Ben Affleck says Tom Cruise “has nothing on me” when it comes to stunts — well, that is, if you count line dancing as a stunt.
While speaking to the crowd at SXSW on Saturday, March 8, Affleck revealed he spent “months and months” learning to line dance for The Accountant 2. “It was a stunt for me,” he joked. “Tom Cruise has nothing on me… in terms of line dancing.”
Affleck and the movie’s director Gavin O’Connor also revealed that a nude scene — that inevitably also involved line dancing — was ultimately cut from the movie. “There was a nude scene but we cut it. He practiced line dancing in front of the mirror,” O’Connor said before Affleck interjected, “It was a choice! I liked it!”
Affleck’s costar Jon Bernthal, also part of the panel, praised the actor’s work – line dancing and all.
“Ben’s a hero of mine. I admire him so much, because he’s equal parts beautiful person as he is a beautiful artist,” he said. “Making movies for me is usually knocking my head into a wall; I’m kind of hating myself. But this was very easy. It was very easy to work with him.”
In addition to his dancing skills, the actor has made headlines for his personal life. On March 5, a source close to Affleck and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner told Us exclusively that the pair, who divorced in 2015, are not rekindling their romance despite multiple photos of the pair appearing close and cozy.
The source described the rumors surrounding the exes as “ridiculous.” A second insider noted that Garner has been dating John Miller since 2018. “Everything is fine with John and Jen,” the insider told Us. “Those close to them haven’t heard of any issues.”
Where Affleck and Garner shine is as coparents of their three children: Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13. In August 2024, a separate insider told Us, “Ben and Jennifer are friends, and they have a great coparenting relationship” and the pair have a “mutual understanding that their kids come first.”
“There’s a deep level of trust and respect between them,” the source explained at the time, adding that Affleck and Garner’s past has helped him through his own ups and downs with ex-wife Jenifer Lopez.
When it comes to his kids, Affleck has always shown they’re the people who are the most important to him. He and his son Samuel were recently out at a sneaker convention on March 3, when Affleck experienced a very relatable parenting moment. Samuel spotted a pair of sneakers he liked — only to find out they cost between $6,000 and $8,000.
“That’s a lot of lawns you gotta’ mow there!” Affleck commented before he added, “You like those ‘cause they’re expensive.”
