When Spielberg Says No: The Shocking Reason Behind His Refusal to Work with Affleck

In a tale that sounds straight out of a Hollywood drama, filmmaker Mike Binder recently revealed that Steven Spielberg took a hard pass on directing Ben Affleck in the 2006 film Man About Town. The decision reportedly stemmed from a combination of previous flops and personal grievances, notably an incident involving Spielberg’s young son during a pool party. Affleck might want to watch his splash game when around the legends of Hollywood. Despite the cold shoulder from Spielberg, Affleck did take the lead role in the movie, which ultimately fizzled out.

Years later, it seems time healed all wounds when Affleck’s film Argo won Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards. The two were spotted sharing hugs more than a decade after the fallout. It’s a classic example of how Hollywood relationships can be messy, but sometimes, they come full circle. Who knew that swimming pool mishaps could echo through Tinseltown for so long?