Ben Affleck to Direct and Star in Netflix’s ‘Animals’ with Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, and Gillian Anderson

The crime thriller follows a mayoral candidate and his wife as they navigate the perilous underworld to rescue their kidnapped son.

Ben Affleck is set to direct and lead the cast of “Animals,” an upcoming kidnapping thriller for Netflix. Joining him are Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, and Gillian Anderson.

The narrative centers on a mayoral candidate, portrayed by Affleck, whose son is abducted. Facing numerous adversaries in both political and criminal spheres, he and his wife, played by Washington, must delve into dangerous territories to secure their child’s return. Anderson takes on the role of a fixer, while Yeun portrays the campaign manager.

The screenplay is crafted by Connor McIntyre, with revisions by Billy Ray. Production is slated to commence in April in Los Angeles, emphasizing the city’s significance as a filmmaking hub and supporting local employment.

Affleck and Matt Damon will produce the film through their company, Artists Equity, alongside Dani Bernfeld. Brad Weston and Collin Creighton of MakeReady, as well as Fifth Season, are also on board as producers.

Both Washington and Yeun have strong ties with Netflix. Washington recently starred in Tyler Perry’s “The Six Triple Eight,” a World War II drama that garnered significant viewership, and is set to appear in the third installment of Rian Johnson’s mystery series, “Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.” Yeun is reuniting with Affleck and Damon in “RIP,” an upcoming crime thriller directed by Joe Carnahan, and previously earned an Emmy for his role in the black comedy series “Beef.”

“Animals” marks another collaboration between Affleck and Damon, who have a history of successful joint projects, including the Academy Award-winning “Good Will Hunting.”