Ben Affleck used AI to make his new Netflix thriller and won’t say which parts
Ben Affleck says AI was used on his Netflix thriller Animals — but, like a magician, he won’t reveal where.
Here we go then: Ben Affleck has a new film lined up for Netflix this autumn, and if you thought the AI debate in Hollywood couldn't get more complicated, strap in. His latest thriller, Animals, hasn't just toyed with machine learning on the edges – he's gone right ahead and put it in the filmmaking process itself.
AI behind the camera
Affleck didn't exactly shout from the rooftops about AI's role during production – in fact, he sounds almost sheepish about it. During a recent chat with Bloomberg's Lucas Shaw, he admitted the tech was everywhere on Animals but kept the specifics close to his chest, mostly because, in his words, explaining movie tricks is a bit like a magician spoiling his own show in the first five minutes. Here's how he explained his reluctance to name exactly what AI touched on set:
In my business, we’re trying to foster the illusion of reality, right? It’s sort of like if you went to a magic show and the magician walked out and said, ‘Just before I start, I want you to know there’s another bunny under here.’ You know, it’s sort of ruined, right? But yes, we did use it, and in fact, I thought it was a good example (of how to use AI ethically) because it’s a very human movie.
For context, Affleck has been poking around with machine-learning in cinema for a while. Back in 2022, he set up InterPositive, a company focused on AI tools aimed squarely at filmmakers. And he didn't just develop them for his own use – he flogged the entire company to Netflix in 2026 for a staggering nearly $600 million. Now, Netflix is opening up InterPositive’s tech to anyone making content for them, so expect plenty of AI in future Netflix Originals, not just Affleck’s projects.
Affleck sold his AI company InterPositive to Netflix for nearly $600 million in 2026.
A thriller with a cast, not just code
Despite all the technological wizardry, Animals isn’t some soulless, deepfake-heavy sci-fi; it’s got a cast of bona fide human beings. Affleck himself takes the lead, with Kerry Washington starring opposite. The film’s line-up also boasts Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Christopher Woodley, Matt Gerald, Jacob Estrada, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun.
- Ben Affleck (lead)
- Kerry Washington (lead)
- Gillian Anderson
- Adriana Paz
- Ray Fisher
- Christopher Woodley
- Matt Gerald
- Jacob Estrada
- Luis Gerardo Méndez
- Steven Yeun
The plot doesn't scream tech, either. It's about a Los Angeles mayoral hopeful and his wife whose son is kidnapped, thrusting them into a desperate scramble to raise ransom money, all while making choices that could completely upend their lives. Not exactly AI taking over humanity – unless Affleck slipped something wild past us with his mysterious machine learning flourishes.
Animals is set for a limited cinema release before hitting Netflix for streaming worldwide on 9 October 2026.
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