Ben Affleck's 'Armageddon' Nightmare: Bruce Willis and a Bout of Food Poisoning

You know, for all the glitz and glamour we associate with Hollywood blockbusters, sometimes the reality on set is far less pristine – and often, far more human. Ben Affleck, ever the candid storyteller, recently pulled back the curtain on one such intensely human (and rather disgusting) moment from his time filming Michael Bay’s epic disaster movie, Armageddon. It turns out, even action heroes aren't immune to a nasty bout of food poisoning.

Affleck recounted this unforgettable saga on the SmartLess podcast, painting a vivid picture of himself battling severe food poisoning during an early scene. We’re talking full-blown, stomach-churning illness, making an already demanding film shoot infinitely more challenging. Imagine trying to deliver dramatic lines, all while your body is staging an internal revolt. It sounds absolutely miserable, doesn't it?

But here’s where the story takes a hilariously unexpected turn, because in walks none other than his co-star, the legendary Bruce Willis. Now, you might expect a word of comfort, perhaps a sympathetic pat on the back. Instead, Willis, with his signature dry wit and directness, offered some truly... unique advice. As Affleck recalls, Willis, ever the pragmatist, was less concerned with coddling and more with logistics and, well, performance.

Willis, seeing Affleck in distress, reportedly told him to “do it outside” – the “it” being, of course, the projectile vomiting – and, crucially, “not on the expensive prop.” It’s classic Willis, isn’t it? Practical, a little gruff, and surprisingly funny in the most inappropriate situations. He even went as far as to offer acting tips on how to convincingly vomit on screen. Because, apparently, there’s an art to everything in Hollywood, even simulated gastric distress.

This anecdote fits perfectly into Affleck’s ongoing, often self-deprecating, reflection on his early career, particularly his work on those massive Michael Bay productions. He’s previously opened up about Bay's intense, high-energy directorial style, famously recalling how Bay told him to get “more in shape” for Pearl Harbor. It really highlights the high-stakes, high-pressure environment of those big-budget films, where even illness can't entirely halt production, and your co-stars might just offer you some unorthodox advice.

So, the next time you're watching Armageddon, perhaps keep an eye out for those early scenes. Just imagine Affleck, green around the gills, trying to hit his marks while battling food poisoning and receiving a masterclass in screen-vomiting from Bruce Willis. It's a testament to the sheer dedication (and sometimes, pure absurdity) of making movie magic.