ENTERTAINMENT

Ben Affleck Used AI “For Lots of Things” in His New Netflix Movie ‘Animals’

PUBLISHED Oct 1, 2026, 10:37 AM ET

Read, Watch or Listen

Ben Affleck Used AI “For Lots of Things” in His New Netflix Movie ‘Animals’

Media Bias Meter

Sources: 7

Center 100%

Sources: 7

Filmmaker and actor Ben Affleck confirmed that generative artificial intelligence was used extensively during the production of his upcoming Netflix crime thriller, Animals. Speaking at a Bloomberg event, Affleck declined to identify specific scenes or tools, comparing detailed technical disclosures to a magician explaining a trick before performing it and ruining audience immersion. He framed the production process as a prime example of ethical AI usage, defining the technology as an advanced visual effects and post-production assistant rather than a prompt-based replacement for human storytellers. The remarks follow Netflix's acquisition of InterPositive, an AI production technology firm co-founded by Affleck, in a deal valued between $587 million and $600 million. Industry analysts view the film as a high-profile test case for integrating proprietary computational tools into mainstream studio workflows.

By Noormahi M. | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

On November 1 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA conclude generative AI contract negotiations.
On March 1 2024 Netflix announces production deal for crime thriller film Animals
On July 19 2026 Netflix completes acquisition of Affleck AI startup InterPositive
On October 1 2026 Bloomberg releases interview with Ben Affleck regarding AI usage
On October 9 2026 Netflix releases crime thriller Animals on its streaming platform
Expectations include guild monitoring of AI post-production tools through 2027.

News Intelligence

Immediate US impact: Demonstrates expanding adoption of computational tools in major Hollywood film production.
Possible long-term US impact: Establishes post-production workflow precedents for upcoming union contract negotiations.
Most affected groups: Film directors, visual effects crews, actors, and streaming production executives.
Reader priority: Distinguish between AI-assisted editing tools and generative prompt-to-video tools.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 7
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 7
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Explain Framing

Left: Evidence was insufficient. Center: Focuses on director statements, technical context, and industry technology acquisition. Right: Evidence was insufficient.