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Ben Affleck's 'Animals': Ex-Wife, Best Friend Roles Shifted
15 Sep
Summary
- Ben Affleck stepped in to star in 'Animals' after production delays.
- Matt Damon and Jennifer Garner were originally cast in key roles.
- The film explores marital dynamics and secrets under pressure.
Ben Affleck's new film, 'Animals,' is set to premiere on Netflix and in select theaters on October 9th. Affleck not only directs but also stars as Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose campaign is jeopardized by his son's kidnapping.
The film explores the intense dynamics of a marriage under duress. Affleck's initial vision for the cast included his best friend Matt Damon as Mark and his ex-wife Jennifer Garner as Abigail, Mark's wife. However, production delays and scheduling conflicts led to changes.
Spike Lee and Denzel Washington's film about kidnappings caused Affleck to halt production. When he resumed, Damon was unavailable due to filming 'The Odyssey,' prompting Affleck to take the lead role. Affleck and Garner also decided against her starring role to avoid audience preconceptions.
'Animals' co-stars Kerry Washington as Abigail, alongside Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Ray Fisher, and Steven Yeun. The narrative follows the mayoral candidate and his wife as they navigate a deceptive plot to raise ransom money, revealing secrets that could shatter their world.
