Ben Affleck nearly missed out on a role in his first Kevin Smith movie due to his habit of using strong language. Although Affleck is now a frequent presence in Smith’s films, from early cameos to starring as Bartleby in Dogma, he was not in Smith’s debut feature, Clerks (1994). This rough start almost derailed his involvement in Mallrats (1995), another key film in Smith’s Askewniverse, where Affleck played Shannon Hamilton, a cruel store manager.
The Initial Hesitation to Cast Affleck in Mallrats
Before Ben Affleck even auditioned for Mallrats, producer James Jacks had serious reservations about casting him due to Affleck’s explicit language on the set of Dazed and Confused (1993). Jacks worried that Affleck, known for frequently cursing, would add too much harsh language to an already profanity-heavy script. Kevin Smith recalled Jacks’ reaction, explaining the concern:
“He’s got a potty mouth. He’s always cursing. We had him in Dazed and Confused. There were only a few uses of the word f— in Dazed and Confused, but when Affleck got there, he increased it. 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’ objection, Affleck went on to audition for the role. Smith remembered that Affleck
“wore the character very, very well,”
which ultimately changed the producer’s mind.
“So he auditioned and much to Jim’s chagrin, he was the guy.”
This led to Affleck’s first collaboration with Kevin Smith, launching a long-standing professional relationship.
Affleck’s Early Collaboration with Kevin Smith and Growing Friendship
Filming Mallrats in Minnesota gave Smith a chance to see Affleck’s personality beyond the tough roles he played. Smith described his growing admiration for the actor during this time:
“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.”
During production, Affleck was balancing work on the Good Will Hunting script, which he and Matt Damon co-wrote. He frequently requested Smith’s permission to travel to Los Angeles to work on the screenplay, which Smith readily granted.
“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.'”
Kevin Smith’s Recognition of Affleck’s Leading Man Potential
Smith quickly recognized Affleck’s potential as a lead actor beyond the antagonist roles he was taking. After completing Mallrats, Smith shared his intentions for Affleck directly:
“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.'”
Smith’s film Chasing Amy (1997) gave Affleck his first leading role as Holden McNeil, a part that highlighted both his dramatic and comedic range. The film is highly regarded, boasting critical and audience approval above 80%.
Affleck’s Rising Career Beyond Kevin Smith’s Films
Following his early work with Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck’s career expanded significantly. He gained prominent roles in major Hollywood productions such as Armageddon (1998) and Pearl Harbor (2001), while also becoming a central figure in DC movies as Batman/Bruce Wayne.
Alongside Matt Damon, Affleck won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay with Good Will Hunting (1997). Later, he directed and starred in Argo (2012), which earned the Academy Award for Best Picture, solidifying his status as a key figure in Hollywood.
The Impact of Kevin Smith’s Support on Affleck’s Career
Had Affleck been excluded from Mallrats because of his off-screen language or denied opportunities to work on the Good Will Hunting script, his career path might have been very different. Instead, Kevin Smith’s willingness to overlook early concerns led to a lifelong collaboration, helping Affleck become one of the biggest names in the film industry and a consistent presence in Smith’s projects.
