Affleck is also set to direct the film, which Damon departed due to shooting conflicts with Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Billy Ray (Captain Phillips, Richard Jewell) will co-write the screenplay with Connor McIntyre.

Damon will stay on as a producer on Animals through his Artists Equity banner, alongside Affleck. The latter not only directs the film but stars in it as well. To fill the void left by Damon, Affleck has reportedly added Emmy-winning Sex Education actor Gillian Anderson to the cast.

Ben Affleck is set to star in the next directorial project from — Ben Affleck. The Argo filmmaker-star will now play the lead role in Animals, the Netflix thriller he was already set to direct, Entertainment Weekly has learned.

Ben Affleck is set to star in his upcoming Netflix thriller "Animals," which he's also directing. His longtime friend Matt Damon was originally slated to lead the film but had to depart due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic "The Odyssey.

Matt Damon and Ben Affleck recently teamed up with writer and director ( Smokin’ Aces, The Grey ) for a action crime thriller film for Netlfix titled RIP . During a recent Netflix event, Affleck showed up share the first trailer with audiences,

Affleck maintained his directorial hot streak with 2010's The Town, which earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination for Jeremy Renner. His third film as a director, Argo, won Best Picture at the 2013 Academy Awards. His latest directorial outings include 2016's Live By Night and 2023's Air, the latter of which starred Damon.

As founding exec Michael Joe steps back, the production banner bolsters its leadership with the hiring of former Paramount veteran Andrew Gumpert while promoting Dillon West.

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