After selling his AI company to Netflix earlier this year, Ben Affleck is eager to demonstrate how the technology was utilized in his newest film project.
The two-time Oscar-winning actor recently shared that he “did use” artificial intelligence extensively while creating "Animals," a film he co-wrote, directed, and stars in, which is set to debut on October 9 in selected theaters and on Netflix.
During a Q&A session for Bloomberg Screentime, Affleck admitted, “I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie.” However, he noted his reluctance to disclose specific details, explaining that the film industry aims to maintain a sense of realism. “It’s somewhat akin to attending a magic show where the magician reveals, ‘I have a planted assistant here.’ It takes away from the experience,” he elaborated.
Affleck emphasized that while the film is deeply rooted in human emotions and does not involve outer space or extravagant visual effects, AI helped streamline certain processes, particularly in post-production, allowing for efficiencies that would not have been possible otherwise.
"Animals," co-written by Affleck alongside Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, portrays Affleck as Mark Kimball, a candidate for mayor in Los Angeles. The plot follows a harrowing scenario where his son is kidnapped, forcing Kimball and his wife Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, to scramble and find the ransom money.
This new film marks Affleck’s first project with Netflix following the streaming service's acquisition of his AI startup, InterPositive, in March for $587 million. Affleck initially launched the company in 2022 and held the CEO position before taking on a senior advisory role post-acquisition.
