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Ben Affleck is one of the most versatile actors in the industry. He has spread his wings from comedy to superhero films and established himself as one of the best directors in the industry. As much as the actor enjoys playing his characters, the fans also relish his presence on screen. However, due to busy schedules and lifestyles, sometimes many actors lose out on projects that could have had a significant impact on their careers.
Affleck also lost out on some projects that could have taken his career down a different path. And one of those included the 2015 filmFocus, starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie.
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Ben Affleck Almost Starred in the 2015 Will Smith Film
The 2015 crime comedy-drama,Focus, starring Will Smith and Margot Robbie, follows two con artists, Nicky and Jess, and how they get involved in a romantic relationship while deceiving others. The film received mixed reviews from critics and did pretty well at the box office, grossing over $150 million worldwide.
But they were not the makers’ first choice for the film. The film that led to the alleged affair between Smith and Robbie was first expected to starBen Affleck. The casting for the movie went through some up-downs as it was expected to feature Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone.
However, after they left the film, Ben Affleck was approached for the lead role. Soon after him, it was reported that Kristen Stewart would join theJustice Leaguestar in the 2015 film. However, both actors announced their departure from the film months after their casting.
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Why did Ben Affleck Give up onFocus?
Variety reported in 2012 that theArgostar dropped out of the Warner Bros. film due to his busy schedule. Affleck was reportedly occupied with his 2012 filmArgo, and he also had lined-up other projects. He was working on his next directorial,Live by Night.
One of his projects also included an adaptation of Stephen King’sThe Stand.Warner Bros. appointed him as the director forThe Standin 2011. However, almost two years later, it was announced that he would not be directing the miniseries.
He was also working on a biopic following Boston mobster Whitney Bulger with Matt Damon. But reports suggest that the project faced some issues due to its similarities with Johnny Depp’sBlack Mass. But theInterstellarstar claimed that their film represented a different take on gangster life.
Filming forFocuswas expected to start in April 2012, and Ben Affleck was unable to take out time for the film and the opportunity went to theSuicide Squadco-stars. Soon after him, Stewart also dropped out. Although he wasn’t able to star in the movie, it would have been interesting to seeThe Townstar’s take on the con artist.
Focusis available to stream on HBO Max.
Read More:“He is the least gorgeous guy”: Jeremy Renner Was Dissed by Quentin Tarantino for Being ‘Unattractive’ in Ben Affleck’s $154M Crime Drama
Source:Movieweb
Laxmi Rajput
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3450
Laxmi Rajput is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, with over 3,300 articles published covering film, TV, and pop culture. With a degree in Broadcast Journalism and over three years of experience in content writing, she pivoted to entertainment journalism because let’s be honest, superheroes, sitcoms, and Netflix binges are way more fun. Laxmi frequently covers Marvel, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and popular TV shows, offering both fan-first enthusiasm and thoughtful analysis. Her work often dives into Marvel theories, revisits the genius of The Big Bang Theory, or unpacks the Netflix phenomenon of Stranger Things.
