Ben Affleck Opens Up About Good Will Hunting Sequel Nearly 30 Years After Release

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon‘s Good Will Hunting is one of those rare films that never seems to lose its shine. The 1997 drama, which the two childhood friends wrote together and starred in, turned a pair of unknown actors from Boston into Oscar winners and Hollywood’s hottest new names.

Now, nearly 30 years after its release, Affleck has opened up about whether fans will ever see Will Hunting and his crew return to the big screen. The answer might sting a little for anyone hoping for a follow-up, but it makes perfect sense.

Affleck has made it clear that a sequel was never something he seriously considered, even when the opportunity came knocking. He also explained why he feels fortunate to have never been pushed into revisiting the story, and why he doesn’t judge stars who go back to their classic hits.

Ben Affleck Feels Lucky He Never Made a Good Will Hunting Sequel

Ben Affleck sat down with Josh Horowitz on the October 12 episode of the Happy Sad Confused podcast, where the conversation turned to his breakout film. Horowitz asked whether studios had ever tempted him and Damon with a huge payday to make a sequel.

Affleck laughed off the idea of “bags of money” but admitted that the question did come up once. After Miramax, the studio behind the movie, changed hands, the new owners asked if the duo would be interested in a sequel or a TV series.

For Affleck, the decision was simple. He shared, “It’s just an easy no. No. I don’t. I don’t know what it would be.” He pointed out that the original story felt complete, ending with Will leaving Boston to chase after Skylar in California. Still, the actor was quick to show some empathy for those who do return to their famous projects. He shared:

He has no judgment for anyone who makes that choice and is simply glad he has never had to. He shared, “I don’t have any judgment whatsoever. I’ve just [been] lucky enough that I’ve never had to do it.” Interestingly, he was always against the idea of a sequel to his Oscar-winning project.

Ben Affleck Previously Revealed Turning Down a Sequel Pitch

Ben Affleck in Good Will Hunting | Credits: Miramax

This isn’t the first time Ben Affleck has shut down talk of a Good Will Hunting follow-up. Back in 2023, Matt Damon let slip that someone had actually pitched his longtime friend a proper sequel.

The reveal came during the Los Angeles premiere of Air, when Damon told Variety that Affleck had shared the news with him that very day. Damon could hardly believe it himself, saying the pitch was for a straight-up sequel. He shared:

Affleck, for his part, seemed amused that Damon had spilled the story. He jokingly shared, “Matt is always telling stories that he should not be telling.” When pressed for more details, he kept it short and laughed, “It’s not a sequel we’re going to pursue.”

Between that 2023 response and his latest comments, Affleck’s stance has stayed the same. Good Will Hunting is finished, and he wants to keep it that way.

What do you think of Affleck’s latest comment? Let us know in the comments below!

Good Will Hunting is now streaming on Apple TV and Paramount+.