with the CW series, but he is at the helm of a Batman video game, as well as a 2019 adaptation of “Shazam!” starring Dwayne Johnson.

    Ben Affleck is still wearing his wedding band

    (Pic) Ben Affleck was seen sporting his wedding ring in Atlanta on Thursday.

    The “Suicide Squad” star, who called it quits with Jennifer Garner after 10 years of marriage, was photographed as he exited the Center for Civil and Human Rights.

    Affleck, who was casually dressed in jeans and a gray T-shirt, didn’t try hiding his wedding band from the cameras.

    He was on a father-daughter field trip with his eldest child, Violet, 9. His younger two, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, were nowhere in sight.

    Affleck, 42, has been in Georgia watching his children while Garner, 43, shoots her latest film, “Miracles From Heaven.”

    “They are trying to make this as normal and amicable as possible for themselves and for the kids,” a source told Page Six on Wednesday. “He’s staying at the same property in Atlanta with Jen and the kids, and he’ll remain there until she’s done shooting in mid-August.”

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Treasure Time with Kids as They Go Through Divorce

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner spent some time together without their children in the Bahamas this weekend, as seen in these exclusive photos. But they also enjoyed many activities with the kids – both separately and as a family – a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE.

    In announcing their impending divorce to PEOPLE on June 30, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, affirmed a "commitment to co-parenting our children." And they did just that during their subsequent Bahamas vacation with Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    Friends say Garner was grateful she could shelter her kids from the eyes of the world when the announcement was made. "She has been focused on them the entire time," says a close friend, noting the kids flew to the Bahamas with her. "She has been with them every second. They mean everything to her."

    The family time this weekend was symbolic, yes, but it was also just fun, even against the backdrop of sadness over the split, says the source.

    "He spent a great deal of time hanging with the kids this weekend," the source says of Affleck. "They had a lot of great activities they were able to do together with the family and separately that he really appreciated."

    The source added: "They enjoyed it and he enjoyed it, and he also thought it was good for the family. It was important to them, but it was also nice. He also had some time alone with the kids, and he really enjoyed activities with them."

    Garner "made sure the vacation was for the kids," the close friend added. "She is an amazing and attentive mother and everything she does is with the kids in mind."

    At the end of the weekend, the kids left with Garner as she headed to Atlanta on Sunday to begin shooting the faith-based film Miracles from Heaven. She was spotted wearing her wedding ring in Atlanta on Monday.

    Affleck, meanwhile, returned to Los Angeles solo, where he was spotted Sunday without his wedding ring.

    Ben Affleck Flies to Atlanta, Where Jennifer Garner Is Filming

    (ET Online) Looks like Ben and Jen are about to see each other once again!

    Just days after Ben Affleck was spotted looking somber around Los Angeles, the Batman v Superman actor has boarded a private jet at Van Nuys Airport heading for Atlanta, Georgia, ET has learned exclusively.

    His soon-to-be ex-wife Jennifer Garner has been spotted in Atlanta where she is set to begin filming her latest movie, Miracles From Heaven. One bit of good news for Affleck: Garner was still wearing her wedding band despite the couple announcing their divorce June 30.

    The couple was most recently together in the Bahamas where they were photographed having an intimate conversation.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, said in their statement to ET last week. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Inside the Luxurious Bahamas Resort Where Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Took Family Post-Split

    (Pic1, Pic2) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stayed under the radar with their three children following their divorce announcement on June 30 at a very secluded location: their home in a private Bahamas resort community.

    The family headed to the lavish Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club in the Bahamas, where they own property and – in exclusive photos posted on PEOPLE – were spotted stealing a private moment together on Friday. The resort community boasts six miles of pristine, pink-sand beaches, a deep-water marina, an 18-hole championship golf course, a poolside spa and more.

    As PEOPLE previously reported, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, sought refuge at the owners-only club to protect their children – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – from the public eye after they broke the news of their split last week.

    "They were together as a family that day," a source told PEOPLE. "The family felt it was important to be together, and they were together. The family is united and, no matter what, will protect the kids.

    "This isn't easy for anyone and it's devastating to Ben, too. He loves his family and will always put them first."

    The family didn't have to go far for their day-to-day needs – within the 585-acre community lies a village with a restaurant, bar, retail shops and a market that sells luxury foods, fine wines and groceries. Any items not on hand at the club, situated along the Atlantic Ocean and Sea of Abaco, can easily be delivered to residents.

    Baker's Bay also has an on-island medical clinic with a doctor and nurse, as well as its own fire and police facilities, according to the official sales brochure.

    Affleck and Garner were privately separated for several months before going public with their split, a source told PEOPLE, but they've been putting on a united front in recent weeks.

    The two parents plan to share custody of their children and continue living together on their estate in L.A. They also intend to seek mediation as they move forward with splitting their assets.

    "Ben was a family man when he could be and his kids adore him," said another source. "He traveled a lot but when he is with the kids he's really with them, taking them out for treats, having fun with them. And there is nothing more important to Jen than being a good mom."

    Ben Affleck Leans on Matt Damon in Wake of Split from Jennifer Garner: Source

    Ben Affleck has turned to close friends and family to cope with his split from Jennifer Garner after 10 years of marriage, including longtime pal Matt Damon.

    "In the same way Jen is turning to her friends, for a long time, Ben has reached out to Matt, who is a true touch point for him," a source close to the ex-couple tells PEOPLE.

    "He's a solid friend and this has been a long separation and not easy, and a lot of people would leave after a separation," the source adds of Affleck, who will continue to live with Garner at the family's Pacific Palisades, California, home.

    The actors and former costars have been loyal friends for more than 30 years, a relationship dating back to high school.

    "They have a bond," says the source. "Few people know Ben better than Matt, and that is really invaluable."

    Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, announced on June 30 – the day after their 10th wedding anniversary – that they are divorcing in an exclusive joint statement. In order to continue "doing absolutely everything in the best interest of the kids," another source explained, the couple will continue to live together in Los Angeles. (They plan to share custody.)

    They also vacationed with their three children – Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – last week in the Bahamas in order to spend time together privately as a family as they revealed their plans to divorce.

    "The family felt it was important to be together and they were together. The family is united and, no matter what, will protect the kids," a source told PEOPLE at the time.

    Ben Affleck Breaks Social Media Silence Post-Split with Tweet to Secretary of State John Kerry

    Amid his ongoing divorce from Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck broke his Twitter silence Monday to chime in on news related to the humanitarian work he holds dear to his heart.

    The 42-year-old actor Tweeted to thank Secretary of State John Kerry for appointing former congressman Tom Perriello as Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa on Monday.

    "@JohnKerry Thx for appointing Tom Perriello as Special Envoy, Africa Great Lakes & #DRC. @EasternCongo partners look fwd to working w/ him," Affleck wrote, mentioning his organization, the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), which he founded in 2010.

    Affleck has been a devoted advocate for the people of the war-torn region of Congo. His organization works to further economic and social development in eastern Congo by fighting for policy change. (He received the humanitarian award at the People's Choice Awards in January for his commitment.)

    "I want to do something more with my life than just make movies and try to make money," Affleck told PEOPLE in December 2012.

    Father to Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, with Garner, Affleck explained at the time that giving back to the world was important when it came to serving "as an example to my kids."

    "I tell them it's important to be involved in the world in ways that help others and not just yourself."

    Affleck and Garner, who announced their split June 30, made a family appearance, alongside daughter Violet, in March at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee meeting where the actor spoke to a panel about increasing foreign aid to the area.

    In February 2014, Affleck met with Kerry to testify in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as an Africa expert.

    "Finally, it's just a pleasure to be back here in the State Department. The real State Department – I had to fake it for Argo," he joked. "I get to see the real thing here, so it's quite intimidating."

    A Somber Ben Affleck Returns Alone From Bahamas Trip With Jennifer Garner

    (Photos) Obviously, Ben Affleck has seen better days.

    The 42-year-old actor was spotted on Sunday in Los Angeles, having returned from his trip to the Bahamas with Jennifer Garner and their three kids -- 9-year-old Violet, 6-year-old Seraphina, and 3-year-old Samuel. Ben was clearly not in the best of spirits going for a coffee run in Brentwood, California, following the news that he and Jennifer are splitting after a decade of marriage.

    Ben and Jen were in the Bahamas with their children as news broke of their split last Tuesday, with the Batman v Superman star departing on Friday, July 3, alone. According to an eyewitness, Ben appeared "very nervous," and "seemed uncomfortable" at the docks, where he was transported to a private airport.

    On Sunday, Ben was spotted riding around his Brentwood neighborhood on both his motorcycle and his truck, and another eyewitness tells ET he appeared "sad and despondent." Ben was also no longer wearing his wedding band, which he was spotted with a day before in the Bahamas.

    Inside Ben Affleck's Past Romances with Jennifer Lopez and Gwyneth Paltrow: What Went Wrong?

    Before settling down with Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck was one of Hollywood's most eligible bachelors – and his romances with A-list beauties made headlines.

    When Affleck rose to stardom after winning his first Oscar for Good Will Hunting in 1997, the Boston native was in a relationship with high school girlfriend Cheyenne Rothman, with whom he still keeps in touch.

    But the actor soon began dating Gwyneth Paltrow after meeting her at a dinner thrown by studio mogul Harvey Weinstein. The pair went on to costar in the movies Shakespeare in Love and Bounce.

    The couple shared quick wit and a wicked sense of humor – but their relationship had its share of ups and downs. In January Paltrow told Howard Stern that while dating Affleck was fun, her parents did not approve.

    "He's super intelligent and really, really talented and he's funny," she said. "But he wasn't in a good place in his life to have a girlfriend."

    At the time they were dating, Paltrow was little more blunt about his love of a good time. Teasing him on Good Morning America, she joked his perfect woman was "anything that serves cold beer in a bikini."

    Still, they clearly enjoyed one another's company. The pair broke up in 1999, but briefly reunited before finally ending things in 2000.

    But the GOOP mogul and Affleck remain pals. "I like him," she told Stern. "I'm still friends with him."

    Two years after breaking up with Paltrow, Affleck met Jennifer Lopez on the set of the mobster comedy Gigli, and the super couple known as Bennifer was born.

    The film went on to be one of Hollywood's most famous flops – and the pair's second movie together, 2004's Jersey Girl, also tanked at the box office. But their off-screen relationship became a tabloid blockbuster.

    The two stars got engaged in 2002 – Affleck gave Lopez a $2.5 million diamond engagement ring. He also underwent a makeover, ditching facial scruff and flannel shirts for slicked-back hair and Versace suits.

    But perhaps the most infamous moment in the couple's high-profile relationship was Lopez's "Jenny from the Block" music video, which featured Affleck in a tank top and shades as he massaged suntan lotion on the bikini-clad diva in a sequence the actor would live to regret.

    "In our culture, we get very much into short-handing people," Affleck told Details in 2012. "And I got shorthanded as 'that guy': Jennifer Lopez, movies bombed, there he must be a sort of thoughtless, dilettante, solipsistic consumer, blah, blah, blah."

    The pair planned to wed in an elaborate ceremony in Santa Barbara, California, on Sept. 14, 2003, but Affleck called off the festivities with four days' notice because of "excessive media attention."

    The couple officially announced a split a few months later. Affleck later called his year in the media glare as Lopez's fiancé his "annus horribilis."

    "I don't think I had ever been heartbroken in that way before," she later told VH1. "I had so many hopes and dreams on something."

    Still, they found a way to make peace. Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter that he and the pop superstar occasionally "touch base," and Lopez warmly congratulated Affleck when he won his Golden Globe for Argo in 2013.

    "I respect her," he told THR. "I like her."

    In the same interview, the star praised his wife, Garner, whom he began dating not long after the pair starred together in the failed action movie Daredevil in 2003.

    "She truly is kind," he said. "She means no one any harm. She doesn't have ill will for any person. She's not competitive with other people. She's not spiteful."

    But after 10 years of marriage and three children, Affleck's relationship with the woman who once described him as her "soul mate" also foundered.

    In the end, there were obstacles the relationship could not overcome.

    Says a Garner source: "They are two very different people."

    Ben Affleck Is Leaning on His Mom for Support After Jennifer Garner Split

    Ben Affleck is leaning on his mother after he and wife Jennifer Garner announced this week that they had made the "difficult decision to divorce" after 10 years of marriage.

    "While Jen is turning to her family and friends, the person in Ben's life is his mother," a source close to the couple tells PEOPLE. "She is a constant rock for him. She had remained close to the family as well. She's been there for him through this extremely difficult time."

    Affleck and his children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, also spent time with his mom, Christine, in Los Angeles, while Garner, 43, was in Montreal shooting her upcoming film Nine Lives, adds another source.

    "He is really leaning on his mother for support," says the insider. "Ben and his mom have always been very close."

    The actor, 42, also turned to his mother after his highly publicized split from ex-fiancée Jennifer Lopez.

    Ben Affleck's Mad Men Mentality Caused Problems in Marriage: Source

    When it comes to being a father and husband, Ben Affleck, 42, took a page right out of Don Draper’s book.

    "He’s like a '50s dad," a source told PEOPLE before the couple's split. "He thinks work is your priority and providing money for your family is your priority, and raising the kids day to day and making a nice house is the wife's priority."

    But this point of view often caused tension during his marriage to Jennifer Garner, 43, who was also trying to balance a demanding career while raising the couple's three children Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    "It leaves too much of the burden on Jen to be a mom and dad to the children when she also has a career," says an entertainment source. Garner was most recently in Boston preparing for her role in the upcoming film Miracles from Heaven and has been filming Nine Lives in Montreal.

    "Ben is a good dad when he is around, but he has so many outside interests and personal issues to get beyond," the source adds.

    Another source close to the couple disputes any notion Affleck wasn't focused on his family: "He really enjoys what he does. Sure, he works a lot, but it doesn't mean he doesn't go back to the kids. Those allegations that he chose work over her are not true."

    "He in no way thinks a women's place is in the home," the source continues. "Quite the contrary, he has on numerous occasions supports and pushes Jen to work. She worked this summer while he was home.

    "It's a balancing act and neither of them wants to be away from the kids for a long time and he certainly supports whatever Jen wants to do – acting or otherwise. He has often spoken of his wife's support and that was big for him – and in the same way that she supports him, he supports her."

    Affleck often spoke of how his wife's support helped him fulfill his career dreams. "Getting to know her, falling in love with her and being connected with her gave me a foundation to reach out and say, Okay, I'm going to do Hollywoodland I’m going to direct Gone Baby Gone," he told Playboy in 2013. "Over the past 10 years she has allowed me to have a stable home life while accomplishing my professional goals."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner flee to the Bahamas together

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner fled to the Bahamas with their kids to spend time together just as their divorce news broke, sources exclusively confirmed to Page Six.

    The couple, who on Tuesday announced they are divorcing after 10 years of marriage, was spotted with their kids at a private Bahamas resort on Wednesday. “Ben looked more gray then usual. but Jen was in great spirits,” said the source. “Jen seemed in a great mood, and was spotted working out with a trainer.”

    A second source told us of their island escape: “It was important for both Ben and Jen to get away from the media spotlight and spend quiet time with the kids. They have been spending a lot of time with the kids. This has been hard for everyone, but they are both doing everything to put the kids first.” Of Ben’s gray appearance: “The gray — it’s a concern. Ben and Jen are just worried about how the kids will adjust. That’s why they went away together.”

    This week, a day after their 10th wedding anniversary, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, who have children Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, announced they had “made the difficult decision to divorce.”

    Meanwhile, we’re told the breakup isn’t because of Ben’s ex-fiancée, Jennifer Lopez, despite reports of his “growing closeness” with her. According to UK reports, Affleck and Lopez, who dated for 18 months before calling off their engagement in 2004, have been in regular contact since they reconnected at the Oscars this year.

    But a well-placed source told us: “There is no closeness between Ben and Jennifer Lopez. They bumped into each other at an Oscars event earlier this year and said hello, but that was it.” The source added, “The end of his marriage has nothing to do with J.Lo. This is just a rumor that some people want to be true.”

    We’re told that while Affleck plans to live in a house on the property of their LA family home to help co-parent their kids, he’s recently been staying at his friend Matt Damon’s house nearby. Damon is in China filming “The Great Wall.”

    Ben Affleck Talks Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Admits Daredevil With Jennifer Garner ''Didn't Work''

    Ben Affleck is opening up about his forthcoming film, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly.

    The 42-year-old actor, who announced in a joint statement on Tuesday that he and wife Jennifer Garner are divorcing after 10 years of marriage, touches on the casting controversy (the actor faced major backlash when he was first named the Caped Crusader) and reveals why he was eager to star in another superhero flick, despite appearing in the 2003 flop Daredevil.

    "Batman is basically the American version of Hamlet," Affleck tells EW. "We accept that he's played by actors with different interpretations."

    Those different actors include Christian Bale in the Dark Knight trilogy and Michael Keaton in Batman Returns, to name a few, although Affleck says his version of the superhero is tired and weary after two decades of fighting crime in Gotham City.

    "He's at the end of his run and maybe the end of his life," Affleck reveals. "There's this sort of world-weariness to it."

    This isn't the first time Affleck has played a superhero on the big screen. He previously starred as Attorney Matt Murdock/Daredevil in the Mark Steven Johnson-directed flick, where he happened to meet wife Jennifer Garner.

    While Affleck has said in the past that making the film had silver lining because "that's where I found my wife," he seemed to have a slightly different perspective while speaking with EW.

    "Daredevil didn't work, at all. If I wanted to go viral I would be less polite," the Oscar winner says. "That was before people realized you could make these movies and make them well. There was a cynical sense of ‘Put a red leather outfit on a guy, have him run around, hunt some bad guys, and cash the check.'"

    But now with the success of Marvel, Affleck is confident in the forthcoming project. "They really learned how to make this stuff work," he says. "Good is the new bad."

    Meanwhile, Garner and Affleck announced on Tuesday that they are divorcing after 10 years of marriage (Affleck was presumably interviewed before the announcement).

    "They were a great team as parents, but with each other, they didn't want the same things," a source told E! News of the parents of three, who underwent marital counseling for two years. "After spending a lot of time figuring that out, they came to the decision that the best thing for them and for the children would be to make a change."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: How Their Differences Drove Them Apart

    While fans mourn the end of the 10-year marriage of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner, those close to the couple say there were key differences between the two stars that gradually created distance between them.

    "They are really two different people," a source tells PEOPLE. "Problems got bigger in their marriage after a few years."

    When they fell for each other on the set of Daredevil in 2003, Affleck, 42, was already an Oscar winner (for 1997's Good Will Hunting) and Garner, 43, was a rising TV star best known for her roles on Alias and Felicity.

    A West Virginia-reared former band geek who often spoke of her affection for Martha Stewart and all things domestic, Garner has long had a warm maternal side.

    "She's always loved kids," a childhood friend told PEOPLE in 2012. "We used to babysit as kids. And she was always the best babysitter."

    The Boston-bred Affleck had a less conventional childhood, having worked as a kid actor on PBS shows. With the smash success of Good Will Hunting, his film career took off – and after marrying Garner, he channeled his professional ambition in even bigger ways, including directing.

    One issue: the separations caused by Affleck's career, which frequently left Garner at home to care for the couple's three children: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, while also continuing to act in movies such as Dallas Buyers Club and Men, Women & Children.

    "Ben's frequent absences didn't work for this marriage," an entertainment source says.

    A different source adds, "Ben is a good dad when he is around, but he has so many outside interests and personal issues to get beyond. It had become a bigger problem than either had imagined."

    Another source close to the couple counters that Affleck "was a good husband and loves and cares for his wife and family. He was juggling that as well as his career — everyone knows that juggling a family and career is hard."

    Jennifer Garner Told Friends Ben Affleck Was Her 'Soul Mate'

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck may be ending their marriage, but there was once a time when they were madly in love.

    "I remember her telling me Ben is her soul mate," Garner's childhood pal Elizabeth Cary Lantz Brown told PEOPLE of the actress in 2012.

    Garner was so in love with Affleck, for whom she fell on the set of 2003's Daredevil, that she was hoping to spread the joy around, said Brown.

    "She said, if your husband is truly your soul mate, you need to [have kids together,]" Brown recalled.

    And despite any strain in the marriage, Brown emphasized that Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, have always prioritized being good parents to their three kids: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    "They're really great parents. They're really involved," Brown said. "Our conversations weren't centered on her life as a movie star but her life as a mom. She loves her work, but it's nothing compared to her kids."

    This desire to put their children first is echoed in the joint statement released exclusively to PEOPLE by Garner and Affleck on Tuesday, just one day after their 10-year wedding anniversary.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," they said in the statement. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    Ben Affleck Talks About His 'World-Weary' Batman - and Disses Daredevil

    Batman is back, just a little more, well, weathered.

    "He's at the end of his run and maybe the end of his life," Ben Affleck tells Entertainment Weekly about his adaptation of the Caped Crusader in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. "There's this sort of world-weariness to it."

    As for taking on such a well-known superhero – who was last played by Christian Bale in the Dark Knight trilogy – Affleck says, "Batman is basically the American version of Hamlet."

    "We accept that he's played by actors with different interpretations," he explains.

    But this isn't the first time Affleck has played a superhero. The actor – who confirmed on Tuesday that he and wife Jennifer Garner are divorcing after 10 years of marriage – starred in Daredevil along with Garner in 2003.

    "Daredevil didn't work, at all. If I wanted to go viral I would be less polite," Affleck admits. "That was before people realized you could make these movies and make them well. There was a cynical sense of 'Put a red leather outfit on a guy, have him run around, hunt some bad guys, and cash the check.' "

    Still, Affleck believes his second run at playing a superhero will be more successful.

    "They really learned how to make this stuff work," he says. "Good is the new bad."

    Affleck, 42, is set to appear at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Saturday, July 11 – alongside director Zach Snyder and cast mate Henry Cavill who plays Superman, as well as costars Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot – to promote the movie.

    Ben Affleck -- Even Jennifer Garner Doesn't Believe He Messed with JLo

    Jennifer Garner has issues with Ben Affleck for sure, but they have nothing to do with Ben's former fiancee, Jennifer Lopez.

    Sources directly connected with the couple tell us, neither Ben nor Jen have even raised JLo's name in their decision to divorce. More specifically, we're told Garner has no issue on that front ... it's not about JLo.

    The stories about Ben and JLo started circulating after Ben walked over to Jen during the Oscars, said something, and walked away as she brushed his arm.

    That said, on the other hand, our sources will not say Ben and Jen never argued about other people during their marriage.

    'Batman v Superman' photos: Wonder Woman meets Bruce Wayne in a 'sexy scene'

    (EW Cover, Video, Pics) The first photos from "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" have been released, giving a closer look at the movie's first trailer, with some additional sneak peeks at Lex Luthor (Jesse Eisenberg) and Diana Prince/Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot).

    The images come from Entertainment Weekly, which features the movie on the cover of it's San Diego Comic-Con preview issue. The most interesting of the photos features Prince with Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) at what looks like some sort of Gala.

    "I love the fact that there was this 'Thomas Crowne Affair,' Bond-y sexy scene that they wrote about two people who are pretending to be two different people who each know the secrets of the other person," Affleck tells EW.

    In another picture, Luthor is shown with his hair. The iconic villain is typically portrayed as bald and will be in "Batman v. Superman," as well. However, at least for a portion of the movie, he's sporting long locks.

    Two of the images feature Batman (Ben Affleck) and Superman (Henry Cavill) from scenes in the trailer, while a third showing the costumed heroes face-to-face looks to be pulled from the IMAX-exclusive scene attached to the trailer.

    Lastly, there's a photo of Affleck and director Zack Snyder on the movie's set, with destruction as a backdrop.

    With "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" heading to San Diego Comic-Con, get ready for even more clips and photos to be released soon.

    "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" will hit theaters on March 26, 2016.

    What Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Divorce Means for Their Money: Lawyer Weighs in on What's at Stake

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their plans to divorce just yesterday and fans are already wondering what the breakup means for the exes' multi-million dollar fortunes.

    As E! News noted Tuesday, the actors' split announcement came just one day after the longtime couple's 10th wedding anniversary. So does their decade of marriage affect who gets more money post-divorce?

    "The ten year mark is the period after which, in California, the marriage is considered a long term marriage," L.A. celebrity divorce attorney and co-author of Inside the Minds: Strategies for Family Law in California: Leading Lawyers on Developments in California Family Law Fahi Takesh Hallin tells E! News. "Normally the presumption is that spousal support or alimony is payable for a period half the length of the marriage unless it is a long term marriage which is ten years or longer. It no longer applies if the marriage is ten years or more, then you can ask relatively for endless support if you make less. If you make more, you can't ask for support."

    While post-split spousal support is still up in the air for Garner and Affleck, division of the duo's community property (the homes and assets they accumulated during marriage) doesn't depend on how long they were together.

    "The ten year marriage makes zero difference. It is always 50/50 for anything acquired during the marriage," Hallin tells E! News. "That means whatever they earned or saved on projects they worked on. It could include residuals or royalties or money for appearances for instance. It is anything they earned on efforts they made during the marriage."

    The fact that Garner and Affleck were separated for 10 months prior to their decade anniversary makes no difference either. "Generally if it is a trial separation the community property continues to accrue until the date that either of you decides the marriage is over. If it isn't a legal separation then the community property still accrues," Hallin said.

    As for custody of their three kids, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, length of marriage has no weight in the matter of custody.

    Yesterday, a source told E! News that Garner and Affleck's divorce is "not contentious" as both parents want what's best for their children. "They will be co-parenting," a source says, adding that Ben will be living on their property in a different building.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Divorce Details Emerge: "They Didn't Want the Same Things," Source Says

    This is divorce done right.

    When Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck announced their breakup Tuesday, the Daredevil co-stars promised to end their 10-year marriage with dignity.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time," the movie stars told E! News in a statement. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    As E! News reported Tuesday, the 13 Going on 30 actress, 43, and the Gone Girl actor, 42, had been in counseling for two years. "You can't simplify why a marriage breaks down," an insider says. "It's not one thing. It happens for many reasons."

    Jennifer and Ben—parents to Violet Affleck, 9, Seraphina Affleck, 6, and Samuel Affleck, 3—"tried for two years to make their marriage work," the insider tells E! News exclusively, adding, "They finally realized that they just couldn't get there.

    For their children's sake, divorce became necessary. "They were a great team as parents, but with each other, they didn't want the same things," the insider says. "After spending a lot of time figuring that out, they came to the decision that the best thing for them and for the children would be to make a change."

    And, no matter what happens, their kids will always come first.

    "Jen is a great mother and Ben is a great dad," the insider tells E! News.

    Contrary to tabloid reports, Jennifer and Ben are not lawyering up to seek revenge. In fact, their divorce is anything but acrimonious. "They are keeping things out of the courts," says the insider, who notes that they want to give their children consistency above all else. Ben has moved out of the house, which "may not be the ideal situation for Ben and Jen, but it's the best for the kids, and that is their focus."

    Previously, a source said that the two had hoped to work things out "because of the kids." Despite their best efforts, the source said they had been "been living separate lives and preparing for this for a long time." The actors were in a trial separation for 10 months, during which time Ben stayed at hotels. And though they have decided to split, they will continue to co-parent as equals, the source said.

    Additionally, Ben will be living on the family's property in a different building.

    As a source told E! News Tuesday, the split is "not contentious."

    Is This Jennifer Lopez's Response to News of Ben Affleck's Divorce?

    Lest we forget, the original Bennifer broke up close to 12 years ago.

    Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck are of course each a marriage and mutiple children removed from the days when their mega-high-profile relationship and subsequent breakup in 2003 was making headlines, so Lopez very likely couldn't care less that Affleck and Jennifer Garner are divorcing after 10 years together.

    But maybe J.Lo had a little free time on her hands.

    "Happiness," Lopez tweeted alongside a photo of her hugging daughter Emme yesterday.

    Sweet, simple and...coincidental?

    While her tweet a little before news of Ben's split broke, just because the rest of the world didn't know yet doesn't mean that Lopez wasn't in the inner-circle loop.

    Of course, it could easily mean nothing, other than exactly what it does mean, regardless of subtext. Holding her little girl is the essence of happiness, period. (While other people's life events at the moment might be a little unsettling...)

    J.Lo didn't bother keeping a low profile today, either, in the wake of the news—in fact, she and on-again beau Casper Smart went on a rather public dog walk in New York City, at one point practically posing for photographers on a bench in Madison Square Park.

    Meanwhile, it's not as though Lopez and Affleck haven't been able to let bygones be bygones after the dating-Gigli-Jersey Girl days. Their brief whisper-and-arm-swat interaction at the Oscars in February had us all wishing we were a speck of lint on Ben's tux. (Partly because he whispered in Bradley Cooper's ear shortly afterward, too, to be honest.)

    Their "reunion" came after Lopez flatly called the period of her life circa Gigli the "worst, probably lowest point" of her career.

    "It was a very badly reviewed film," she said on HuffPost Live. "I was in a high-profile relationship at the time that fell apart in a really bad way, and so the kind of mix of those two things and the tabloid press had just come into existence at the time, so I was like a poster child for that moment. I was in the tabloids every other week about how my life was falling apart. It was a tough time."

    And with experience usually comes empathy, and Lopez knows what it's like to have the spotlight glaring on your personal life—so she surely feels for whomever might be going through such a thing at this time.

    Ben Affleck Is 'Devastated' Over Divorce, 'Really Tried to Save Their Marriage': Source

    Throwing in the towel on their 10-year marriage was not easy for Ben Affleck or Jennifer Garner.

    "He's devastated. Nobody intends to go down this path," a source tells PEOPLE. "They both battled, and he really battled to try and save the marriage but ultimately it was the best thing for the kids and for him and Jen."

    Announcing their divorce on Tuesday, Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, made it clear that parenting their three kids, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, will remain a top priority. Both plan to live on the couple's 8,800-sq-ft property in Los Angeles for the time being.

    "They've been separated for 10 months but he was living at the house," adds the source, noting the two are also using a mediator to ease the division of their assets. "These are things that they have consciously done because they want to make sure that this is as easy as they can make it on the kids."

    While rumors of trouble had dogged the couple – fueled recently by moving trucks seen at their home during a long-planned renovation – the two had been in years of therapy, says the source. "These are two people who really tried to save their marriage and worked really hard at it," the source adds. "Ultimately they had grown apart and they did what was best for their kids."

    Ben Affleck to Take the Stage at Comic-Con

    The show must go on.

    And for Ben Affleck, that means appearing at Comic-Con International: San Diego on Saturday, July 11 to promote Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, the 2016 superhero film in which he will play the Caped Crusader.

    Warner Bros. said Wednesday that Affleck, who confirmed this week that he and wife Jennifer Garner are divorcing after 10 years, will appear on stage with his castmates and director Zach Snyder to talk about the film.

    Affleck, 42, will be joined by Henry Cavill, who plays Superman, as well as costars Amy Adams, Jesse Eisenberg, Jeremy Irons, Holly Hunter and Gal Gadot.

    Affleck is not expected to have to field any personal questions at the session.

    "Comic-Con provides us a fantastic opportunity to interact with the fans, and this year, as with every year, our aim is to surpass their expectations," Sue Kroll, president of worldwide marketing and international distribution at Warner Bros., said in a statement. "We're also thrilled to give our filmmakers and talent a chance to experience the unique energy and enthusiasm of Comic-Con."

    Warner Bros. also plans to tease two other features at Comic-Con: Pan, starring Hugh Jackman, Garrett Hedlund and Levi Miller; and Guy Ritchie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E., with Cavill, Armie Hammer, Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Debicki.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Divorce: Couple Were in Therapy for 2 Years and ''Not Always on the Same Page''

    It's official: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are divorcing.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the pair, who celebrated their 10-year wedding anniversary yesterday, told E! News in a joint statement on Tuesday. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    The statement added: "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    While speculation of a split has been surrounding the parents of three for some time, the news still comes as a shock to fans of the longtime Hollywood power duo. So, what went wrong between the two, who were once the picture-perfect image of an A-list romance?

    "Things have been very challenging for the last several months," a source tells E! News of the soon to be ex-husband and -wife, who have been dodging split rumors for some time.

    Until today, the insider says they were together "because of the kids," but notes that the two "have been living separate lives and preparing for this for a long time."

    A second source adds that their split had nothing to do with their anniversary on Monday, saying the timing was simply a coincidence and in no way had to do with "money reasons" (California is a community property state and the length of a marriage is only relevant when determining spousal support).

    What's more? We're told "this is not a decision they came to lightly" and the duo has in fact been in therapy working on their marriage for two years. They have also been in a trial separation for 10 months, during which time Affleck has been staying at hotels.

    We're also told that the split is "not contentious," as both parents want what's best for their children.

    "They will be co-parenting," a source says, adding that Ben will be living on their property in a different building.

    The insider also notes that their divorce will be handled by a mediator, not in court. "They grew apart. They were great parents together but they were not always on the same page."

    Let's Look Back on Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck's Most Memorable Quotes on Marriage

    It's hard to believe that after ten years of marriage, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are divorcing, especially given the amount that they've gushed about one another over the course of the past decade.

    The A-listers have been both complimentary and candid about their marriage in interview after interview, so in light of today's split news, let's take a look back at some of the most memorable quotes about their relationship.

    September 2010: During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the actor shared, "I have three women in the house…I get to be wrong three times a day." But despite the sarcastic joke, Affleck added, "I am madly in love. I have the best family."

    December 2011: The Alias star opened up in InStyle about how she and her then-husband know the importance of teamwork. "We both know we couldn't do what we do without each other. Ben always says, 'If you love it, we can make it happen.' He knows when to swoop in with the gesture. He's sweet that way. Honestly, I would anything for that man, because I know it's not taken for granted."

    October 2012: Affleck dished to The Hollywood Reporter about his former leading lady, saying, "She is truly kind. She means no one any harm. She doesn't have ill will for any person. She's not competitive with other people. She's not spiteful."

    He added, "It's one of those things where it becomes almost aggravating at times. Every time I go, 'F--k him!' I see in her face that she just thinks that's petty and small."

    May 2013: During the Oscar-winning actor's return to Saturday Night Live, his wife stopped by to joke about his notoriously awkward Academy Awards speech. "I want to tell you how I wish I had ended that speech: I couldn't do any of the things I do without you, without your support. You're my angel, my life, my world."

    September 2014: During an interview with InStyle last fall, the Dallas Buyers Club star admitted, "When we had our first, we had one been together a year. We were babies. It happened so fast, I hardly even remember what we were like before the kids got here. Now we're just starting to go away for a night here and there."

    Garner continued, "You go through phases. You can't expect to be courted all the time, and I don't want to court him right now—I don't have the energy! But we're definitely in a very mindful place when we're making an effort to be together, do things at the same time, and be loving."

    But no quote seems as strong as today's statement, which the two made together, announcing that they were ending their marriage just one day after their tenth wedding anniversary.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Divorce: Inside Their Fortunes and What's at Stake

    After announcing they had made the "difficult decision" to split after 10 years of marriage, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner now face the task of dividing their assets as well.

    The couple are planning on entering mediation to ease the process, a source close to the couple told PEOPLE on Tuesday. "This should not be an ugly divorce," another source added.

    Just how much is at stake? The actors – who were married in 2005 and have three children, Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3 – have each earned millions of dollars during their marriage, and estimates of their combined wealth range upwards of $115 million.

    Forbes reported that Affleck earned roughly $35 million in 2014. While Garner's movie paychecks are generally less whopping, she has done lucrative commercials for companies such as Neutrogena and Capital One. (Not that she's not competitive: "I am not anticipating Men, Women & Children taking Gone Girl," she told TIME last October. "But it would feel great someday to spank him at the box office.")

    Their Real Estate

    The couple are still both living in a 8,800-square-foot home that they purchased from producer Brian Grazer in 2009 for $17.5 million, according to public records. Affleck also purchased a $7 million, 50-acre Southern spread in Savannah, Georgia, in 2003.

    "The house they bought together while married, that would likely be considered community property," says Los Angeles-based divorce attorney Jerry Wang (who is not involved with the couple's split). "But if there is a home that was purchased by one of them while single, that may be his or her own, separate property, which would not be split up."

    The 10-Year Anniversary Factor

    Passing the 10-year mark – which Affleck and Garner did on Monday – can change how California judges award spousal support. In a marriage considered "long-term," judges can choose to award support for a spouse's entire lifetime. But that's unlikely to be a factor for Affleck and Garner, Wang notes. "You hear a lot of people saying, 'Oh, celebrities get divorced around the 10-year mark because if they don't, they'll be on the hook for spousal support to each other,' " he says.

    "Generally, the longer a couple has been together, the longer support they can get. But a lot of California courts don't prefer to award lifetime spousal support because they feel that if one of the spouses is able to support themselves then there's no reason to give them more," he adds. "It's really based on income and earnings." And any existing prenup or decisions made in mediation could mean a judge never needs to rule about support.

    As California is a no-fault divorce state, courts typically enforce a 50-50 division of assets, regardless of who earned more money or spent the most during the marriage, Wang adds.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner: Inside the Final Weeks of Their Marriage

    Even as their marriage was about to crumble, Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner made sure to stand united in public, and privately spent time together with their three children. But the strain was increasingly obvious.

    Earlier this month, the couple – who announced Tuesday that they were divorcing after 10 years of marriage – were spotted with their daughters Violet,9, and Seraphina, 6, on one of their frequent trips to the Pacific Palisades Farmer's Market. "They looked miserable," an eyewitness says. "They didn't speak the entire time. They looked like they were only trying to be around each other for the girls."

    The couple, seemingly happy last fall when Affleck, 42, jokingly pulled Garner, 43, into a swimming pool during his ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. But they in fact spent the last several months mostly apart. A source told PEOPLE that Garner called off plans to bring the kids to Detroit last summer while Affleck was filming Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    Although Garner stood by her husband's side at a Congressional hearing in late March, buzz about trouble in their marriage picked up soon after, when Affleck was spotted solo and without his wedding ring in Canada. The photo, taken on April 17, was also the same day as Garner's 43rd birthday. Behind the scenes, the couple were quietly talking to divorce lawyers, sources confirm.

    But one week later, they were seen together – both with their hands tucked in their pockets – strolling in their L.A. neighborhood.

    In between trips out of town – Garner has also been filming Nine Lives in Montreal, while Affleck has worked on post-production for Batman v Superman – the couple stepped out again to help their daughters celebrate the end of the school year earlier this month.

    They marked their 10th wedding anniversary on June 29 – but announced their plan to divorce the next day.

    The Highs and Lows of Being Ben Affleck

    Ben Affleck skyrocketed to success as the co-writer and star of 1997's Good Will Hunting. Since then, the next Caped Crusader, 42, has weathered public breakups, box-office bombs and critical praise and accolades alike. Now he's dealing with the end of his 10-year marriage to Jennifer Garner. Here's a look back at the ups and downs of the Oscar winner's life in the spotlight:

    Becoming a Household Name: The Boston-reared star kicked off his career early as a child actor on PBS educational shows. His pre-fame days also included a gig in a 1989 Burger King commercial.

    The actor then scored bit parts – often as a high school bully – in films including Dazed and Confused before befriending writer-director Kevin Smith on the set of 1995's Mallrats. In 1997, Smith cast Affleck in his breakthrough lead role in the indie rom-com Chasing Amy.

    That same year, the movie Affleck had been laboring on for five years with best friend Matt Damon finally hit theaters. Good Will Hunting was a smash hit.

    The Bennifer Downfall: Now a certified leading man thanks to Pearl Harbor and Armageddon, Affleck began dating fellow superstar Jennifer Lopez in 2002. The high-profile couple, notoriously nicknamed Bennifer, dominated the spotlight. But the Sexiest Man Alive's relationship with J.Lo was not meant to be, and the pair called off their nuptials in a headline-making move a mere four days before their planned 2003 wedding.

    While his personal life endured heavy media scrutiny, Affleck's professional career also hit a rough patch. His first turn as a superhero, in 2003's Daredevil, failed to impress critics, and Affleck later called it "the only movie I actually regret" in an interview with Playboy. That same year, Bennifer hit the big screen in Gigli, which was widely derided by critics and fans alike.

    Finding Love and Rebuilding a Career: Affleck took a couple of years off from acting following Daredevil and Gigli. During that time he married Garner, his Daredevil costar.

    The star rebooted his career in 2007 with his much-lauded directorial debut, Gone Baby Gone.

    In 2012, Affleck's third feature as a director, Argo, was also a major success. Although Affleck was snubbed for a Best Director nomination, the film ended up winning Best Picture at the 2013 Oscars.

    Affleck credited Garner with giving him the "foundation" to execute his career resurgence, including a well-reviewed role in 2014's hit Gone Girl. "She is leaps and bounds the most important person to me in that respect. Over the past 10 years she has allowed me to have a stable home life while accomplishing my professional goals," Affleck said of his wife in 2013. By that time the couple had three children, Samuel, now 3, Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6.

    Controversial Crusader: When it was announced that Affleck would portray Bruce Wayne in the upcoming film Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, comic book fans were not shy about their dismay with the casting decision.

    Meanwhile, rumors swirled that Affleck's affinity for gambling had put a strain on his marriage with Garner. The future Batman was banned from playing blackjack at a Las Vegas casino amid reports of card counting.

    Advocating by His Wife's Side: Earlier this year, it seemed Garner and Affleck had put their troubles behind them. The actress and daughter Violet proudly accompanied her husband to a Senate hearing where Affleck testified on his work with the Eastern Congo Initiative, a development grant and advocacy nonprofit he co-founded in 2010.

    In recent months, the parents spent lengthy periods apart, especially while Affleck worked on Batman v Superman. But they were occasionally spotted together on Starbucks runs and school pick-up.

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck Will Continue to Live Together

    They may have announced their divorce on Tuesday, but Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck have no plans on moving away from their Pacific Palisades, California, residence any time soon.

    "This should not be an ugly divorce," a source tells PEOPLE of the couple, who had been privately separated for a few months before their public announcement. "They plan on co-parenting and doing absolutely everything in the best interest of the kids."

    Both Affleck and Garner plan to continue living on the same property, the 8,800-sq.-ft. estate in L.A. they purchased in 2009 for $17.5 million. Filing for joint custody will allow Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, to continue to make Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, "their top priority," adds the source.

    "They've been in counseling for some time and have tried hard to work through things in their marriage," the source says of the couple, who married in 2005. "They've been separated for a few months but will continue to work together as co-parents and as two people who still care about each other."

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner Divorcing After 10 Years of Marriage

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have split, PEOPLE confirms.

    The couple were married for 10 years, having marked their anniversary on Monday.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple tells PEOPLE in a joint statement. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, intend to seek mediation, says a source close to the couple.

    The two are parents to three kids: Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3.

    The couple often enjoyed family time together at home in Los Angeles where they were frequently spotted on carpool, coffee and after-school activity outings with their brood.

    But their marriage was also the subject of scrutiny over the years.

    In a 2014 interview with InStyle, Garner spoke of the couple's "mindful" marriage, noting that their relationship was no longer in the "courtship" phase – but that she was fine with it.

    "You can't expect to be courted all the time, and I don't want to court him right now – I don't have the energy!

    "But we're definitely in a very mindful place where we're making an effort to be together, do things at the same time, and be loving."

    Affleck often spoke of how much Garner helped stabilize his life after it had become tabloid fodder in the years following his 2004 split with Jennifer Lopez.

    "My wife was definitely around then," Affleck told Playboy in 2013. "Getting to know her, falling in love with her and being connected with her gave me a foundation to reach out and say, 'Okay, I'm going to do Hollywoodland. I'm going to direct Gone Baby Gone,' " Affleck said. "Those were the steps forward I needed to put positive stuff on the board."

    Garner returned the praise, telling InStyle in 2013, "We both know we couldn't do what we do without each other. He has been amazing at finding ways of telling me how much he appreciates what I do. Honestly, I would do anything for that man, because I know it's not to be taken for granted.”

    The two met as costars on the the set of their 2003 film Daredevil and started dating soon afterward.

    Jennifer Garner, Ben Affleck say they're getting divorce

    As regulars at a local farmer's market, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner and their three young children looked like the perfect Hollywood family.

    The stars took turns working so they could nurture their careers and their kids — devoted parents who appeared arm-in-arm at countless industry events.

    "It's work, but it's the best kind of work," Affleck famously said of his marriage to Garner when he accepted the best picture Oscar for "Argo."

    Now, it seems the work is done. After weeks of public speculation about their relationship, the couple announced Tuesday they plan to end their 10-year marriage with a divorce.

    "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children," Garner and Affleck said in a joint statement. "This will be our only comment on this private, family matter."

    Affleck will continue to live on the couple's property in a separate house, and they will co-parent their children Violet, Seraphina and Samuel, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

    The couple is also planning to go to a mediator to settle their divorce, the person said.

    Just last fall, Garner and Affleck were praising each other's commitment to family, career and philanthropic causes.

    Affleck, 42, said he's grateful Garner takes on the "lion's share" of their family responsibilities.

    "She's been really smart about choosing her projects," he said at a November 2014 gala. "They're not so time-consuming that she can't do this work and be there for our kids, which is the most important thing to her."

    Garner, 43, said at the same event that she and Affleck were selective about the causes they support.

    "We don't scatter our energy around," she said.

    The two met while making 2003's "Daredevil," in which they both played superheroes. They wed in 2005.

    Affleck expanded from acting to directing during their relationship, earning accolades for his 2007 debut feature, "Gone Baby Gone," and 2010's "The Town," before winning best picture for 2012's "Argo." He starred in the 2014 hit "Gone Girl" and will be playing the caped crusader in next year's "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice."

    Garner's recent film credits include "Dallas Buyers Club" and the family film, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day."

    Garner was previously married to actor Scott Foley. Affleck was previously engaged to Jennifer Lopez.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner announce divorce

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner issued a statement Tuesday declaring they plan to divorce, confirming longstanding tabloid rumors about trouble in their 10-year marriage.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple said in a statement issued by their publicists.

    "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    They said this will be their only comment "on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The couple have three children, two daughters, Violet, 9, and Seraphina, 6, and one son, Sam, 3. Their 10th wedding anniversary was Monday.

    "Ben and Jen," or "BenJen" in tabloid parlance, first went public as a couple when he took her to the opening game of his beloved Boston Red Sox World Series games in October 2004.Six months later he proposed, on her 33rd birthday.

    Garner, 43, married Affleck, 42, her second husband, on June 29, 2005, in a private ceremony at a resort on the Turks and Caicos Islands. The officiant was Victor Garber, her co-star in the popular series that made her a global star, Alias.

    Since then, his career seemed to soar while hers seemed to subside, as she focused on raising their children. She has had a steady series of smaller or supporting roles, in films such as Juno, Dallas Buyers Club, Butter and Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.

    According to the Internet Movie Database, she has at least two movies scheduled to come out in 2016.

    Affleck, who's playing Batman in the forthcoming Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, has just come off a big hit with Gone Girl, not to mention Argo, which he also directed and which won for best picture.

    They were an attractive and appealing couple, active politically, public-spirited, and frequently profiled in magazines as a seemingly perfect celebrity couple. But all was not well in paradise.

    Last month, US Weekly magazine published a cover story quoting unnamed sources as saying the couple were "fighting for their marriage."

    Rumors of a marital woes have dogged them for years. When Affleck picked up a second Oscar, for Argo in 2013, some thought it significant when he referred to their relationship as "work" in his speech.

    The couple's fans reacted to the news with disappointment and mock horror.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner -- No Prenup, No Money Problems

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner did not build a financial wall between them before getting married, because we've learned there is no prenup ... and get this, he's not that much richer than her.

    Multiple informed sources tell TMZ, Ben and Jen's business managers are busy figuring out how to divide what we are told is a fortune. We're told they both have accumulated many millions. Jen made a "massive amount of money" off of "Alias," which went into syndication, as well as a string of movies, including "13 Going on 30" and "Elektra."

    Ben has made a ton of money, but a number of his projects were independent films where the cash wasn't as plentiful.

    Short story ... they're both rich, but it's not like she needs his money.

    It's unlikely she'll get spousal support because of her wealth, but she doesn't need it. The trick is dividing the property, which we're told is going smoothly so far.

    As for the "10 year rule" -- meaning a judge would give her more spousal support due to the length of the marriage -- we're told 2 things: A) their decision had nothing to do with it B) she's loaded and doesn't need support.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Getting Divorced

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are ending their 10 year marriage ... TMZ has learned.

    We're told the couple, whose anniversary was yesterday, will file for divorce.

    Although they will file for divorce, it won't be done immediately. They are working things out with a mediator and business managers, sources tell TMZ. The divorce will be filed when all of the property and custody issues are resolved.

    We're told the divorce is amicable and Ben and Jen will share joint custody of their 3 children, ranging in ages from 3 to 9.

    The couple says, "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner Are Divorcing

    Unfortunately the rumors are true: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are officially splitting.

    "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce," the couple told E! News on Tuesday. "We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time."

    The news comes just one day after the couple marked their 10th wedding anniversary. Affleck and Garner first met on the set of Pearl Harbor in 2001 and later co-starred in 2003's Daredevil movie. They married in 2005 in Turks and Caicos in a ceremony officiated by Garner's Alias co-star Victor Garber.

    Although the duo has recently shot down reports of marital problems, E! reports that the couple has been living separately for some time. Speculation began all the way back in 2013 when Affleck was criticized for calling his marriage to Garner "work" when he thanked her in his acceptance speech for Argo. "I want to thank my wife...for working on our marriage for 10 Christmases. It is work, but it's the best kind of work. And there's no one I'd rather work with," he said.

    They have three children together: Violet, 9; Seraphina, 6; and Samuel, 3.

    Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner to divorce after 10 years of marriage

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner have decided to end their marriage after 10 years. The couple, who celebrated their 10th anniversary Monday (June 29), will be filing for divorce.

    The news was first reported by TMZ, who says they are parting ways amicably and will share join custody of their three children, Violet, Seraphina and Samuel.

    According to the report, the couple plans to file divorce papers after setting any property and custody issues that arise while working with a mediator and their business managers.

    In a joint statement to Zap2it, Garner and Affleck say, "After much thought and careful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to divorce. We go forward with love and friendship for one another and a commitment to co-parenting our children whose privacy we ask to be respected during this difficult time. This will be our only comment on this private, family matter. Thank you for understanding."

    The two began dating in 2004, after working together on the movies "Pearl Harbor" and "Daredevil."

    Sources: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner split may be imminent

    Rumors are running rampant that Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are calling it quits, and now FOX411 has learned that a split may be imminent.

    “They have been living apart for several months,” a source with knowledge of the couple’s situation tells FOX411.

    The insider says Garner is looking at the break up as an opportunity to move out from under Affleck’s shadow and revive her acting career.

    “Jen is excited to get back to work," according to the source. "She took a step back to focus on her marriage and family but wants to return to making more movies.”

    Another industry insider said it’s no surprise to those close to the couple.

    “It’s been known they’re having trouble. Now, it’s really over,” the source said.

    A former neighbor of the Hollywood duo also confirmed the couple is on the outs.

    “It’s kind of heartbreaking to see a long time A-list husband and wife and seemingly loving parents splitting up,” the source added.

    Paparazzi last snapped the couple together on a family outing on June 14th in Los Angeles at a farmer’s market.

    Garner, 43, was recently spotted visiting Boston’s Children Hospital on June 26, reportedly preparing for her upcoming role in “Miracles from Heaven.” Affleck, 42, popped up on social media on June 27 writing the line “I’m Batman” on his co-star from “The Accountant” Seth Lee’s Instagram in anticipation of 2016’s “Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

    Affleck and Garner got married in 2005 after meeting on the set of “Daredevil.” They have three young children.

    FOX411 reached out to both the Garner and Affleck’s camps several times but did not receive comment.

    Moving Trucks at Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Home? They're Renovating

    Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are getting a little work done – on their home, that is.

    A moving van was spotted outside of the couple's Pacific Palisades, California, home on Saturday, and two workers were spotted loading the truck with an array of boxes and furniture.

    No, the famous family isn't relocating – they're renovating!

    Affleck, 42, and Garner, 43, are remodeling their home, and moving furniture out before construction begins, it has been revealed.

    The couple, who are parents to Violet, 9, Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, used storage firm Wetzel & Sons to do the heavy lifting.

    Garner recently threw an end-of-the-year party for daughter Violet at their home, inviting her schoolmates and their parents over for a small gathering.

    The pair will celebrate their 10 year anniversary on June 29. They met on the set of 2003 comic-book movie Daredevil, and began dating later that year before quietly getting married in 2005.

    The actress, who's been shuttling between California and Montreal, is finishing up filming Nine Lives in Québec. Affleck is in post-production for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    The actor is also in pre-production for Prohibition-era drama Live by Night.

    Inside Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner's Sweet End-of-School Celebration with Their Kids

    Bring on summer!

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner are spending quality time with their kids as they near the end of the school year with toy-shopping and a party with friends.

    After kicking off the week Sunday at the Pacific Palisades Farmer's Market, where the couple took Seraphina, 6, and Samuel, 3, for some shopping (and balloon animals!), Garner, 43, hosted a small end-of-the-year gathering for 9-year-old Violet and her friends at their house on Tuesday.

    "Jen decorated with balloons and set up a party in the backyard," a source tells PEOPLE, adding that "Violet's friends' moms were invited, too."

    The next day, Affleck, 42, and Garner met up at Violet's school and later took Seraphina to Brentwood Country Mart to pick up a few toys at Toy Crazy. According to a source, they bought art supplies and a game and even a sticker book that Seraphina picked out for Violet.

    "Jen and Ben were really focused on Seraphina," says the source. “And she was loud and happy."

    While the girls made their final selections, Affleck patiently waited outside.

    Garner is currently shuttling between L.A. and Montreal, where she is shooting Nine Lives. Affleck is in production for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.

    Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner put up a united front

    (Pic1, Pic2) Whether or not it’s the case anymore, Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck are at least trying to play the part of the happy couple.

    Amid split rumors, the actors — who’ve been married for nearly a decade — were spotted with two of their children at the farmers market in Pacific Palisades, Calif., on Sunday afternoon.

    While it may have pained them to do so, casually attired Garner, 43, and Affleck, 42, appeared to put on a brave face for 6-year-old Seraphina and 3-year-old Samuel.

    The couple’s eldest, 9-year-Violet, was not photographed at the family outing.

    Rumors have been swirling in the last few months that the couple’s relationship is in bad shape and they may be headed toward divorce. And while the photo op may have been a chance to curtail speculation, it’s unlikely that Affleck’s sour expression helped any.

    Ben Affleck & Jennifer Garner Step Out for Lunch in Los Angeles

    (Pic) Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner stepped out for lunch in Los Angeles on Thursday before taking their two daughters for an after-school treat: frozen yogurt at Menchie's.

    At Menchie's, Garner, 43, helped Violet, 9, sample the yogurt, while Affleck, 42, helped Seraphina, 6. "Jen and Ben were focused on each kid," says a source, as the family chatted.

    The star parents have both been busy filming recently, with Garner shuttling to Montreal for the comedy Nine Lives and Affleck making Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. And superhero fans have been buzzing this week, wondering if images of Batman on the Toronto set of Suicide Squad mean the actor will appear in the film as the Caped Crusader.

    Garner, meanwhile, announced earlier this month that she is starting a new line of creative kits and projects for active kids with Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. She was also recently cast in the upcoming Christian-focused drama Miracles From Heaven.

    Tracing Ben Affleck's family tree to his slave-owning ancestor

    How did actor Ben Affleck, a California native raised in the Boston area, descend from a Southern slave holder who served as a Georgia sheriff during the Civil War?

    Affleck identified the relative as Benjamin Cole on social media after evidence that Cole owned slaves drove the actor to ask PBS and Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates to remove his relative from a TV program, “Finding Your Roots,” exploring Affleck’s family tree.

    Here’s how the Associated Press, using census records and other documents, connected Affleck and Cole — men born more than 150 years apart.

    1857: Benjamin L. Cole of Savannah, Georgia, marries Georgia A. Speissegger. They are Affleck’s great-great-great-grandparents. Public records show Cole had been married at least once previously.

    Circa 1862: The Coles have a daughter, Maggie Cole. She is Affleck’s great-great-grandmother.

    1894: Affleck’s great-grandfather, Lawrence L. Roberts, is born in the District of Columbia to Margaret Roberts (formerly Cole) and Flournoy Roberts, both originally from Georgia.

    1921: Affleck’s grandmother, Elizabeth N. Roberts, is born in New York to Lawrence Roberts and Margaret Roberts.

    1942: Affleck’s mother, Chris Ann Boldt, is born to Elizabeth N. Boldt (formerly Roberts) and O’Brien Boldt.

    1972: Ben Affleck is born to Timothy and Chris Ann Affleck (formerly Boldt) in Berkeley, California.

    See a Young Ben Affleck Star in This 1989 Burger King Commercial!

    See a Young Ben Affleck Star in This 1989 Burger King Commercial: video.

    Ben Affleck Names His Slave-Owning Ancestor After PBS Show Debacle

    One day after Ben Affleck wrote on Facebook that he had lobbied PBS’ Finding Your Roots producer to withhold revealing he had an ancestor who had held slaves, the actor took the high road, and tweeted information about the relative:

    @BenAffleck : Lots of people have been asking who the guy was. His name was Benjamin Cole - lived in Georgia on my Mom's side about six generations back.

    In marked contrast, Finding Your Roots producer (and Harvard scholar) Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this afternoon made a play at hanging on to his gig, as PBS and WNET continue their investigation into his show shenanigans. Gates issued yet another statement, in which he alternately apologizes for what he’s done to PBS, producing station WNET, PBS member stations (he forgot to mention the embarrassment he’s caused Affleck) while, at the same time, insisting he’s always worked with the “most rigorous scholarly and production values.”

    “We regret not sharing Mr. Affleck’s request that we avoid mention of one of his ancestors with our co-production partner, WNET, and our broadcast partner, PBS,” Gates said, and apologized for “putting PBS and its member stations in the position of having to defend the integrity of their programming.”

    “Moving forward,” he vowed too late, “we are committed to an increased level of transparency with our co-producing partners,” adding, “We respect PBS guidelines and understand our obligation to maintain editorial integrity at all times.”

    Yesterday, Affleck wrote on Facebook that he did not want a TV show about his family to include a person who owned slaves because “I was embarrassed” and “the very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.” He said he lobbied show producer (and Harvard professor) Henry Louis Gates Jr., “the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use,” explaining, “this is the collaborative creative process.” Affleck noted PBS’ Finding Your Roots “isn’t a news program.”

    Affleck found himself turned into collateral damage by Gates’ dysfunctional/arrogant relationship with his producing station WNET and with PBS, and his too cozy relationship with a Sony exec and the “megastars” his partially-publicly-funded program profiles, with the pretext it’s teaching viewers about “history.”

    PBS and WNET announced yesterday they had launched an investigation into Gates’ decision to censor his celebrity-genealogy series Finding Your Roots after getting a request from Affleck. PBS and WNET’s announcement today coincides with a report from PBS ombudsman Mike Getler, blasting Gates’ handling of the situation and PBS’ initial reaction.

    The rannygazoo only came to light late last week when WikiLeaks released a searchable archive of hacked Sony emails. Among the eyebrow-raisers was an email exchange between Gates and Sony Entertainment CEO Michael Lynton in which Gates reveals that a “megastar” had asked that the discovery he is the descendant of a slave owner be stricken from the show. Gates acknowledges in the email that fulfilling the request “would be a violation of PBS rules, actually, even for Batman” and “would embarrass him and compromise our integrity” and that “once we open the door to censorship, we lose control of the brand.”

    And yet, instead of taking his concerns to PBS or WNET, which is the show’s producing station, Gates took them to Lynton. Gates explained it’s the first time one of his show’s “guests” has asked to edit anything out of a broadcast and that several previous “guests” had discovered they too were descendants of slave owners (including Ken Burns and Anderson Cooper) but they had not asked to censor or edit what the show discovered. But this guest, Gates noted, is a “megastar” and he asked Lynton “what do we do?”

    Lynton advised taking it out if no one knew about the situation, but warned it would get tricky if word got out that Gates was editing material based on this kind of sensitivity.

    The episode featuring Affleck aired October 14 on PBS. No reference to Affleck’s slave-owning ancestor was made. Finding Your Roots is financed, in part, according to Gates, by the Public Broadcasting Service and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

    This was when Gates issued the first of his statements attempting to control the damage. In that statement he said “The mission of Finding Your Roots is to find and share interesting stories from our celebrity guests’ ancestries and use those stories to unlock new ways to learn about our past. We are very grateful to all of our guests for allowing us into their personal lives and have told hundreds of stories in this series including many about slave ancestors—never shying away from chapters of a family’s past that might be unpleasant.” In the statement, Gates said he thought Affleck’s occult-enthusiast third great-grandfather was more interesting/relevant than his slave-owning ancestor.

    See Ben Affleck's Batsuit for Batman v Superman (No, It Doesn't Have Nipples)

    See Ben Affleck's Batsuit for Batman v Superman (No, It Doesn't Have Nipples): Pic.

    Ben Affleck Provides His Own Side On 'Finding Your Roots' Controversy

    Caught in the cross hairs after the WikiLeaks release of hacked Sony documents described a back and forth over his ask to have excluded from the PBS show Finding Your Roots that an ancestor owned slaves, Ben Affleck has provided his own account of the matter on his Facebook page. PBS and New York’s WNET public television said they had launched an investigation of whether censorship had taken place. Here’s Affleck’s response:

    After an exhaustive search of my ancestry for “Finding Your Roots,” it was discovered that one of my distant relatives was an owner of slaves.

    I didn’t want any television show about my family to include a guy who owned slaves. I was embarrassed. The very thought left a bad taste in my mouth.

    Skip decided what went into the show. I lobbied him the same way I lobby directors about what takes of mine I think they should use. This is the collaborative creative process. Skip agreed with me on the slave owner but made other choices I disagreed with. In the end, it’s his show and I knew that going in. I’m proud to be his friend and proud to have participated.

    It’s important to remember that this isn’t a news program. Finding Your Roots is a show where you voluntarily provide a great deal of information about your family, making you quite vulnerable. The assumption is that they will never be dishonest but they will respect your willingness to participate and not look to include things you think would embarrass your family.

    I regret my initial thoughts that the issue of slavery not be included in the story. We deserve neither credit nor blame for our ancestors and the degree of interest in this story suggests that we are, as a nation, still grappling with the terrible legacy of slavery. It is an examination well worth continuing. I am glad that my story, however indirectly, will contribute to that discussion. While I don’t like that the guy is an ancestor, I am happy that aspect of our country’s history is being talked about.

    Ben Affleck

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