LA, Oct 23: Four weeks from starting production on its Ben Affleck wedding comedy "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past," the Walt Disney Co. has had a case of matrimonial jitters. The studio pulled the plug on the project late Monday.
"Ghosts" was to star Affleck as a bachelor who goes to his younger brother's wedding, where he is visited by the ghosts of his past girlfriends. In August, Betty Thomas ("I Spy") came on board to direct the film, and several high-profile castings were close to being finalized.

Disney declined comment on the decision. But it is believed that in addition to the film's expected high cost, another contributing factor was Affleck's tarnished image. The star has taken a beating in the tabloids and at the box office with the failure of his most recent film, "Gigli." He returns to theaters on Christmas Day with the John Woo actioner "Paycheck."
Because Disney signed a pay-or-play deal with Affleck -- meaning that he gets paid even if the movie is not made -- it has reason to hope that one of its competitors will step in to take the project off its hands.
Representatives from Affleck's LivePlanet production company, which is producing the film along with Jon Shestack, could not be reached for comment.

Bureau Report