Director Ben Affleck revealed he originally considered his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, for a lead role in his upcoming crime thriller, 'Animals,' before opting against the pairing.

Ben Affleck, the director and star of the upcoming Netflix crime thriller 'Animals,' recently shared that he initially planned to cast his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner, as the film's female lead. While Affleck believed Garner would bring a unique performance to the role of Abigail, the project underwent significant casting and production changes that ultimately led to a different outcome. The film, which also features Affleck as a Los Angeles mayoral candidate, is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 9.

Production Delays and Casting Changes

The production of 'Animals' faced early setbacks when Affleck decided to pause the project two weeks before filming was set to begin. This decision was influenced by the emergence of a similar kidnapping thriller, 'Highest 2 Lowest,' directed by Spike Lee. When Affleck eventually revived the project months later, his original choice for the male lead, Matt Damon, was unavailable due to his commitment to another film, 'The Odyssey.' With Damon unavailable, Affleck stepped into the role of Mark Kimball himself. This shift in casting prompted a discussion between Affleck and Garner regarding their potential onscreen reunion. Ultimately, they decided against the collaboration, with Affleck noting that they wanted to avoid the 'baggage' that an audience might project onto their real-life relationship.

Selecting the Final Cast

After deciding that an onscreen pairing with Garner would work against the film, Affleck sought a different actress for the role of Abigail. He eventually cast Kerry Washington, whom he had gotten to know during the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Affleck praised Washington, describing her as both polished and warm, and expressed his enthusiasm for her performance in the role. Despite the decision not to work together on this project, Affleck maintained that he and Garner remain good friends and that he would still like to collaborate with her in the future. He noted that he initially considered her for the part partly because it would have allowed them to coordinate their schedules more effectively for their children.