Ben Affleck looked like he was in his element during an appearance at CinemaCon at the famed Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on April 2. There to promote his buzzy new film, The Accountant 2, the actor — sporting noticeably darker hair — was relaxed and in good spirits as he talked onstage about the movie and joked around with his costars, including Jon Bernthal.
It’s been one year since Affleck’s marriage to Jennifer Lopez came to an end. (Lopez, 55, filed for divorce in August on their second wedding anniversary, but their date of separation was listed as April 26; the divorce was finalized in January.) Since then, the dad of three (he and first ex-wife Jennifer Garner share Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13) has been quietly recalibrating. Away from the intense scrutiny surrounding “Bennifer 2.0,” the 52-year-old star is getting his groove back as he focuses on his kids, his work and his sobriety (he recently told GQ he’s been sober for more than five years). “Ben doesn’t feel as exposed now, and he likes that,” one source tells Us Weekly. Adds a second source: “He’s focused on himself and work, and he seems very happy.”
Moving Forward
Affleck opened up for the first time about the demise of his relationship with Lopez in GQ’s April cover story, telling the magazine there was “no scandal, no soap opera, no intrigue” behind their breakup. “There is no, ‘This is what happened,’” Affleck insisted. “It’s just a story about people trying to figure out their lives and relationships in ways that we all sort of normally do.”
He brushed off speculation that the couple’s split could be traced back to a moment in her 2024 documentary The Greatest Love Story Never Told, in which he touched on navigating their different approaches to living in the spotlight (“You don’t marry a ship captain and then say, ‘Well, I don’t like going out in the water,’” he said in the doc). “It’s important to say that wasn’t the cause of some major fracture. It’s not like you can watch that documentary and go, ‘Oh, now I understand the issues that these two had.’ ”
Still, there’s no question the attention they attracted bothered him. (Who can forget the viral videos of a less than pleased Affleck walking alongside Lopez to their waiting car in May 2023 or his sullen appearance at the Grammys that year, which he later dismissed as a “husband-and-wife thing.”) “Ben never really liked the public aspect of their relationship,” says the first source, adding that the star “was frustrated with the Bennifer 2.0 nickname and never really comfortable with it all.” (Affleck told GQ his temperament “is to be a little bit more reserved and private than hers.”)
The exes have remained on good terms, but they’re not as connected as they were during the initial aftermath of the split. “They’re not in contact very often,” says the second source. A third tells Us that communication between the two is limited, but they’re “in a place where they know they can call or text at any time and be cordial.” Affleck’s kids and Lopez’s 17-year-old twins, Emme and Max (dad is singer Marc Anthony), remain close, even as “Ben and J.Lo have taken a step back from each other,” says the first source. “They’re still in touch, but they were more so during the divorce because they had a reason to be, especially for the kids. The blended family vibe has softened with distance, but there’s still lots of love.” (The source notes that Lopez and Garner — who became friendly while Lopez and Affleck were together — “have spoken a couple of times. Jennifer is one of the few people J.Lo trusts.”)
Friendly Exes
Affleck and Garner, 53, have gotten closer since his split from Lopez. They spent the holidays together with the kids (they were all spotted volunteering with The Midnight Mission in L.A. on Thanksgiving) and made headlines after Affleck playfully embraced Garner during a paintball outing for Samuel’s birthday in early March. “Their relationship has deepened since [Ben’s] divorce, but there is nothing romantic between them,” the first source says, adding that the pair do occasionally spend time together without the kids present. (Affleck and Garner broke up in 2015 following 10 years of marriage; Garner has been dating entrepreneur John Miller since 2018.) “There’s just a real trust and familiarity there… which makes it easier to coparent,” continues the first source. “They are family for life.”
Happy Place
At home in L.A. — his $20 million Brentwood mansion is just a few minutes away from Garner’s house — Affleck’s life revolves around work and his kids. “They are everything to him,” says the first source. Affleck told GQ he started producing more than acting and directing in order to be closer to them. “The most important thing to me was both being a parent and being present,” he explained, “and that for my own sake, going off to Austin or Louisiana or somewhere to do some movie, I was really missing time I could never get back.”
When he’s not filming, he’s essentially working a 9-5 at Artists Equity, the production company he and his longtime close friend Matt Damon started in late 2022. “I’ll be home at 3:45 when my kids get off the bus,” he said. “And I’m able to construct a life that does that. And that means more to me than any of it. That makes me happier.”
Work has remained a source of stability. “Ben does not know how to sit still. He’s always planning his next project,” says the third source. The first notes that the Oscar winner is focusing on roles that “challenge him and stories that mean something.” At CinemaCon, he told the crowd he’s “thrilled” to be back in character for The Accountant 2 (out April 25), the sequel to the surprise 2016 hit action flick, adding, “It does feel great to continue the story.”
He’s also looking forward to RIP, the Netflix crime thriller he stars in (and produces) alongside Damon, which is due out in the fall. The Good Will Hunting stars worked together on 2021’s The Last Duel and 2023’s Air. “Ben’s reunion with Matt for RIP has been a huge bright spot for him,” says the first source. “There’s no ego [with them]; it’s just fun.” Adds the third source: “Matt is family to Ben and one of his biggest supporters. Ben loves when they get to be in the same room… and knows they thrive together.”
His Love Life
Affleck’s been casually dating but isn’t quite ready for anything serious. “It’s very casual,” says the third source, noting that the A-lister isn’t one “to do dates in public” and is “very low-key” about the women he sees. The second source tells Us Affleck hooked up with “a couple of people” and is “back to living the single bachelor life.”
The star hopes to find love again — eventually. “Ben wants to settle down [when the time is right],” says the first source, noting that Affleck was briefly back on the exclusive dating app Raya, but “it’s not his thing” anymore. The third source says the actor constantly gets set up by friends and colleagues — “It’s a running joke that everyone has someone for Ben to date” — but it’s “hard for him to be tied down. He feels relieved to have some independence [and is] very comfortable with his life right now.”
In the year since his split from Lopez, the new and improved Affleck has learned from his mistakes. “He and J.Lo moved so fast,” says the first source, adding that the actor has no desire to rush into a relationship. “In the future, he’ll be more cautious. He’s much more centered and reflective now.” The third source agrees Affleck needed to be on his own for a while. “Ben is really happy and in a good headspace,” shares the third source. He’s embracing this next chapter.”
For more on Affleck, watch the exclusive video above and pick up the latest issue of Us Weekly — on newsstands now.
With reporting by Travis Cronin, Andrea Simpson & Amanda Williams
