Iconic director Steven Spielberg declined to collaborate with Ben Affleck following a personal conflict. At the 85th Academy Awards in February 2013, Spielberg, nominated for Lincoln, watched as Affleck secured the Best Picture award for his work on the political thriller Argo, which he directed and produced.
A few years prior, in 2006, Affleck had a leading role in the dramedy Man About Town directed by Mike Binder. This role portrayed him as a Hollywood talent agent and set the stage for what could have been a higher-profile project. However, Binder recently revealed that a past incident involving Spielberg prevented this from materializing.
In a recent episode of the One Bad Movie Podcast, hosted by Stephen Baldwin and reported by Entertainment Weekly, Binder shared how a proposed film with Spielberg was scrapped due to a falling out between Spielberg and Affleck. Binder quotes Spielberg’s initial hesitations were partly due to Affleck’s then-struggling box office appeal and his highly publicized relationship with Jennifer Lopez:
“We had agreed he would do it, we shook hands. But when I called Steven, he said, ‘No. Can’t do it with him. We just had a flop with him, he’s tangled up in that whole J-Lo situation now, and there are other issues with him.’
Binder explained that Spielberg had admired his earlier film, 2005’s The Upside of Anger, and expressed a desire to collaborate. The project they discussed was inspired by a real-life home invasion experience at Spielberg’s residence:
“He said, ‘We have to work together. I want you to write something for me.’ At that time, we both lived in the Palisades. We were discussing power and struggles, and he was dealing with a situation where someone had broken into his house late at night, planning to electrocute him and beat him up. It was terrifying.”
Although Spielberg was initially on board to direct, he later withdrew his interest in directing, mainly because he did not want Affleck involved. Binder shares that Spielberg had personal grievances with Affleck, recounting an incident from a family vacation involving Spielberg’s goddaughter, Gwyneth Paltrow, when Affleck was dating her. According to Binder, Spielberg recounted:
“My son was little, playing in the pool. He got out, and Ben, fully clothed, came by. My son pushed Ben into the pool, and Ben, furious, got out, grabbed him, and threw him back in, making him cry.”
“So what does this have to do with the movie?” I asked.
“I just don’t want to work with him. Plus, his last two films were failures. Pick someone else, anyone but him. He’s just too difficult,” Spielberg replied.
When Binder informed Affleck he was dropped from the film, Affleck suspected it was due to the pool incident, as he later confirmed to Binder:
“Ben called me, asking, ‘Did Spielberg say I threw his kid in the water? Is that why I’m out of your movie?’ And I said, ‘No, he didn’t exactly say—’ ‘Yes, he did! He told you about the pool. That’s why I’m off the project.’
Binder concluded the discussion by noting that Affleck and Spielberg eventually reconciled at the Academy Awards, where Affleck’s win for Argo seemed to mend fences. He humorously shared a message he sent to Affleck during the ceremony:
“He beats Spielberg, and at the awards, they’re hugging. I texted Ben, ‘Tonight, you could throw Spielberg’s entire family in the pool, and he’d probably laugh.’ Later, Affleck called from the event, laughing hysterically at the joke.”
“I have great respect for both of them, but in this situation, they both acted foolishly, as did I. They’re both brilliant and generally good people, but like everyone, they can have their moments,” Binder added.
The movie Man About Town eventually went ahead with Affleck in the lead role, although Spielberg had no part in it. DreamWorks dropped the project, and it was later released by Lionsgate on DVD and had limited theatrical releases in some countries, where it received mixed reviews.
With a supporting cast that included Rebecca Romijn, John Cleese, Bai Ling, and Jerry O’Connell, Man About Town explores the life of a Hollywood agent whose life unravels after discovering his wife’s affair with one of his clients. This smaller-scale film showcased a different side of Affleck’s acting prowess, which would have been interesting under Spielberg’s direction.
Ava Thornton is an entertainment journalist with a keen eye for the latest in Hollywood, indie films, and streaming trends.
Her work blends insider knowledge with a deep appreciation for storytelling.
