Ben Affleck Joins Forces with Netflix Through AI Filmmaking Start-Up Acquisition

Netflix has acquired InterPositive, a Los Angeles-based start-up founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck that creates AI tools designed to help filmmakers in postproduction. The terms of the deal were not disclosed. As part of the acquisition, Netflix will bring all 16 InterPositive team members on board, and Affleck will act as a senior adviser to the streaming platform.

Unlike typical generative AI platforms, InterPositive does not produce films from scratch. Instead, its technology works with existing footage, allowing filmmakers to apply AI models to help with tasks like color correction, relighting, visual effects, and editorial consistency. Affleck explained in a video shared by Netflix, “It’s not about text-prompting or generating something from nothing… AI, people mostly think of it as making something from nothing: ‘I’m gonna type something into a computer and it’s gonna give me a movie.’ That’s not what this is.”

Affleck started InterPositive in 2022 after observing early AI tools in film production. He wanted technology that supports storytelling without replacing the judgment and creative decisions that only humans can provide. “We also need to preserve what makes storytelling human, which is judgment. The kind that takes decades to build, experience to hone and that only people can have,” he said.

Netflix sees InterPositive as a way to give filmmakers more creative control while protecting their vision. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief content officer, said the technology provides “more choices, more control and more protection for their vision.” Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s chief product and technology officer, added that the tools are built to serve filmmakers, not to speed up production or cut costs.

The acquisition comes shortly after Netflix exited its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery’s studios and streaming assets. Affleck’s AI tools are intended for internal use and for Netflix’s creative partners, with no plans to sell the software commercially.

Affleck described the InterPositive workflow as capturing the real-world nuances of filmmaking. “I wanted to build a workflow that captures what happens on a set, with vocabulary that matched the language cinematographers and directors already spoke,” he said. The AI is trained to handle production challenges while maintaining creative intent and consistency.

Netflix plans to integrate the InterPositive team and tools into its ecosystem, providing filmmakers access to AI that enhances rather than replaces human creativity. Affleck said he is excited to continue developing the technology within Netflix and bring it to a broader creative community.

This acquisition is a bold step by Netflix in merging technology and storytelling responsibly. It’s encouraging to see AI being used to support artists rather than replace them. I’m curious how this will change the postproduction process for films and shows. What do you think about Netflix using AI this way? Share your thoughts in the comments.