Ben Affleck is set to take on the lead role in Animals, an upcoming Netflix thriller he was initially lined up to direct. According to Entertainment Weekly, the role was originally meant for Matt Damon, who remains attached as a producer alongside Affleck and Dani Bernfeld. However, Matt’s commitment to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey conflicted with the production schedule for Animals, prompting Ben to step in.
Gillian Anderson, renowned for her iconic role in The X-Files, will portray the female lead. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Affleck’s ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, was previously in discussions for a role in the film.
The narrative centers around a mayoral candidate and his wife, who face the harrowing challenge of their son’s kidnapping. The screenplay is being crafted by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray, whose previous works include critically acclaimed films like Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games.
In addition to Animals, Ben Affleck is also preparing to reprise his role in The Accountant 2. Fans of his longstanding partnership with Matt Damon need not be concerned about the casting switch, as the duo is still set to co-star in Netflix’s upcoming crime thriller RIP, directed by Joe Carnahan, alongside a talented cast featuring Steven Yeun, Kyle Chandler, and Teyana Taylor.
Ben and Matt have enjoyed a successful creative collaboration since they won an Academy Award for co-writing Good Will Hunting in 1998. Affleck transitioned into directing with his debut film, Gone Baby Gone, in 2007, followed by The Town in 2010, which earned Jeremy Renner an Oscar nomination.
His third directorial effort, Argo, won Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards, along with awards for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing. More recently, he directed Live by Night (2016) and Air (2023), the latter of which starred his close friend, Matt.
Gillian Anderson, meanwhile, has recently appeared in White Bird, Scoop, and The Salt Path, and her next major project will be Tron: Ares, featuring Jared Leto and other stars.