Overview
- Affleck told Entertainment Weekly over the weekend that he first wanted Jennifer Garner to play his on‑screen wife but that both agreed the pair would bring distracting “baggage” to a story about a marriage in crisis.
- He said he halted the film two weeks before the original shoot after learning Spike Lee was developing a similar kidnapping thriller, a pause that reset the project’s timeline and casting.
- Matt Damon was originally attached to play the male lead but became unavailable because of scheduling on The Odyssey, prompting Affleck to step into the role himself.
- Kerry Washington was cast as Abigail and the film, which Affleck co‑wrote with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, opens in select theaters and on Netflix on Oct. 9.
- Affleck framed the decision as a protective move for the film and the families involved, and some reports note Damon is listed in production credits though those details vary across outlets.