Ben Affleck but, really, Michael B Jordan

Ben Affleck was in New York last night, taking his child Fin to a performance of Every Brilliant Thing, starring Daniel Radcliffe. I’ve been waiting for new photos of Ben to come up because I haven’t had a chance to post the video below. Please let me explain.

It’s been a week and a half since Michael B Jordan won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance as Smoke and Stack in Sinners. Prior to that he was honoured by the Screen Actors Guild with The Actor in the same category. And it was evident to everyone in the room and people watching on television how popular and well-liked MBJ is in Hollywood.

Ben Affleck is a voting member of both organisations. There is no doubt that Ben voted for Michael B Jordan. Of course Ben respects MBJ’s work, but they’re also friends, they’ve been friends a long time, which we learned a few years ago during their Variety Directors on Directors feature when MBJ revealed that Ben reached out to him after Fruitvale Station.

Ben talked about this again when he spoke at the American Cinematheque Awards last fall when MBJ was honoured. This was widely reported at the time but American Cinematheque only posted the videos two weeks ago, including Ben’s tribute to him. Interesting timing – perhaps they had a feeling what would happen on Oscar night.

As expected, Ben speaks glowingly of MBJ, his talent but also his character, his work ethic, and jokingly-begrudgingly shares that while their friendship started because Ben wanted to be someone MBJ could lean on for support in the industry, what’s ended up happening is that Ben has learned from Michael. He also asked MBJ for a job, since he’s becoming an accomplished director.

His next film, as director and actor, is The Thomas Crown Affair. Filming wrapped late last year, he’s in post right now, with the release date set for March 5, 2027. And the timing for it could be fun. While the Academy hasn’t announced yet when the Oscars are next year, that’s one of the possible weekends – March 7, 2027. Oscar winners usually return to present after they win. So MBJ’s appearance at the Oscars, as the reigning Best Actor, would happen just as he’s promoting his new film, which by all accounts has been a passion project, he’s been developing this film for almost a decade. Not a bad way to showcase your Oscar follow-up.

Since the Oscars, MBJ has been quiet, probably already back to work editing Thomas Crown, although he’s never really one of those celebrities who’s always outside. This is why I have to use Ben Affleck as an excuse to talk about him.

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What else happened today…

Some SNL inside baseball – Kevin Nealon seems to be side-eying Ryan Gosling for breaking so much when he hosts the show, noting that Lorne Michaels doesn’t really like it. Um, RG has hosted four times. There is no question he’s getting into the Five Timers. Pretty sure Lorne doesn’t mind it that much when Ryan does it. (Pajiba)

As I’ve been saying, slip dresses are everywhere – this time on Elizabeth Banks. (Go Fug Yourself)

Oh my GOD, how has this Chappell Roan story lasted five (six?) days in our increasingly short news cycle?! Now it’s the security guard who’s grabbed the microphone and, seriously, I stopped caring about this mess before it even began. (Celebitchy)

I do, however, always have time for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani who just gave a master class on how to deal with hecklers. Celebrities, take note. (The Mary Sue)

I’m a shoe girl. These are the 2026 spring/summer shoe trends. And I hate all of them, partly because I wear closed-toe shoes 99.9% of the time. I know I’m in the minority here. (Refinery 29)