Spider

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck both played a part in the making of the movie musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, and the exes were both on hand Monday night (Oct. 6) for the film’s New York red-carpet screening, reuniting publicly for the first time since their divorce was final in January.

Lopez stars as Ingrid Luna/Aurora/The Spider Woman, while Affleck and Matt Damon’s Artists Equity production company is one of the producers behind the film, which is an adaptation of the 1976 novel of the same name by Argentine author Manuel Puig that also inspired a 1985 movie and a 1993 Broadway musical.

In an interview with Extra on the red carpet, Affleck explained why Artists Equity was eager to help make the film and why Lopez was “born to play” the title role.

“She’s amazing in the movie,” he said. “I just can’t wait for you, the audience, to see the movie. I’m as proud of this movie as any that I’ve ever been involved with. I’m really excited to be here tonight.”

He also praised his ex-wife’s work ethic, saying: “Early on in Jennifer’s involvement in this… she just was going to give it her all and she did. She worked enormously hard. You get to see all of her many gifts. She’s somebody that grew up watching classic musicals.”

When asked about the Oscar buzz surrounding the project since its Sundance Film Festival premiere in January, Affleck wasn’t letting awards season determine whether this movie is a success. “I like to try to develop my own standard for what I really like and think is great, and as such, I’m enormously proud of the movie. I always will be. I love this movie.”

Watch Affleck’s interview below. Kiss of the Spider Woman, also starring Diego Luna and Tonatiuh and directed by movie musical vet Bill Condon (Chicago, Dreamgirls), arrives in theaters on Friday.