A hand on her lower back, intimate whispers, and the first sighting of Ben Affleck’s toothy grin in years.

Unsurprisingly, fans are buzzing about the prospect of a third ‘Bennifer’ chapter after ex-partners Affleck and Jennifer Lopez shared a warm red carpet moment, their first since they finalized their divorce earlier this year.

Despite their second attempt at forever falling apart in under two years since exchanging vows, the former couple appeared perfectly content as they promoted their latest film, Kiss of a Spider Woman, in New York on Monday night.

Known for his often stoic demeanor, which has inspired numerous viral memes, the actor wore a huge smile as he gazed affectionately at his former spouse. They shared private exchanges while posing for the photographers.

According to lip reader Nicola Hickling, Affleck, 53, affectionately mocked Lopez’s striking Harris Reed gown in a way that sounded like an adoring spouse’s teasing. He seemingly told her: ‘I hate the black plastic bit on there.’ 

Lopez, 56, allegedly hit back: ‘I told you earlier I was wearing this.’ True to form, Affleck also joked about his dislike of being photographed, leaning into Lopez and saying: ‘They’ll keep going, I’m done.’

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck looked the picture of romantic bliss as they promoted their new film Kiss of a Spider Woman in New York on Monday night

Their affection and toothy grins left fans begging for ‘Bennifer’ round three, just months after their divorce was finalized

But despite their loving display, an insider has told the Daily Mail that a rekindling is ‘not on the horizon.’

‘Ben and Jen are the definition of can’t live with them, can’t live without them,’ our source said. ‘They love each other, there is a bond between them, and they will undoubtedly be in each other’s lives forever.’

Their love story is a decades-long rollercoaster saga of trying – and failing – to make it work.

They met in 2001 on the set of Gigli, and Affleck made a steamy cameo in Lopez’s Jenny From the Block music video the following year. Fast forward a few months and Affleck got down on one knee to propose with a 6.1-carat pink diamond worth an estimated $2.5 million.

But their love burned bright and fast. The couple broke off their engagement a year later before calling quits on their relationship altogether in 2004.

Affleck went on to marry Jennifer Garner, with whom he has three children, Violet, 19, Seraphina, 16, and Samuel, 13. Lopez married Marc Anthony, and the pair share 17-year-old twins Max and Emme. Lopez and Anthony divorced after 10 years. She then dated Beau ‘Casper’ Smart, Drake and Alex Rodriguez, who she got engaged to in 2019. 

Meanwhile, after his divorce, Affleck enjoyed short dalliances with Ana de Armas and Lindsay Shookus.

Then, in a twist that could rival any blockbuster romance, Affleck and Lopez rekindled in 2021 before tying the knot the following year – they had not one but two weddings, first in Las Vegas and then at Affleck’s estate outside of Savannah, Georgia.

But despite their snug love-in, an insider has told the Daily Mail that a rekindling is ‘not on the horizon’

Affleck stressed that the Grammy nominee was ‘born to play’ the title role in his adaptation of the 1976 novel of the same name by Manuel Puig, as he heaped praise on her

But on the two-year anniversary of their nuptials, Lopez filed for divorce after months of speculation that the A-list couple were on the rocks.

Not long after, the On the Floor singer gave insight into their failed marriage during a sit down with comedian Nikki Glasser for Interview magazine, in which she described her heartbreak as ‘sad’ and ‘scary.’

The singer and actress, who did not name Affleck, suggested that her ex did not embrace all her flaws.

In contrast, Affleck broke his silence to praise Lopez when their film Unstoppable was released last year – the same time they were ironing out the terms of their divorce. An insider at the time told the Daily Mail that the film was a ‘huge investment’ for the actor and his producing partner Matt Damon.

‘[Ben] also knows how much weight his comments have and if Ben says his ex-wife is good she must be good and people will watch the film,’ they said.

‘This is the first and only thing he has said about her since their split and it is all he will say.’

Affleck has seemingly adopted the same stance on the promotional trail for their latest film, Kiss of a Spider Woman, with the actor heaping praise on his ex-wife’s performance.

‘She’s amazing in the movie,’ he told Extra on last night’s red carpet. ‘It was obvious to me very early on in Jennifer’s involvement in this that she was gonna die or be great. You know, she just was gonna give it her all, and she did. She worked enormously hard.’

‘They want the best for each other, and with this movie, it benefits them both for it to do well, so they aren’t going to provide any unneeded drama to the situation,’ a source told the Daily Mail

Laying it on thick, he continued: ‘This role, you get to see, like, all of her many gifts. You know, she’s somebody that grew up watching, you know, the classic musicals and, obviously, can do contemporary dance and all that.

‘She really does it all in this movie, the acting and the singing and the dancing and kind of embodies the whole spirit of it. She’s fabulous, although that shouldn’t be any surprise to anyone.’

Taken as a sign of hope for another romance by some fans of the couple, others were less convinced and suggested that as two ‘red carpet veterans who know how to change a media narrative,’ people should take off their rose-tinted glasses.

‘They’re deliberately doing this to dead the notion that there’s any bad blood,’ wrote one cynic on Reddit. ‘The way the gender wars work these days is if they appear to be uncomfortable with each other or if he doesn’t show, the misogynists restart the hate brigade against her and the other side blame him for that. Neither gains from red carpet tension. And good vibes will help sell the film and help him push her for the Oscar nom she still wants.’

Another added: ‘Finally! A perspective without rose-colored glasses. [People] really ate this up.’

‘They want the best for each other, and with this movie, it benefits them both for it to do well, so they aren’t going to provide any unneeded drama to the situation when they are seen together,’ our source said.

‘They are both adults and are dealing with each other as adults, they aren’t worrying about the peanut gallery.

‘Romance is not on the horizon for them by any means, but they will be respectful and friends from this point forward.’