How Ben Affleck feels about J. Lo, Jennifer Garner and Dating (Excl)

Ben Affleck Looks like he was his element during appearance at Cinemacon at Caesars’ famous palace in Las Vegas on April 2. There to promote his lively new film, The accountant 2The actor – a prominent darker hair sport – was relaxed and in a good mood as he spoke on stage about the film and joked around with his costars, including Jon Bernthal.

It is a year since the wedding of Affleck with Jennifer Lopez It ended. (Lopez, 55, filed for divorce in August on their second -marriage birthday, but their separation date was listed as April 26; the Divorce completed in January.) Since then, the father of three (he and the first ex-wife Jennifer garner Share Violet, 19, Fin, 16, and Samuel, 13) have been re -graded quietly. Away from the intense scrutiny around “Bennifer 2.0,” the 52 -year -old star is groove back as he focuses on his children, work and sobriety (he recently told him Gq He has been sober for more than five years). “Ben doesn’t feel so open now, and he likes that,” says one source Weekly US. Adds a second source: “He has focused on himself and works, and seems very happy.”

Move on

Affleck opened for the first time for the the demise of his relationship with Lopez’s GqApril’s cover story, telling the magazine that there was “no scandal, no soap opera, no curiosity” behind it. “No, ‘This is what happened,'” insisted Affleck. “Just a story about people trying to discover their lives and relationships in ways we are all usually kind of.”

Brushed off guessing that the couple’s split could be traced back to a moment in his 2024 documentary The greatest love story has never been toldWhere he touched the steering of their different ways of living in the spotlight (“You don’t marry a ship’s captain and then say, ‘Well, I don’t like going out in the water,'” he said in the dock). “It is important to say that was not the cause of some big cut. It’s not like you can watch that documentary and go, ‘Oh, now I understand the issues these two had.’ “

Yet, there is no doubt that they made the comment that they attracted to worry. (Who can forget the viral videos of less than enjoyable Affleck walking alongside Lopez to their car stay in May 2023 or his Sullen appearance in the Grammys that year, who later dismissed as “some husband and wife”) “Ben never liked the public aspect of their relationship. Gq His temperament “to be a little more reserved and private than her.)

The Exes have remained on good terms, but are not as associated as they were during the initial result of the split. “They are often not in contact,” said the second source. A third says Us That communication between the two is limited, but they are “in a place where they know they can call or text at any time and be warm.” Affleck children and Lopez’s 17 -year -old twinsEmme and Max (Dad is a singer Anthony mark), Stay close, even as “Ben and J.Lo take a step back from each other,” said the first source. “They are still in touch, but they were more so during the divorce because they have reason to be, especially for the children. The mood of the mixed family has softened with distance, but there is still a lot of love.” (The source states that Lopez and Garner – who became friendly while Lopez and Affleck together – “spoke a couple of times. Jennifer is one of the few people J.Lo Trusts.”)

Friendly exes

Affleck and Garner, 53, have become closer since its split of Lopez. They spent the holidays along with the children (they were all seen volunteering with the midnight mission in La on Thanksgiving) and making headlines after Affleck playfully embraced Garner during a paintball outlet for Samuel’s birthday in early March. “Their relationship has deepened since divorce (Ben), but there is nothing romantic between them,” said the first source, adding that the pair spends time together from time to time without the children present. (Affleck and Garner broke up in 2015 following 10 years of marriage; Garner been dating entrepreneur John Miller Since 2018.) “There is real trust and familiarity there … which makes it easier to be choparent,” continues the first source. “They are a family for life.”

Happy place

At home in La – its Brentwood mansion $ 20 million a few minutes away from Garner’s house – Affleck’s life revolves around work and its children. “They’re everything to him,” said the first source. Affleck said Gq He began to produce more than acting and directing to be closer to them. “The most important thing for me was to be a parent and attend,” he explained, “and for my own sake, when going to Austin or Louisiana or somewhere to make some film, I really missed a time I could never go back.”

When he is not filming, he basically works 9-5 in Equity artists, the production company he and his close friend Longtime Matt Damon I started at the end of 2022. “I’ll be home at 3:45 when my children come off the bus,” he said. “And I can build a life that does. 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 is always planning his next project,” said the third source. The first notes that an Oscar winner focuses on roles that “challenge it and stories that mean something.” In Cinemacon, he told the crowd he “loves” to be back in character The accountant 2 (Out April 25), the sequel to The Surprise 2016 Hit Action Flick, adding, “It feels great to continue the story.”

He is also looking forward to TearThe Netflix crime excitement film in which it stars (and produces) alongside Damon, which is supposed to be in the fall. The Hunting goodwill Stars worked together on 2021’s The last duel and 2023’s Aeria ‘. “Ben’s reunion with Matt for RIP has been a huge bright spot for him,” said the first source. “There’s no ego (with them); it’s just fun.” Adds the third source: “Matt is a family to end and one of his biggest fans. Ben loves when they come to be in the same room … and know they thrive together.”

His love life

Affleck has been dating occasionally but is not entirely ready for anything serious. “It’s very occasional,” said the third source, noting that the A-Lister is not “to make dates public” and is a “very low key” about the women he sees. The second source says Us Affleck grabbed “a couple of people” and is “back to live the single bachelor life.”

The star hopes to find love again – eventually. “Ben wants to settle down (when the time is right),” said the first source, noting that Affleck is short back on the unique Raya dating app, but “his thing is no longer”. The third source says that the actor is constantly set up by friends and colleagues – “It’s a running joke that everyone has an end so far” – but it’s “difficult for him to be tied down. He feels relief to get some independence (and it’s very comfortable with his life at the moment.”

In the year since his split of Lopez, the new and better Affleck has learned from his mistakes. “He and J.Lo moved so quickly,” said the first source, adding that the actor has no desire to rush to a relationship. “In the future, it will be more careful. It’s much more central and reflective now.” The third source agrees that Affleck needs to be alone for a while. “Ben is very happy and in a good space,” said the third source. He embraces this next chapter. “

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With reporting by Travis Cronin, Andrea Simpson & Amanda Williams