Ben Affleck Reveals AI Played a Big Role in Netflix’s ‘Animals’, but He Won’t Say Where

Ben Affleck is just days away from unveiling his latest directing effort, the Netflix political thriller ‘Animals’, and the conversation around the film has taken an unexpected turn. Instead of focusing only on the kidnapping drama at its center, much of the buzz now revolves around the technology used to make it.

The film marks Affleck’s first time behind the camera since 2023’s ‘Air’, and he pulls triple duty as director, co-writer and star. He plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose picture-perfect life falls apart when his son Denny, played by Christopher Woodley, is kidnapped, while Kerry Washington co-stars as his wife Abigail.

Now Affleck has confirmed that artificial intelligence was part of the process. Speaking with Bloomberg’s Lucas Shaw at the 2026 Screentime event on Wednesday, the filmmaker revealed that he used AI for a lot of different things while making ‘Animals’.

Don’t expect a breakdown of which scenes were touched by the technology, though. Affleck said he was hesitant to point out where AI was used, explaining that filmmakers are trying to maintain the illusion of reality for audiences.

He compared it to a magician walking out before a show and telling the crowd there’s a second bunny hidden in the hat, which would ruin the trick entirely. Still, he confirmed the technology was used and argued that ‘Animals’ is a good example of using AI ethically precisely because it’s such a human story.

Affleck’s comments carry extra weight given his ties to the technology. He quietly founded the AI company InterPositive in 2022 and served as its CEO before Netflix bought it for $587 million, after which he took on a senior advisor role.

Netflix plans to give filmmakers and creative partners access to InterPositive’s tools on upcoming productions. Affleck has previously described AI as a post-production tool that can improve the technical and visual effects side of filmmaking, as well as some creative elements.

Ben Affleck made news this week when he spoke about using AI on his new movie ‘Animals,’ and now he’s going deeper on his approach to use the technology in a responsible way.

Affleck spoke to THR at the film’s premiere: “I wouldn’t use something that trains on or has learned… pic.twitter.com/eaWzVGCFqc

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 2, 2026

At the same event, Affleck argued that once filmmakers spend time with these tools and feel in control, much of the fear fades. He described AI as another form of computing in keeping with the film industry’s long history of technological change, and said he doesn’t believe anyone will ever simply type in a prompt and create a movie audiences want to see.

The reaction has been mixed. The A.V. Club poked fun at the reveal, noting that it’s hardly surprising Affleck would praise his own ethical AI use after Netflix acquired his startup, while some commenters on Deadline said the disclosure was enough to make them skip the film altogether.

That skepticism could follow ‘Animals’ into its release week. For a movie built on tense family drama and raw performances, Affleck is betting that audiences will care more about the story than the tools behind it.

The project has an interesting history of its own. Affleck told Entertainment Weekly that he was just 2 weeks away from shooting an earlier version starring Matt Damon opposite Jennifer Garner when he learned Spike Lee and Denzel Washington were making ‘Highest 2 Lowest’, another kidnapping thriller with similar elements.

New trailer for ‘ANIMALS’, directed by & starring Ben Affleck.

The film follows a mayoral candidate who must steal money to pay a ransom after his son is kidnapped.

Releasing October 9 on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/bWPQvlZJTd

— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) September 15, 2026

He shut that production down but couldn’t let go of the material. The revived version, co-written with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray and produced by Damon, features a cast that includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez and Ray Fisher.

According to Netflix, the story follows the couple as they scramble to raise a ransom while making choices that could tear their world apart. ‘Animals’ arrives in select theaters and on Netflix on October 9, giving viewers their first chance to judge whether they can spot the magician’s hidden tricks.

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