Affleck’s Foul Language Almost Cost Him a Career-Defining Role

Thescreescore – Ben Affleck’s penchant for colorful language almost derailed his first collaboration with director Kevin Smith. While Affleck has become a recurring face in Smith’s filmography, from memorable cameos to his role as Bartleby in "Dogma," his journey into the Askewniverse almost ended before it began. Smith revealed that producer James Jacks initially opposed casting Affleck in "Mallrats" due to his profanity-laden performance in "Dazed and Confused" (1993). Jacks felt the film already had enough coarse language.

According to Smith, Jacks complained, "He’s got a potty mouth. He’s always cursing… Every scene he’s throwing f— around like crazy. We don’t want him in this movie. You’ve got enough bad language in the movie."

Despite Jacks’ reservations, Smith recounted how Affleck’s audition won him over. "He wore the character very, very well," Smith stated, ultimately leading to Affleck’s casting.

"Mallrats" marked the beginning of a fruitful partnership. Smith credits the film with solidifying his appreciation for Affleck’s talent and personality. It was during the production of "Mallrats" that Affleck was also working on the script for "Good Will Hunting." Smith allowed Affleck to travel to Los Angeles to work on the script.

"Working with him on set over the month and change we made Mallrats out in Minnesota, that’s where I fell in love with Ben Affleck and discovered who he was. He’s so f—— funny, so smart, so charming. And here he was playing bullies in movies, including my own." Smith stated.

Smith also recalled how Affleck thanked him for allowing him to work on his script. "I’d go back to my office later in the day and there would be a thank-you note: ‘Hey man, I want to thank you for letting me go to Los Angeles and do this and take care of my script. I’m having such a great time on this movie, man. This is great. Thank you, Ben Affleck.’"

Smith recognized Affleck’s potential as a leading man, leading him to cast Affleck in "Chasing Amy" (1997). "I was like, ‘God, this dude should be a leading man. I don’t understand why he’s not a leading man.’ I just wanted you to know I’ve been working on this script Chasing Amy, and I’m writing the lead for you to play. And there’s dead silence. And after a beat, he goes, ‘Finally.’"

"Chasing Amy" was a critical success and solidified Affleck’s status as a leading man. He went on to star in blockbusters like "Armageddon" (1998) and "Pearl Harbor" (2001), and later became Batman in the DC Extended Universe. He and Matt Damon won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" (1997), and Affleck’s directorial effort, "Argo" (2012), won the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Had Affleck been denied the "Mallrats" role or been unable to work on "Good Will Hunting," his career trajectory might have been drastically different. Instead, he became a major Hollywood star and a frequent collaborator with Kevin Smith.