[REVISION HISTORY]

Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck personal and professional

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2026-10-09 21:39 UTC → 2026-10-09 22:52 UTC · added ~~removed~~

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. Critical reception has been mixed to negative; the film holds a 45% score on Rotten Tomatoes, with some critics describing the work as ‘underwhelming’ or ‘lacking originality’ and noting it may lack the depth of Affleck’s previous directorial works. Affleck also noted that ICE raids during filming necessitated changing locations at least twice.

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