Ben Affleck Used AI For 'Lots Of Things' In Animals — SkimNews
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- Ben Affleck disclosed at a Bloomberg Screentime Q&A that he 'did use' AI 'for lots of things' in making Animals, though he declined to specify which elements, comparing the reveal to a magician exposing his tricks.
- Animals premieres Oct. 9 in select theaters and on Netflix; Affleck co-wrote, directed, and stars in the film, which he described as 'a very human movie' — 'not in space,' with no visual effects.
- AI use was concentrated in post-production and allowed the team to move 'more quickly' on work that 'otherwise we wouldn't have been able to do,' per Affleck.
- Netflix acquired Affleck's AI firm InterPositive in March for $587 million; Affleck founded the company in 2022 and shifted to a senior advisor role after the deal.
- The film co-stars Kerry Washington as Affleck's wife Abigail and was co-written with Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray; the plot follows a Los Angeles mayoral candidate (Affleck) whose son is kidnapped, giving the couple hours to raise ransom money.
Why it matters: Affleck's AI disclosure comes seven months after Netflix paid $587 million for InterPositive, making the filmmaker both a showcase for the technology and a test case for whether AI-assisted post-production on a grounded drama — not a sci-fi spectacle — passes muster with audiences and industry skeptics.
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