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Ben Affleck established himself as a profitable Hollywood leading man, and this would never happen if it wasn’t for the help of Kevin Smith. He credits the director for his success following their meeting and collaboration on 1997’sChasing Amy.
It is so crazy to think howGood Will Hunting– the drama starring Affleck and Matt Damon – would have been different today had both actors never met Smith. The script was written by the duo, but it was Smith who convinced the studio executives that they should lead the movie.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon owe Kevin Smith their Hollywood careers
Gus Van Sant’sGood Will Huntingwas the film that putBen AffleckandMatt Damon’s names on the Hollywood map. They weren’t supposed to star in it as the first studio that picked up the project, Castle Rock Entertainment, wanted well-known stars. After the script was passed toKevin Smith, who brought it straight toHarvey Weinstein’s office at Miramax Films, the duo’s fates changed forever.
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In an interview withEntertainment Weekly, Damon revealed how Smith savedGood Will Hunting. “We were dead in the water. And we would’ve lost it,” he said about almostlosing the lead role. The actor remarked that had it happened, he would still be mad about it.
Affleck, on the other hand, confessed he and Damon would have become scriptwriters today and not actors. Because of Smith’s recommendation, the duo was able to live their dream of becoming movie stars. Despite this, Affleck said he constantly forgets to thank Smith publicly.
I promised him I would thank him if we ever got an Oscar, and promptly forgot, and then I told him if I ever win again, I swear to God, I’m going to thank you, and forgot again. So I owe him very much.
It seems like this overdue acknowledgment needs to happen very soon. After all, it was Smith who believed in them and convinced the higher-ups at the studio to put their trust in them despite being rookies in the industry. Affleck and Damon have finally risen to the top and become famed A-listers, and the fruits of their labor paid off with a bit of help from their close friend.
Kevin Smith might reunite with Ben Affleck and Matt Damon for a potential film sequel
It seems like a reunion will happen after Smith announced that he is planning a sequel to his 1999 filmDogmastarring Affleck and Damon, as perDeadline. He is confident that both actors will reprise their roles, and since they have been forgetting to thank him for his help onGood Will Hunting, they certainly owe him this opportunity.
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“The only way we get a Dogma sequel made is if they’re there,” Smith said viaVulture. The director confirmed he hasn’t spoken to Affleck and Damon, and there is no script yet, so the sequel is more or less just an idea for the time being.
Good Will Huntingis currently available to watch on Amazon Prime Video.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3532
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
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Ben AffleckGood Will HuntingKevin SmithMatt Damon
