# Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck personal and professional > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/jennifer-garner-and-ben-affleck-personal-and-professionals > Updated: 2026-10-08T06:00:00.000Z. Sources: 48. Developments: 4. Jennifer Garner has spoken about the financial and professional anxieties she experienced following her divorce from Ben Affleck. During an appearance on the ‘Aspire’ podcast, Garner described a sense of ‘panic’ regarding her ability to support her three children after prioritizing motherhood over her acting career. She noted that she did not receive a ‘huge payout’ from the divorce and expressed concerns regarding Hollywood ageism and the logistical constraints of single parenthood. These pressures led Garner to co-found the organic baby food company Once Upon a Farm in 2017, which has since achieved significant valuation. Regarding their professional lives, Ben Affleck clarified why Garner was not cast in his upcoming Netflix thriller, ‘Animals’. While Affleck had initially envisioned Garner in a role to help coordinate their shared parenting schedules, changes to the production—including Matt Damon leaving the lead role and Affleck taking over the protagonist role—led to a decision to exclude her. Affleck stated the move was intended to avoid any “baggage” from their past relationship potentially distracting the audience. On October 9, 2026, the film ‘Animals’ premiered on Netflix. Affleck serves as director, producer, co-writer, and lead actor, portraying Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose life unravels following the kidnapping of his son. The film features Kerry Washington as Kimball’s wife, alongside a diverse cast including Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, and Luis Gerardo Méndez. Affleck reportedly collaborated closely with Paz and Méndez to ensure authentic portrayals of Mexican characters as the story moves between the United States and Mexico. Affleck also noted that ICE raids during filming necessitated changing locations at least twice. ## Claims - Ben Affleck originally intended for Jennifer Garner to play the lead role in his film Animals. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Jennifer Garner declined to act alongside Affleck in Animals to avoid media scrutiny and personal baggage. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Matt Damon withdrew from the film Animals due to his commitment to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Ben Affleck took over the lead role in Animals after Matt Damon's departure. (corroborated by 2 sources) - Ben Affleck stated that suffering was the key to overcoming his alcoholism. (single source) - Affleck credited his relationship with his children as the motivation for changing his behavior regarding alcohol. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-08: Ben Affleck's new Netflix thriller Animals premieres Ben Affleck's new Netflix thriller “Animals” follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate facing a family kidnapping crisis. The film features a diverse cast but has received mixed critical reviews. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ben-affleck-to-direct-and-star-in-netflix-thriller-animals-1 ### 2026-09-22: Ben Affleck discusses addiction recovery and Jennifer Garner's exit from Animals Ben Affleck discusses his recovery from alcoholism and explains why Jennifer Garner declined to star in his film Animals to avoid media scrutiny and personal baggage. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ben-affleck-discusses-addiction-recovery-and-jennifer-garners-exit-from-animals ### 2026-09-16: Ben Affleck explains Jennifer Garner's exit from ‘Animals’ Ben Affleck explained that ex-wife Jennifer Garner declined a role in his Netflix film ‘Animals’ to prevent their real-life history from distracting audiences, as he took over the lead role. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ben-affleck-explains-jennifer-garners-absence-from-animals ### 2026-08-25: Jennifer Garner discusses financial anxiety following Ben Affleck divorce Jennifer Garner discussed her financial fears and career concerns following her divorce from Ben Affleck, noting how the experience led her to co-found the successful baby food brand Once Upon a Farm. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jennifer-garner-discusses-financial-anxiety-after-divorce --- Cite as: Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck personal and professional. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/jennifer-garner-and-ben-affleck-personal-and-professionals