Ben Affleck has opened up about the unusual casting journey behind his upcoming Netflix thriller Animals, including why his former wife Jennifer Garner ultimately did not appear in the film.
Affleck initially hoped to work with Garner on the project. However, changes to the production eventually altered the movie’s central casting.
The filmmaker later took over the lead role after Matt Damon became unavailable. Garner then decided against playing Affleck’s onscreen wife.
Affleck discussed the decision in a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, offering insight into how their personal history influenced the casting conversation.
Why Ben Affleck wanted Jennifer Garner in Animals
When Animals was first developed, Affleck was attached to direct while Matt Damon was expected to play the lead character.
Garner was also considered for a major role in the movie. Affleck said he believed she would be particularly strong for the part.
There was also a practical reason for the potential reunion. Affleck and Garner share three children, and working on the same production could have made coordinating their schedules easier.
However, the project did not move forward according to its original plan. Production changes affected the cast, and Damon eventually became unavailable because of his commitment to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Matt Damon’s departure changed the movie.
Damon’s exit created a major change for Affleck’s film.
Rather than finding another actor for the lead, Affleck stepped into the role himself. That decision also changed the situation surrounding Garner’s potential appearance.
According to Affleck’s comments reported by Entertainment Weekly, he and Garner discussed the possibility of appearing opposite each other. Ultimately, the two decided that their history could affect how audiences viewed the characters.
Garner therefore did not join the final cast. Kerry Washington eventually became part of the movie’s principal lineup.
Kerry Washington joined Ben Affleck in Animals.
With the casting reshaped, Kerry Washington became one of the film’s leading stars alongside Affleck.
Netflix describes Animals as a thriller about a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife whose lives are thrown into chaos after their son is kidnapped. The couple must find the ransom while confronting secrets that could put their relationship under further pressure.
The movie also features Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Adriana Paz and Ray Fisher, among others.
The story places significant emphasis on marriage, trust and the choices people make during a crisis. That gives the relationship between the central characters an important role in the thriller’s larger story.
Ben Affleck still wants to work with Jennifer Garner
Despite the casting decision, Affleck made it clear that he continues to have strong respect for Garner.
The former couple were married for 10 years and share three children. They previously appeared together in the 2003 superhero movie Daredevil.
Affleck has also spoken publicly about maintaining a positive relationship with Garner as they continue raising their children.
His latest comments suggest that the decision not to work together on Animals was about the specific circumstances of the project rather than a broader professional disagreement.
When do animals come out?
Animals is scheduled to arrive on Netflix on October 9, 2026, with a limited theatrical release on the same date. Netflix lists Affleck, Washington and Anderson among the film’s principal stars.
Affleck directed and co-wrote the thriller. The film is being released through Netflix, with production involving Artists Equity and Fifth Season.
The movie’s upcoming release means the unusual story behind its casting has added another layer of interest before audiences see the finished film.
What Animals is about
In Animals, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate and his wife face a devastating crisis when their son is kidnapped.
The couple must find a way to raise the ransom. At the same time, the emergency begins exposing secrets within their lives.
Netflix describes the movie as a dark thriller focused on family, deception and difficult choices.
With Affleck both directing and starring, the film also marks another major directing project for the actor, who previously won the Best Picture Oscar as a producer of Argo. Netflix’s Tudum notes his broader work as a director and producer throughout his Hollywood career.