{
  "id": 8807611,
  "title": "Ben Affleck Almost Cast Ex-Wife Jennifer Garner in His Netflix Film ‘Animals’: ‘We Don’t Want to Do That’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/21/ben-affleck-almost-cast-ex-wife-jennifer-garner-in-his-netflix-film",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-21T00:35:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "TheWrap",
    "slug": "thewrap",
    "url": "https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/ben-affleck-almost-cast-jennifer-garner-animals/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ben Affleck considered casting his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, in his Netflix thriller \"Animals\". The project had been initially envisioned with Garner and Matt Damon as a married couple facing a kidnapping plot. However, Affleck delayed his involvement after hearing that Spike Lee was developing a similar film, \"Highest 2 Lowest\". Once Affleck returned to direct the film, he considered pairing Garner with himself again, but Garner declined due to the potential for audience \"baggage\". Garner ultimately landed the role with Kerry Washington. The cast of \"Animals\" also features Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Adriana Paz. The film will be released theatrically in select cities and on Netflix on October 9.",
  "summary": "The star and director still says he would \"love to work\" with Garner The post Ben Affleck Almost Cast Ex-Wife Jennifer Garner in His Netflix Film ‘Animals’: ‘We Don’t Want to Do That’ appeared first on TheWrap .",
  "key_points": [
    "Ben Affleck thought of casting ex-wife Jennifer Garner in 'Animals'.",
    "Garner declined due to potential audience baggage.",
    "Film stars Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Ben Affleck's consideration of casting ex-wife Jennifer Garner in his film 'Animals' and her subsequent decline due to potential audience baggage suggests a prioritization of avoiding complicated off-screen perceptions.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Variety",
        "title": "Ben Affleck Almost Cast Ex-Wife Jennifer Garner in ‘Animals’ Before Deciding ‘We Don’t Wanna Do That’: ‘You Just Get Baggage’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/ben-affleck-almost-cast-ex-wife-jennifer-garner-in-animals-before",
        "published": "2026-09-20T21:27:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}