How Ben Affleck Helped Jeremy Renner Nail His Role in ‘The Town’

Jeremy Renner recently opened up about how his ‘The Town’ co-star, Ben Affleck, played a crucial role in helping him prepare for his character, James Coughlin. In the 2010 crime thriller, Affleck not only starred as Douglas MacRay but also took on the directorial duties.

In a recent episode of the ‘SmartLess’ podcast, Renner shared the fascinating story of how Affleck introduced him to former inmates. This unique approach was aimed at helping Renner grasp the authentic Boston accent and culture, crucial elements for his role. Renner was full of praise for Affleck, calling their collaboration “great” and expressing how much he enjoyed sharing the screen with him.

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According to US Weekly, Renner recounted meeting Affleck for the first time on the set of ‘The Town.’ He humorously teased Affleck, questioning how he planned to both direct and act in the film, jesting, “You’re kinda an OK actor. How do you expect to act in this thing? [I was] kinda f**ing with him.”

Set in Boston, ‘The Town’ centres on bank robber Doug MacRay (played by Affleck), who leads a gang of ruthless criminals, with his best mate James (played by Renner) by his side. Renner, known for his role in ‘The Bourne Legacy,’ admired Affleck’s intelligence and appreciated the freedom he was given during the shoot.

Having never been to Boston before, Renner admitted he knew little about the city. Affleck, opting for a more hands-on approach, decided against using dialect coaches. Instead, he introduced Renner to former inmates, some of whom were armed robbers and bank robbers. Renner spent several weeks socialising with these individuals in bars, immersing himself in their stories and experiences.