Ben Affleck has played many different roles throughout his career: a superhero, an astronaut, a school bully. But there is one role he will never play – even if it means shutting down production on a film set – and that’s a Yankees fan.
Back in 2014, Affleck was starring in the psychological thriller Gone Girl alongside Rosamund Pike, Neil Patrick Harris, and Tyler Perry. The film was a box office success and even racked up 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, but behind closed doors, not all was well.
During filming, director David Fincher asked Affleck to sport a Yankees hat for a scene in which his character, Nick Dunne, was attempting to disguise himself at an airport. What might seem like a reasonable request when shooting a film was absolutely abominable to Affleck.
“I said, ‘David, I love you, I would do anything for you,’” the actor told The New York Times in a 2014 interview. “‘But I will not wear a Yankees hat. I just can’t. I can’t wear it because it’s going to become a thing, David. I will never hear the end of it. I can’t do it.’ And I couldn’t put it on my head.’”
ICYMI, Ben Affleck is a huge Red Sox fan. The actor grew up in Massachusetts – the home of the Red Sox – and is regularly seen cheering on his favourite team at Fenway Park.
The Yankees hat saga was such an ordeal, Fincher said he and Affleck couldn’t reach an agreement for four days.
“I really wanted it to be a Yankees cap but [inhales loudly], being from Boston and not being very professional as an actor, Ben refused to wear a Yankees cap,” Fincher said during his director’s commentary on the Gone Girl DVD. “I mean it did not come to blows but we had to shut down production for four days,” he revealed.
Imagine halting production on a huge Hollywood film because of a hat. Was it worth it, Ben?