Ben Affleck has released the trailer for his latest directorial effort titled “Animals”, a highly anticipated action-crime thriller film. Netflix, which is handling streaming responsibilities, has set a premiere date of October 9, 2026, and slated a same-day release in select big-screen theatres.
Netflix released an intriguing dialogue-free teaser trailer that relies entirely on eerie, suspenseful music and a buzzing telephone to build intense anxiety, with some images recalling Affleck’s heist thriller “The Town”.
Affleck directed, co-wrote, and stars in the political thriller alongside Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, and Steven Yeun. Interestingly, Matt Damon, Affleck’s best friend and frequent collaborator, was initially supposed to play Affleck’s role, with the latter only attached as director. However, Damon had to drop out since the schedule of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” was approaching. Damon remains attached to the project as a producer under their Artists Equity banner.
As for the lead protagonist, now played by Affleck, the character is Mark Kimball, a high-profile Los Angeles mayoral candidate. His carefully managed political campaign and life are shattered when his young son is kidnapped. Mark and his wife Abigail (Kerry Washington) are drawn into a dark web of deception as they desperately scramble to raise the ransom. Because they spent most of their cash funding his political campaign, the couple is forced to make extreme moral choices and get their hands dirty to get their son back safely.
Affleck directed the film from a screenplay by Connor O. McIntyre and revised by Billy Ray. The cinematography was handled by Oscar-winner Robert Elswit (“There Will Be Blood”, “Ripley”).
“Animals” marks a reunion between Netflix and Affleck-Damon’s Artist Equity after the success of “The Rip”. Following the blowout performance of The Rip—which garnered 4.4 billion viewing minutes—Netflix locked in a multi-year first-look production and distribution pact with Artists Equity.
