Ben Affleck is ramping things up on his upcoming Netflix thriller, Animals. Not only will he direct the film, but he is also set to star in it, with insiders confirming that Gillian Anderson joins the cast as well. The production of this highly anticipated project is scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, based on a script penned by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray. While plot details remain closely guarded, it is confirmed that the storyline revolves around a kidnapping.
Affleck, alongside Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld, will produce the film through their Artists Equity banner, an artist-led studio founded by Affleck, Damon, and Gerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital Partners. Additionally, Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are producing for Makeready, which partnered with Fifth Season for the project’s development. The executive producers include Michael Joe, Kevin Halloran, and Lucy Damon from Artists Equity, as well as Fifth Season representatives.
Affleck had been eyeing this film as his next directing project last year, originally planning solely to direct while Damon was in line for the starring role. However, a delay concerning the rights pushed back production. As a result, Affleck had to divert his attention to a sequel for The Accountant, even as he continued to express interest in bringing Animals to life. Following his collaboration with Damon on another Netflix and Artists Equity crime thriller titled RIP — scheduled for release later this year — Affleck saw a golden opportunity to lead the cast in Animals.
With Damon currently engaged in filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, Affleck determined that he would take over the starring role himself, fast-tracking production and setting the stage for a stellar cast. Gillian Anderson, renowned for her Emmy-winning performances, brings her significant Netflix experience to the mix, following the successful four-season run of her critically acclaimed series, Sex Education. Affleck is represented by WME and Ziffren Brittenham, while Anderson is represented by UTA in the U.S. and Independent Talent in the UK. The excitement surrounding this collaboration is palpable, and viewers eagerly await more updates on this thrilling kidnapping adventure.
