Jennifer Lopez recently got candid about how she convinced ex-husband Ben Affleck to make Kiss of the Spider Woman.

The 56-year-old American singer and songwriter went to the Sunday, September 28 episode of CBS News Sunday Morning, where she revealed that with the help of her ex-husband Affleck and his production company Artists Equity, her dream project, Kiss of the Spider Woman, came into being.

Lopez, who is playing the role of Ingrid Luna in the musical drama film, said, “The movie wouldn’t have been made if it wasn’t for him and Artists Equity. That is right, and I will always give him that credit.”

Affleck, with his long-time pal and producing partner Matt Damon, was working on the forthcoming film, which is an adaptation of the 1993 Broadway musical. The On the Floor hitmaker is also serving as an executive producer on the project.

When she was asked if The Accountant star “was pushing” her to portray Luna, she responded, “No, because they financed it.”

“I told him, ‘This is a role that I was born to play,’ and I wanted to do it, and he said ‘Okay,’ and he helped make it happen,” The Boy Next Door star noted.

Other than working on Kiss of the Spider Woman, Affleck and Damon also produced her 2024 biographical sports drama film, Unstoppable, which was about Anthony Robles.

For those unaware, Lopez and the Gone Girl hero rekindled their romance in 2021 and tied the knot in 2022 but in 2024, the pop sensation filed for divorce without a lawyer, which was finalised in January 2025.

It is pertinent to mention that the Kiss of the Spider Woman will be released on October 10, 2025. 

Kate McKinnon, who starred on “Saturday Night Live” for 11 seasons and earned two Emmy Awards, is sharing details about her new book for young readers, her inspiration and the importance of comedy in today’s world.

McKinnon’s book, “Secrets of the Purple Pearl,” is part of “The Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Young Ladies of Mad Science” series. It follows the Porch sisters, who again team up with their professor, Millicent Quibb, to save the guests of the Purple Pearl Hotel from a looming threat.

“The bad guys have gone to the Purple Pearl Hotel and they’ve got to find the legendary purple pearl and rescue everybody before stuff goes down,” the bestselling author explained in an interview with “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday.

McKinnon said there’s a central theme among the characters, saying, “they are quirky girls and they are under the tutelage of Millicent Quibb, the infamous mad scientist who is also quirky – kind of a theme running through the work if you can … piece it together.”

She encourages those reading her book to embrace their quirky personality, acknowledging sometimes it feels isolating.

“I would say just you got to keep doing it,” she said. “Do not hide it because that’s what the world wants from you ultimately, even if it says don’t do it, that’s what we need to move forward is just for people to be themselves.” 

McKinnon said she finished recording the audiobook with her sister, who she said is also a comedian.

“Everything for me starts with a voice and a hairdo,” she said. “I do it out loud and then I think of what the hairdo is and then I know everything that I need to know about that character. “

She called her sister “the love of my life” and dedicated the book to her.

“She’s my best friend. She’s my everything and that’s really how the girls in the book feel about each other and what carries them through,” McKinnon said.

Comedy in today’s world

When asked about comedy and its place in the world today, the McKinnon said, “political satire is a very important part of a functioning society.”

“I also think that just goofiness and laughter are vital, not only art, but in between people. It is healthy and I think just kindness and joy and laughter are such important things and just the reason we are alive, and so that’s what I like to bring to people,” she said. 

The SNL alum said she misses her former colleagues, but added, “I miss it, but I really love to go to bed early and that’s what I have been doing more of and I really enjoy it. … I miss the people so much.”

“Secrets of the Purple Pearl” is on sale now.