The first teaser of the thriller "Animals" with Ben Affleck has been released.

Netflix has unveiled the first teaser of the crime thriller "Animals," directed by Ben Affleck. The director also played the role of a candidate for mayor of Los Angeles, forced to look for money to ransom his kidnapped son. The film will be released on October 9th. This was announced on August 12 on the official website of Netflix Tudum.

What is the movie "Animals" about

The main character of the film was Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, played by Affleck. His carefully constructed political and family life begins to crumble after a mysterious phone call.

Unknown people kidnap Mark's son and demand a ransom. The politician and his wife Abigail have to raise the necessary amount in a short time. However, most of their funds have already been invested in the election campaign.

In search of money, the couple find themselves embroiled in a chain of deception and are forced to make decisions that could destroy their reputation and family. It follows from the official synopsis that the abduction will gradually reveal the circumstances that the Kimballs tried to conceal.

The teaser is almost devoid of dialogue and does not explain who is behind the crime. The video shows an armed man in a mask, handcuffs, a ransom demand and the family's attempts to cope with what is happening. Some footage suggests that the investigation will affect Kimball's political entourage, but Netflix has not yet revealed the main intrigue.

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Who played Kerry Washington and Gillian Anderson

The role of Abigail Kimball was played by Kerry Washington, known for the TV series "Scandal" and the films "Django Unchained" and "Six Triple Eights".

The cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeung, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Mendes, Ray Fisher, Mark Cassen and Christopher Woodley. Netflix has not yet revealed the names of most of their characters or their connection to the abduction.

In the teaser, Anderson appears as a woman involved in crisis resolution. However, her role has not been officially named, so it is premature to claim that she is playing a police officer or a negotiation specialist.

Christopher Woodley played the role of the Kimballs' abducted son. Stephen Yong, judging by the presented footage, is associated with the political campaign of Affleck's hero, but the details of his storyline are also kept secret.

How Ben Affleck replaced Matt Damon

The project was announced in January 2024. Initially, it was assumed that Affleck would limit himself to the director's work, and the main role would be played by his longtime friend and business partner Matt Damon.

Later, production had to be postponed, and Damon left the cast due to scheduling discrepancies. According to Variety, he was engaged in Christopher Nolan's "Odyssey." In February 2025, it became known that the role of the politician would be transferred to Affleck himself.

Despite the refusal to shoot, Damon remained one of the producers of the film. The painting was created with the participation of Artists Equity, a company founded by Affleck, Damon and the head of the investment company RedBird Capital, Jerry Cardinale.

The producers are also Dani Bernfeld, Brad Weston and Colleen Creighton. Filming took place in and around Los Angeles. The creators emphasized that the city should become not just a backdrop, but a full-fledged part of the story about power, reputation and the hidden side of political life.

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Who wrote the script for "Animals"

The original script was prepared by Connor McIntyre, after which the text was reworked by Billy Ray, known for the films "Captain Phillips", "Richard Jewell" and "The Richard Jewell Case". Affleck was also involved in writing the final version.

The plot combines a family drama, a crime thriller and a political story. The very name "Animals" is not explained in the video. It can apply to both kidnappers and heroes who are forced to abandon their usual moral constraints.

What films did Ben Affleck make?

"Animals" was Affleck's first directorial effort since the sports drama "Air: The Big Jump," released in 2023. It described Nike's collaboration with aspiring basketball player Michael Jordan. The main role in the film was played by Damon.

Affleck's directorial debut was the 2007 crime thriller Goodbye Baby Goodbye. Then he shot the films "City of Thieves", "Operation Argo" and "Law of the Night".

"Operation Argo" won the Academy Award for Best Film. Affleck directed, produced and starred in the film. The new "Animals" brings him back to the genre of intense crime thriller, which brought him major directorial successes.

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