Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, two of a generation’s most decorated filmmakers, have appeared in an inexplicable number of Kevin Smith films. Both have acted in Chasing Amy, Dogma, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Jersey Girl and Jay and Silent Bob Reboot — none of which are likely to show up in their Oscar retrospectives. (You can add Mallrats and Clerks III to Affleck’s IMDb.) Why do they keep popping up in Smith’s comedies — including possible roles in his could-be-maybe-it’s-happening Dogma 2?

It’s all thanks to the advice Smith gave the duo when they wrote their Oscar-winning screenplay, Good Will Hunting. Affleck and Damon took Smith’s advice and improved their script — then completely forgot to thank him when they accepted their Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. “I have been able to hold that over both their heads for 25 fucking years, which is why they...