When it comes to career beginnings, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Kevin Smith are often grouped together. Damon and Affleck would become bona fide movie stars after the film they wrote together, “Good Will Hunting,” became an Oscar-winning hit. But before that, the trio had become close friends. Affleck had worked with Smith on 1995’s “Mallrats,” and both worked with him on “Chasing Amy.”
But not many people may have realized that Smith was a co-executive producer of “Good Will Hunting.” Even fewer people probably know that he also almost directed it, but declined when asked.
Kevin Smith Reflects on Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s ‘Good Will Hunting’ Offer
Smith had met Affleck and Damon in the 90s. When he made “Mallrats,” they had already written “Good Will Hunting” and sold it to Castle Rock Entertainment. But then they found out that Castle Rock was planning to make the movie — without them in it.
After Affleck told Smith what was happening, Smith set up production for “Good Will Hunting” at Miramax. Since he played such a big part in giving the film back to them, they naturally thought he’d want a bigger role.
“The first question that I was asked by Ben and Matt and the Miramax folks was, ‘Do you wanna direct it?’” Smith recalled to People. Despite them asking, Smith was pretty sure they were hoping he’d turn them down. He did, because he knew the film needed a director who wasn’t buddies with the film’s writers.
“Naturally, I was like, ‘Oh my God, no. If I were to direct this, I would just turn around to Ben and Matt the whole time and say, ‘Is this what you saw when you wrote it?’”
But Smith admitted that he did recommend to Miramax that they let Affleck and Damon direct the film themselves. The suggestion was immediately dismissed.
“I was told that the lunatics would not be running that particular asylum, so the search for a director began at Miramax,” he said. They ended up choosing Gus Van Sant, who Affleck’s brother, Casey, had just made “To Die For” with.
Ben Affleck Had the Best Snarky Response to ‘Dogma’ Needing Movie Stars
“Good Will Hunting” won Affleck and Damon an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. Co-star Robin Williams won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar, as well. It was a breakthrough moment for Affleck and Damon. They now had their pick of any film they wanted to make.
Smith revealed that he had given Affleck the script to “Dogma” years earlier. He had told Affleck that he would need “movie stars” to get the budget he needed to make it. After “Good Will Hunting,” they had the star power required.
“I’ll never forget the first day we’re on set shooting with Ben and Matt. Right before the first take, we’re about to roll for the first time and the boys have been nominated for Academy Awards,” Smith told People. “So we’re about to shoot, and I look at Ben, and Ben looks me dead in the eyes, and he goes, ‘Guess who became a movie star just to do your stupid movie.’ And I was like, ‘Well done, my friend. Well done.’”
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