Hold onto your popcorn, darlings—filmmaker Mike Binder just spilled the tea on why Steven Spielberg nixed Ben Affleck from a project back in the early 2000s. It all stems from a splashy confrontation involving Spielberg's young son and a fully dressed Affleck at the family pool. According to Binder, this watery drama left Spielberg vowing never to collaborate with the actor.
Oh, the drama! Picture this: early 2000s, Pacific Palisades vibes, and Steven Spielberg's chatting with Mike Binder about teaming up on 'Man About Town,' a flick inspired by a real home invasion. Spielberg, 79 now, initially planned to direct but switched to producing via DreamWorks. Binder, 67, seals a deal with Ben Affleck, 53 at the time, to star. Handshakes all around—until Spielberg hits the brakes. Hard.
"No. Can’t do it with him," Spielberg reportedly told Binder. "We just bombed a movie with him [that's 2003's Gigli], he’s got that whole J. Lo thing going on now [their engagement called off in 2004], and I have other problems with him." But the real splash? A poolside tussle with Spielberg's little boy. "My son was a little boy, he was playing in the pool, and he got out of the pool, and Ben came in fully dressed, and my son pushed Ben into the pool," Spielberg explained, per Binder's recount on Stephen Baldwin’s 'One Bad Mother' podcast. "And Ben got really mad at him, and he came out of the pool and picked him up and threw him back into the pool, and made my son cry."
Spielberg wasn't mincing words: "I just don’t like to work with him. Plus his last two movies bombed. Find somebody else. Anyone but him. He’s cold as hell." Binder kept the truth from Affleck at first, but Ben clocked it anyway. "Did Steven Spielberg tell you I threw his kid in the water? Is that what happened? Is that why I’m not on your movie?" Affleck grilled Binder. "Yes he did! He told you I threw his kid in the water. That’s why I’m not on the movie."
Affleck still starred in 'Man About Town,' but it went straight to DVD in 2007 via Sunlight Productions. Fast-forward to 2013 Oscars: Affleck's 'Argo' snags Best Picture over Spielberg's 'Lincoln,' and the duo? Hugging it out. Binder texted Ben: "Tonight you could throw Spielberg’s whole family in the pool and get away with it." Affleck called back, cracking up: "That made me laugh so f–kin’ hard."
Binder reflects fondly but shady: "I love both these guys... Steven Spielberg is a genius and a great guy, but he can be an a–hole. And Ben Affleck is a great guy, and he can be a bigger a–hole." Water under the bridge? Or just waiting for the next dive? 💦