Kevin Smith has a new idea about a collaboration with his longtime pal Ben Affleck.
While promoting his new film, “The 4:30 Movie,” the 54-year-old director exclusively told The Post that he would work with Affleck, 52, again “in a heartbeat.”
In fact, Smith said he’s currently working on a new project that he wants Affleck and Matt Damon to produce via their production company, Artists Equity.
“I’ve known Ben for years, and he was always a wonderful actor. And then, of course, he became a great director,” Smith told The Post.
“And him and Matt have Artists Equity,” he continued. “So we were texting last year and he [Affleck] goes, ‘Oh, I got to blow you up about my company, man. You got cheap movies. Bring them here.’ I’m like, heavens, all I got is cheap movies, for heaven’s sake.”
Smith admitted “most of the stuff I do I would honestly never think about bringing to Ben and Matt,” but added that he’s changing his tune for his latest brainchild.
“There’s something that I started writing recently that I love that’s, like, outside of my wheelhouse,” the “Dogma” director said.
“I grew up in the ’70s, and so movies about Satanism as a young Catholic, that’s my thing,” Smith said. “God, that would terrify me to death when I was a kid. The ultimate evil.
“So I’m writing this movie about a satanic cult and it’s grown up enough where I honestly feel like when I’m done, I am going to bring it into the boys to be like, ‘I never do this,’” he added. “When I call them up, I’m like, come be in my movie. That’s, like, enough. But I think this is an Artists Equity worthy movie. It’s like my version of ‘Rosemary’s Baby.’”
Smith and Affleck met almost 20 years ago during the audition process for Smith’s second film, 1995’s “Mallrats.” Affleck landed a part in the film alongside Shannen Doherty, Jason Lee and Jeremy London.
The pair have since collaborated on numerous projects, like 1997’s “Chasing Amy,” 1999’s “Dogma,” 2001’s “Jay and Silent Bob Strikes Bob” and 2004’s “Jersey Girl,” in which Affleck starred opposite Jennifer Lopez.
Smith was notably present at Affleck and Lopez’s wedding in Georgia in August 2022.
He attended the star-studded event with his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith. Jason Mewes, another longtime collaborator with both Affleck and Smith, also went to the wedding with his wife, Jordan Monsanto.
Smith recently reacted to Affleck and Lopez’s split in an interview with People.
He called Affleck “one of my favorite people on the planet,” and said Lopez, 55, is “wonderful too.”
“And if they’re not going forward, that breaks my heart and stuff, but I’ve always adored him,” added Smith.
Smith’s new movie is loosely based on his childhood. It’s set in the summer of 1986 and follows three 16-year-old friends who spend their Saturdays sneaking into movies at the local cineplex
He told The Post that “The 4:30 Movie” “feels a little more dialed in” but is really “no different” than the rest of his directorial outings.
“As much as I’m always making movies about my life as if I’ve had an interesting life, but that’s the trick to take something banal and make it universal. Make it something people recognize,” he said.
“The 4:30 Movie” is available on digital now.
