Jennifer Garner has revealed that her decades-long friendship with co-star Timothy Olyphant made portraying on-screen romance in their new series The Five Star Weekend feel entirely natural. The actress, who plays Hollis, a celebrity chef at the heart of the story, said the pre-existing bond between her and Olyphant eliminated the usual awkwardness of building chemistry from scratch.

A Friendship Rooted in the '90s

'He and I first worked together on an indie in New York City in the '90s,' Garner said ahead of the show's premiere. Their most widely seen collaboration prior to The Five Star Weekend is the 2006 romantic comedy Catch and Release, which Garner noted has recently found a new wave of admirers. 'It has this whole life that I didn't know it had, which has been very gratifying to learn,' she said.

On returning to work with Olyphant, Garner said the 'trust and history' they share made things easy from day one. 'How fun to go in and just hit the ground running, knowing each other like we do,' she added. She also noted her closeness with his family: 'I love his wife. I've known her forever.'

How the Casting Came Together

Garner, who serves as an executive producer on the series, was directly responsible for bringing Olyphant on board. The show is an adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand's 2023 novel of the same name.

Showrunner Bekah Brunstetter explained that Garner was keen to work alongside actors she already had a rapport with. 'Jen, in particular, with her two men, Matthew and Jack, was really interested in working with some lovely guys that she had worked with before, that she had a connection with, so that's how Josh and Tim came about,' Brunstetter said. She added: 'We were so lucky to get both of them.'

Garner's Role as Executive Producer

Brunstetter described collaborating with Garner on the producing side as 'really natural,' praising her warmth and accessibility on set. 'She is so accessible and so warm, and there's nothing about her that makes you feel like you can't touch her,' the showrunner said.

Beyond the romance, Garner said she was drawn to the project for multiple reasons — chief among them the opportunity to be 'part of an ensemble of female actresses who all had beginnings, middles, and ends to complex storylines.' The show weaves together themes of grief, motherhood, fame, and romance, with the characters' friendships — referred to throughout the series as Hollis's 'stars' — carrying histories described as 'complicated and misunderstood.'

What Garner Hopes Comes Next

Garner is already vocal about wanting a second season. 'My biggest hope and wish is that we get to do a second season of this show so that we can go in knowing each other as well as we do now,' she said, pointing to the close bonds the cast formed during production. 'We became very close very quickly.' No renewal announcement has been made as of the show's premiere.