Animals is an upcoming American crime thriller film directed by Ben Affleck and written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray. It stars Affleck, Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, Matt Gerald, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun.
Contents
Premise
When the son of Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball is kidnapped, he and his wife have a few hours to come up with the ransom payment. With most of their money spent on his political campaign, they have to get their hands dirty and expose a side of their lives they never intended to see the light of day.
Cast
Ben Affleck as Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate
Gillian Anderson
Kerry Washington
Steven Yeun
Luis Gerardo Méndez
Adriana Paz
Ray Fisher
Matt Gerald
Mark Kassen
Christopher Woodley as Kimball's kidnapped son
Production
The film was announced in January 2024, with Ben Affleck directing, with original screenplay were co-written by Affleck, Billy Ray and Matt Damon starring. In February, Jennifer Garner was in talks to join the film. Filming was scheduled to begin in March 2024 in Los Angeles. In February 2025, Damon was no longer part of the cast, due to his commitment to The Odyssey, with Affleck himself taking on the lead role, and Gillian Anderson joining the cast. Kerry Washington (replacing Garner), Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Adriana Paz also joined the cast in February. In March, Ray Fisher, Mark Kassen, and Christopher Woodley joined the cast.
Filming
Principal photography began on March 7, 2025 in Los Angeles.
Release
Animals is scheduled to be released on Netflix and in select theaters on October 9, 2026.
