Filmmaker Mike Binder has shared a story that sounds hard to believe but comes straight from his own experience. He says Steven Spielberg once refused to work with Ben Affleck because of a pool incident during a family vacation.
Binder talked about the situation on the One Bad Movie podcast. He explained that Spielberg liked his film The Upside of Anger and wanted to work with him. Spielberg asked Binder to write a script, and that script later became Man About Town, released in 2006.
At first, everything seemed to be going well. The project was moving forward at DreamWorks, and Binder believed Spielberg would direct the movie. Later, Spielberg stepped away from directing but still wanted the film made at his studio, with Binder in charge.
That is when Ben Affleck entered the picture. Binder met Affleck, and the actor loved the script. They agreed to work together, and Binder thought the deal was done.
Then Spielberg said no.
Binder claims Spielberg told him he did not want Affleck in the film. He mentioned Affleck’s recent box office struggles and personal drama at the time. But the main reason, according to Binder, was a past incident involving Spielberg’s young son.
Spielberg allegedly said Affleck got into a heated moment with his child at a pool during a family vacation. Binder recalled being confused about why this mattered to the movie. Still, Spielberg was firm and asked him to find another actor.
Binder later told Affleck the project was falling apart. Affleck quickly guessed the reason and even asked if Spielberg had mentioned the pool story. Binder said the situation became awkward and disappointing for everyone involved.
Even though Binder still wanted Affleck, DreamWorks dropped the project soon after. The film was later released by another distributor and went straight to DVD.
Years later, Binder said he joked with Affleck when he won an Oscar for Argo. Time clearly helped heal old wounds.
Neither Spielberg nor Affleck has publicly responded to Binder’s claims.
