Jennifer Lopez recently revealed that her ex-husband, Ben Affleck, played a key role in the creation of her latest film, Kiss of the Spider Woman. During an interview on CBS News Sunday Morning, Lopez credited Affleck for supporting her in securing the project, highlighting his instrumental involvement behind the scenes. This Ben Affleck film role extended beyond acting, as he co-produced and helped finance the movie.
Executive Producing and Financial Support from Artists Equity
Lopez, who stars as Ingrid Luna in Kiss of the Spider Woman and serves as an executive producer, emphasized that Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity, was central to the film’s financing. She said,
“The movie wouldn’t have been made if it wasn’t for him and Artists Equity,”
underscoring the importance of his backing. Adding,
“That is right, and I will always give him that credit.”
This partnership reflects a continued collaboration between Affleck and Lopez, showing mutual creative and financial involvement in the project.
The Personal Connection Behind the Project
In her interview, Lopez shared a moment in which she spoke directly to Affleck about the role, saying,
“I told him, ‘This is a role that I was born to play,’ and I wanted to do it, and he said ‘Okay,’ and he helped make it happen.”
Their joint efforts helped bring this long-held dream to fruition, with Lopez embodying a character she felt deeply connected to.
A History of Collaboration and Recent Developments
The actress and Affleck’s professional ties are not new. Previously, the actor and his longtime collaborator Matt Damon co-produced Lopez’s boxing biopic, Unstoppable, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024. Their professional relationship has intertwined closely with their personal one, as Lopez filed for divorce from Affleck in August 2024 after two years of marriage. The couple originally connected back in 2002 while filming Gigli, marking a longstanding history of both personal and creative partnership.
Premiere and Emotional Significance at Sundance
Kiss of the Spider Woman debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, where Lopez expressed deep emotion about finally achieving a lifelong aspiration. She told the press she had
“been waiting for this moment my whole life.”
She shared how her passion for musicals began in childhood, recalling,
“When you talk about the importance of musicals, the reason that I even wanted to be in this business was because my mom would sit me in front of the TV… we’d come on once a year, West Side Story on Thanksgiving,”
adding,
“I remember I was just mesmerized. I was like, ‘That’s what I want to do.’ That was always my goal. And this is the first time I actually got to do it. This crowd made my dream come true.”
Impact and Future Implications
Lopez’s acknowledgment of Affleck’s support highlights the significant behind-the-scenes collaborations that are often critical to bringing ambitious projects to the screen. Given their history of blending personal and professional roles, their dynamic will likely continue to influence Lopez’s career moves. With the success of Kiss of the Spider Woman launching at Sundance, expectations are high for both the film’s impact and Lopez’s continued growth as an artist and producer.
