Just four weeks from the start of production on "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," Disney has canceled the comedy about a bachelor visited during his brother's wedding by specters of his former flames.
Betty Thomas, of "I Spy" fame, had been hired in August to direct the movie, and the studio was just about to announce some big names as Affleck's co-stars.
The Hollywood Reporter noted that "in addition to the movie's high cost, another contributing factor was Affleck's tarnished image. The star has taken a beating in the tabloids and at the box office with the failure of his most recent film, 'Gigli.' "
Disney will have to pay Affleck's salary in any case - unless another studio picks up the movie - because he has a "pay-or-play" contract.
Meanwhile, Paramount is said to be considering dropping Affleck from its next Jack Ryan movie, though he played the CIA agent in "The Sum of All Fears."
Affleck will be seen in December in John Woo's "Paycheck," and next year in what is widely rumored to be another Affleck/Lopez bomb, "Jersey Girl," directed by Kevin Smith.
The relationship of Affleck with Jennifer Lopez has launched a thousand magazine covers. The latest supermarket tabloid story has them eloping any minute. But the publicity isn't helping put any fannies in seats for their movies.
"Daredevil" failed to capture the audience that "Spider Man," "X-Men" and "The Hulk" pulled in. And "Gigli" - after being savaged by the critics - was one of the biggest flops of all time.
Beside the speculation over the wedding and its last-minute postponement, readers have been deluged with stories about Affleck's partying with strippers, his gambling and his impulsive shopping for cars and jewelry.
There is a growing suspicion that all the publicity is backfiring, that the public is getting bored with "Bennifer."
It might be time for Affleck and Lopez to take a long vacation, as Demi Moore did, so we'll be eager to see their faces again. PageSix
What a shame.
What a shame GREAT SUGGESTION!.