Many feared Ben Affleck would fall apart after his divorce from Jennifer Lopez and spiral into sadness and self-destruction, like he has in the past. His breakup raised serious concerns about his emotional state—especially among those closest to him, like his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, with whom he still has a very close relationship, as we've seen in recent months.
© GC Images“All she wants is for him to be happy. She’s one of the few women who can talk to him and keep him from slipping back into addiction. Jen wants to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” said someone close to the situation during the height of the media frenzy.
The 'New' Ben Affleck
But it turns out the opposite happened. Seven months after the split, the director is in one of the best places he’s been—both personally and professionally. There’s no sign of a relapse or emotional crisis. At 52, Ben Affleck has found his peace, seems calm and focused on what really matters, and is sporting a refreshed look that’s surprised even his most loyal fans.
© Getty Images for CinemaConThat’s how he showed up a few days ago at CinemaCon in Las Vegas, where he promoted his new movie The Accountant 2. Happy and especially smiley, the actor won everyone over with his charm and sharp look, wearing a navy blue suit and shirt. What stood out the most, though, was definitely his beard. It looks like he may have used some dye to darken it and cover the gray, giving him a much more youthful vibe.
© Getty Images for CinemaConSingle Life Looks Good on Him
Gone is the scruffy, tired look he had in the final months of his marriage to Lopez—gray hair and overly casual outfits. The Batman star has had a full-on glow-up. Now he’s rocking a thicker, jet-black beard and has also dyed the rest of his hair, looking completely refreshed.
© Getty ImagesThis new beard gives him a relaxed yet polished vibe that exudes confidence. It’s more groomed than ever—perfectly trimmed and just the right length. With this style shift, Affleck is clearly stepping into a new phase physically too, showing he’s putting real effort into self-care to look this sharp and handsome in front of the cameras.
Focused on Family and Work
In recent weeks, we’ve seen the Gone Girl star spending quality time with his kids—18-year-old Violet, 15-year-old Seraphine, and Samuel. On top of that, he’s fully immersed in several Hollywood projects that he’s genuinely excited about.
© Getty ImagesThis weekend, he was spotted scouting locations for a new project he’s working on and was photographed on the set of Animals—his upcoming thriller that he’s both directing and starring in, set to stream on Netflix.
© Getty ImagesThe cast includes Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Adriana Paz.
Originally, his longtime friend Matt Damon was set to take the lead role but had to back out due to scheduling conflicts, which led Affleck to step in as the star himself.
© SXSW Conference & Festivals viaThe script was written by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray, and the film is being produced by Artists Equity—the company founded by Affleck and Damon—in partnership with Makeready and Fifth Season. Filming began this past March in Los Angeles, and the movie is expected to premiere on Netflix in 2026.
