If you haven’t heard, Ben Affleck is out and about promoting his new film, The Way Back—which sees him go full Coach Carter, taking over a ragtag high school hoops squad and leading them through a gauntlet of Catholic high school basketball teams.
Of course, he stopped by Jimmy Kimmel Live! to talk about the film with his longtime buddy. And for the most part, the interview hits every beat you’d expect. There’s some ribbing of Kimmel’s nemesis (and Affleck’s best Boston bud) Matt Damon, they talk about The Way Back, and Affleck nearly spills a major Tom Brady free agency secret. Save for one exception.
When talking about the movie he’s currently filming, The Last Duel, he shared a surprisingly emotional story involving his co-star on the project – Adam Driver. Apparently, Affleck had to fly home (The Last Duel is shooting in France) for his eight-year-old son’s birthday party. He coordinated to have a whole bunch of presents shipped to the party, but they never made it there. Then, someone told an understandably upset Affleck that an even better surprise was waiting for his son – involving one of his favourite Star Wars heroes (?), Kylo Ren.
"And then he goes, 'But, there is some news. Adam [Driver] heard you say it was your son’s birthday, and so he called your assistant and got your address, and sent some presents and signed a card and a picture from Kylo Ren,'" Affleck said.
Affleck’s son – remember, the kid’s eight years old – really believes Kylo Ren exists, according to the actor. So the presents from the newfound Star Wars good guy justifiably blew his mind.
"I watched him open up all the presents. And I said, 'My presents didn’t get here on time,'" Affleck said. "'But I did get a present from somebody who really wanted to make sure you got a gift.' And he goes, 'Who?' And I said, 'Kylo Ren.'”
If you needed any reminder that Adam Driver is a real one, here it is. And yeah, even though Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker upset a planet of fanboys, remember that these kinds of stories still mean the world to the kiddos out there.
"He opens the presents, I played him the video of Kylo Ren, and it was an incredibly moving and powerful moment," Affleck said. “Adam made me a hero to my kid, and I will never, ever, ever forget that.”
