February 6, 2025: Ben Affleck is set to make an intense return to the director’s chair with his upcoming thriller Animals, a gripping kidnapping tale slated to release on Netflix. Not only is Affleck taking on directorial duties, but he will also star in the lead role, bringing his signature intensity to the project.
The film, which will be shot in Los Angeles, is set to feature a stellar cast, with The X-Files star Gillian Anderson joining Affleck on screen. While the specifics of the plot are being kept under wraps, it is confirmed that Animals revolves around a high-stakes kidnapping scenario.
The screenplay has been penned by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray, known for their work on suspenseful and thrilling narratives, promising a rollercoaster ride of tension and suspense.
Animals is being produced through Affleck’s production company, Artists Equity, which he co-founded with close collaborator Matt Damon and Gerry Cardinale from RedBird Capital Partners. Alongside Affleck, Damon and Dani Bernfeld are on board as producers, with additional production support coming from Brad Weston and Collin Creighton of Makeready. The project is developed in partnership with Fifth Season.
Interestingly, Animals wasn’t originally intended to be a film with Affleck in the starring role. Initially, Matt Damon was slated for the part, and Affleck had planned to direct without appearing on screen. However, complications over rights issues and delays in production led Affleck to shift his focus to another project, the The Accountant sequel. This, in turn, pushed Animals to the backburner for a time.
After collaborating with Damon on another Netflix crime thriller, RIP, set for release later this year, Affleck found a renewed opportunity to bring Animals back into the spotlight. With Damon busy filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Affleck decided to step into the starring role himself, marking a major shift in the film’s direction.
With a strong creative team and an intriguing premise, Animals is shaping up to be a must-watch thriller for fans of Affleck’s directorial style and suspenseful storytelling.