Ben Affleck says he used AI on Animals but rejects prompt-made films

Ben Affleck says he used AI “for lots of things” to make his new Netflix thriller Animals.

He does not think AI will ever let a filmmaker type in a prompt and produce a film that audiences want to see. He made the remarks on Wednesday at Bloomberg’s 2026 Screentime event, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

That is a blunt split. Use the tools. Doubt the shortcut.

Animals is a kidnapping crime drama starring Affleck, described by Netflix. Affleck also directs the feature. It premieres on Netflix on Oct. 9, The Hollywood Reporter reported on 1 October.

The story centres on parents trying to rescue their kidnapped son. Affleck stars opposite Kerry Washington as the parents, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The wider cast includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun and Kerry Washington. Yeun and Washington joined after earlier casting changes, with Washington playing the mother at the centre of the search.

Netflix plans a brief cinema run first. Animals will play in select theatres and on Netflix in October, according to Netflix.

The production has a longer history. Affleck replaced Matt Damon as the star of the project, The Playlist reported in February 2025. The Hollywood Reporter reported that month that the project had earlier fallen apart over script issues that were later resolved.

For fans, this means two dates to hold. The Screentime comments set out how Affleck talks about AI as a production tool, not a replacement for directing and acting. The release gives a quick test of that approach, with a theatrical outing followed by streaming from 9 October.