The Ben Affleck Spielberg movie ban became a significant turning point in both men’s careers when, in an unexpected twist, Spielberg refused Affleck’s participation in a DreamWorks project in the early 2000s, citing highly personal reasons. This memorable Hollywood moment took place as Affleck, despite his impressive portfolio, found himself excluded from collaborating with the celebrated director after an incident tied to Spielberg’s family.
Affleck’s Impressive Career Comes Close to Spielberg Collaboration
Ben Affleck has worked alongside some of the industry’s most influential filmmakers, including John Woo, Michael Bay, John Frankenheimer, David Fincher, Robert Rodriguez, Ridley Scott, and George Clooney. Over his career, Affleck won two Academy Awards, yet notably never had the chance to work with Steven Spielberg, the director recognized for blockbuster films like Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the Indiana Jones franchise.
The paths of Spielberg and Affleck almost crossed due to a promising project. In the early 2000s, filmmaker Mike Binder sold the screenplay for Man About Town to DreamWorks. The story centered on a Hollywood talent agent dealing with the threat of scandal after his private thoughts fell into the wrong hands. Spielberg initially expressed interest in directing the film.
Spielberg Withdraws and Bans Affleck
Despite initial excitement, Spielberg decided against directing Man About Town. As shared by Mike Binder,
“He called me and said, ‘I got bad news. I’m not making this movie,’”
said Binder, recounting the conversation on the One Bad Movie podcast. Spielberg’s decision was influenced by Kate Capshaw, who warned him the film was “too autobiographical.”
Nevertheless, the screenplay continued to attract interest, including that of Ben Affleck. Binder recalled,
“Ben Affleck comes to my editing room and watches The Upside of Anger. He says, ‘I want to do your next movie.’ I told him it was at DreamWorks, and he said, ‘I want to do it.’ So I called Steven, and he said, ‘No, can’t do it with him. We just bombed a movie with him. He’s got that whole JLo thing going on now, and I have other problems with him,’”
recounted Binder.
A Family Encounter Leads to Fallout
Spielberg’s reasons for vetoing Affleck were rooted in personal experiences. When Affleck was involved with Spielberg’s goddaughter, Gwyneth Paltrow, their families traveled together in Spain. During this trip, Spielberg’s son played a prank by pushing Affleck into a swimming pool. In response,
“Ben got really mad, came out, picked up my son, and threw him back in, and made my son cry,”
as Binder repeated Spielberg’s account.
This incident left a lasting impression on Spielberg. As he put it,
“I just don’t like to work with him. Plus, his last two movies bombed. He’s cold as hell,”
according to Binder.
Affleck’s Confrontation and Unexpected Opportunity
After learning about Spielberg’s decision, Ben Affleck directly confronted Mike Binder:
“Ben calls me up and says, ‘Did Steven Spielberg tell you I threw his kid in the water? Is that why I’m not on your movie?’”
As Binder admitted, the answer was indeed yes.
Eventually, DreamWorks dropped Man About Town, which cleared the way for Ben Affleck to star in the film once it left Spielberg’s oversight. This unexpected twist offered Affleck the lead role, detached from Spielberg’s prior objections.
The Lasting Impact and Hollywood Irony
Directors may have many reasons for not casting particular actors, but the swimming pool incident stands out for its unusual nature. The emotional undertones of this Hollywood standoff echo through the years, as both men continued to succeed in their careers. Ironically, when Affleck won his second Oscar for Best Picture with the film Argo, he triumphed over none other than Spielberg’s Lincoln, a moment some considered a poetic reversal of fortune.
The Ben Affleck Spielberg movie ban remains an example of how personal dynamics can shape professional opportunities in the entertainment industry. Figures such as Steven Spielberg, Mike Binder, Kate Capshaw, and even Gwyneth Paltrow found themselves entwined in this significant episode, highlighting the unpredictable and sometimes emotionally charged nature of Hollywood collaborations.
