Ben Affleck is returning to the director’s chair—and taking the lead role—in “Animals,” a kidnapping thriller that Netflix will release in theaters and on its streaming service this fall.
The video streaming platform said Wednesday that the film will premiere in select theaters and globally on Oct. 9. The announcement came with the release of the first teaser for the film.
Affleck plays a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. He and his wife, played by Kerry Washington, scramble to raise the ransom as the crisis exposes a web of deception and forces the couple into increasingly difficult choices.
Affleck directs the film from a screenplay by Connor McIntyre and Billy Ray. The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Adriana Paz, and Ray Fisher.
“Animals” marks Affleck’s return to directing after “Air,” his 2023 drama about Nike’s pursuit of Michael Jordan. Affleck is also producing “Animals” with longtime friend and collaborator Matt Damon and Dani Bernfeld through Artists Equity, the production company Affleck and Damon co-founded. Brad Weston and Collin Creighton are also producing through Makeready.
The project originally was announced with Damon attached to star. Damon later departed the leading role because of a scheduling conflict while remaining a producer. Affleck stepped into the role of the troubled father opposite Anderson and Washington.
The production filmed in Los Angeles, with Netflix saying the filmmakers intended to make the city an integral part of the story while supporting the local film industry.
The film continues a busy Netflix partnership for Affleck and Damon. The pair starred together earlier this year in “The Rip,” a crime thriller that became available on the service in January.
Watch the teaser, Animal, today on YouTube.
