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Ben Affleck said he used artificial intelligence “for lots of things” while making Animals, his upcoming film for Netflix. He said the technology helped the production move faster in some areas, mostly during post-production, but did not specify which tasks involved AI.
Ben Affleck said artificial intelligence was used “for lots of things” in making Animals, his upcoming Netflix film, and that it helped the production move faster in some cases, mostly during post-production. Speaking at a Bloomberg Screentime Q&A, Affleck declined to identify the specific uses, saying that explaining the techniques could disrupt the film’s illusion of reality.
Affleck co-wrote, directed and stars in Animals, which is scheduled to premiere Oct. 9 in select theaters and on Netflix. He described it as a human-scale film rather than a space or effects-driven production, and said AI still had practical uses on the project. His remarks indicate the technology was applied within the filmmaking process, but do not establish that it generated any particular scene, performance or finished image.
“I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie,” Affleck said at the Q&A. He added that he was “a little bit hesitant” to point out what those uses were or discuss them in detail. Affleck compared the potential disclosure to a magician revealing hidden mechanics before a show, arguing that such explanations could weaken the audience’s experience of what appears on screen.
Affleck said the film’s production used AI to move more quickly in some cases, “really mostly in post-production,” and to do things that otherwise might not have been possible for the team. He did not name the tools, describe the tasks, or quantify any savings in time or cost. The film was co-written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray.
Ben Affleck on using AI for “lots of things” in Animals
The filmmaker says AI helped the Netflix production move faster in some areas, mostly during post-production. He has not specified which tasks involved the technology.
“I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie.”Ben Affleck · Bloomberg Screentime Q&A
AI as a behind-the-scenes production tool
Affleck described practical uses in a human-scale film, without saying that AI generated a scene, performance, or finished image.
Used in several ways
Affleck said AI was used “for lots of things” while making Animals, but did not identify the applications.
Mostly post-production
He said the technology helped the team move more quickly in some cases, “really mostly in post-production.”
No task-level detail
He did not name tools, quantify time or cost savings, or describe what work might otherwise have been impossible.
Preserving the film’s “illusion of reality”
Affleck framed his hesitation as a concern about how technical explanations might change the audience’s experience.
A magician’s hidden mechanics
At a Bloomberg Screentime Q&A, Affleck said he was “a little bit hesitant” to point out the uses or discuss them in detail. He compared disclosure to a magician revealing how a trick works before the show.
His remarks capture a tension between production efficiency and transparency. Without specifics, they establish reported use, but do not provide a full account of how the film was made.
What the comments establish
The bars represent the level of detail in the reported remarks, not measured production data.
A broad account, with key details still open
Affleck’s comments do not reveal the technology’s exact role or the extent of its contribution.
Which systems were used?
What work involved AI?
How much time or cost was saved?
How were collaborators involved?
From production to release
Reported timeline & contextInterPositive
Affleck founded the AI company in 2022.
Netflix acquisition
Reported purchase price: $587 million; Affleck became a senior adviser.
Animals
Affleck co-wrote, directed, and stars in the human drama.
October 9
Planned premiere in select theaters and on Netflix.
A kidnapping story on a human scale
Affleck has described Animals as a human-focused film rather than a space or effects-driven production.
A race against the clock
Affleck plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. Mark and his wife Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, have only a few hours to find ransom money. The release date and distribution are reported; further details about AI’s role remain pending.
Key questions
What did Affleck say?
AI was used “for lots of things” and helped the team move faster in some cases, mostly during post-production.
Which parts used AI?
He did not identify the tasks or tools, and his remarks do not clarify whether AI generated any finished content.
When can audiences watch?
Animals is scheduled to premiere October 9 in select theaters and on Netflix.
AI Enters a Human-Scale Film
Affleck’s account puts AI use in a conventional, human-focused film rather than a project defined by elaborate visual effects. That makes his comments relevant to ongoing discussion about how the technology may be used behind the scenes across different kinds of productions, including in post-production, where filmmakers finish and refine a film.
His description also points to a tension between practical production benefits and disclosure. Affleck said the tools helped the team move faster, but chose not to specify how they were used because he believed doing so could affect the audience’s perception of the finished movie. Without details about the tasks or the extent of AI’s contribution, the remarks offer an example of reported use, not a full account of how the film was made.
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From InterPositive to Animals
The comments come after Netflix acquired InterPositive, the AI firm Affleck founded in 2022, earlier this year. The reported purchase price was $587 million. Affleck served as the company’s CEO before the acquisition and took on a senior adviser role afterward.
Animals is his latest Netflix film. Affleck plays Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. The story follows Mark and his wife, Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, as they have a few hours to find ransom money. The film’s premise and Affleck’s description of it as a human drama help explain why he presented its AI use as a production tool rather than as a conspicuous visual-effects feature.
““I used [AI] for lots of things in that movie.””
— Ben Affleck, at a Bloomberg Screentime Q&A
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Specific AI Uses Remain Unspecified
Affleck has not said which parts of Animals involved AI, what systems or tools were used, or how much of the finished film was affected. His comments do not clarify whether the technology was used for editing, image work, planning or another post-production task. No time or cost figures were provided, and it is not clear what work the team would otherwise have been unable to complete.
The remarks also do not spell out how Netflix or the film’s other collaborators were involved in decisions about AI use. Until more details are shared, the confirmed information is limited to Affleck’s broad statement that the film used AI in multiple ways and that it helped speed some work, mostly during post-production.
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Animals Arrives October 9
The next public milestone is the film’s planned Oct. 9 premiere in select theaters and on Netflix. Viewers and industry observers may get further details about the production as Affleck or Netflix discusses the film, but no additional disclosure about its AI use was included in his remarks. The release date and planned distribution are reported; further information about the technology’s role remains pending.
Source: Deadline
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Key Questions
What did Ben Affleck say about AI in Animals?
Affleck said he used AI “for lots of things” in the film and that it helped the team move faster in some cases, mostly during post-production.
What specific work in the film used AI?
Affleck did not identify the specific tasks or tools. He said he was hesitant to explain the uses because he wanted to preserve the film’s illusion of reality.
When and where will Animals be released?
Animals is scheduled to premiere Oct. 9 in select theaters and on Netflix.
What is Animals about?
Affleck plays Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, whose son is kidnapped. Mark and his wife Abigail, played by Kerry Washington, have a few hours to come up with ransom money.
What is Affleck’s connection to Netflix’s AI business?
Netflix acquired InterPositive, the AI firm Affleck founded in 2022, for a reported $587 million earlier this year. Affleck moved from CEO to a senior adviser role after the acquisition.
Source: Deadline
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