In “The Town,” Affleck takes on multiple roles as he writes, directs, and stars in the film. He plays Doug MacRay, the leader of a gang of seasoned criminals. During their latest bank heist, they take Claire, played by Rebecca Hall, hostage. Once the heist concludes successfully, and Claire is released, Doug finds himself drawn to her, sparking an unexpected romance. Unbeknownst to Claire, Doug is part of the gang that traumatized her. As their relationship deepens, Doug struggles to keep his criminal life hidden, especially as his partner, Jem, portrayed by Renner, becomes increasingly agitated by Doug’s involvement with Claire.

“The Town” earned Jeremy Renner his second Academy Award nomination, cementing its status as an outstanding crime thriller. Though it hasn’t reached the heights of all-time classic status, its availability on HBO Max could introduce the film to a new audience, further enhancing its reputation.

Affleck’s multitasking in “The Town” is noteworthy, as he not only directed but also co-wrote the screenplay alongside Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard. This was a significant undertaking, given that it was only his second feature film as a director, and his first time starring in one. Renner, initially skeptical about Affleck’s ability to manage these responsibilities, expressed his concerns during a conversation with Backstage in 2012. Renner admitted it was daunting to question Affleck’s capacity to juggle directing and acting. “It was not an easy question to ask somebody, ‘What makes you think you can direct and star in this thing?’” Renner reflected. However, Affleck’s candidness and intelligence won Renner over, as they engaged in a sincere dialogue that alleviated his apprehensions. “He was such an affable guy — and so insanely smart. He made me feel very comfortable, enough to be able to be very frank and honest with him,” Renner shared.

It’s certainly not uncommon for a film’s director to also write the screenplay. But while Affleck had help on the script from co-writers Peter Craig and Aaron Stockard, he helmed “The Town” himself and also played the story’s main character. That made even co-star Jeremy Renner nervous, with Renner expressing hesitation over whether Affleck could tackle all of those roles, especially as it was just his second feature film as writer and director (he did not star in his first, “Gone Baby Gone”).

Talking to Backstage in 2012, Renner wasn’t shy about admitting he questioned Affleck’s ability to pull off the triple feat. “It was not an easy question to ask somebody, ‘What makes you think you can direct and star in this thing?’” Renner said. “But it’s an honest one, right?” Thankfully, Affleck — who admits he was intimidated by two of the film’s biggest action sequences — seemed to understand Renner’s concerns, having a heart-to-heart that eased Renner’s worries. “He was such an affable guy — and so insanely smart. He made me feel very comfortable, enough to be able to be very frank and honest with him,” Renner acknowledged. 

In the end, Renner was fully convinced: “Heck yeah, I wanted to work with him and swing for the fences, without a doubt.” The result is a movie that stands as one of the best in each of their respective filmographies — and is now available to watch on HBO Max.