DEEP WATER DISASTER

That sinking feeling... Ben Affleck and his Deep Water costar Ana de Armas packed on the PDA during Dunkin’ runs and dog walks early in the pandemic, but their relationship fizzled — both off-screen and, it turns out, onscreen. On Dec. 13, reports surfaced that their erotic thriller would skip theaters entirely and head straight to streaming. A source tells Star the move came after test audiences thought Ben and the 33-year-old “had no chemistry together.”

Ben’s been here before. The 49-yearold has a history of flaming out when he shares the screen with his flames. 2003’s

Gigli, co-starring then- and current-love

Jennifer Lopez, is a legendary box-office bomb, earning just $7 million in theaters. And Daredevil, his 2003 Marvel entry with future wife Jennifer Garner, got a tepid response from critics.

The two-time Oscar winner just can’t seem to raise the temperature when he tries to steam up the screen. “Ben has had a lot of success in a lot of movies, but he’s never been able to make it as romantic leading man” says the source. “It’s crushing and an ego-blow.” Well, at least he and his ex won’t have any awkward run-ins on the red carpet! ★