Kerry Washington will play Abigail in Animals after Ben Affleck decided not to cast his ex-wife Jennifer Garner, a move he says avoided saddling the film with audience "baggage." Affleck, who directs, co-wrote and stars in the thriller, said the change shaped the production and its casting dynamics.
Affleck told Entertainment Weekly he initially thought Garner would be "amazing for this role," and that a joint schedule might even help both parents see their children more. He added, "She can bring something interesting that she hasn't [done], that I kind of know she can do, that I don't think she had a chance to do in one movie." But when he and Garner discussed the idea, she told him, "We don't wanna do that. You just get baggage," a warning Affleck said influenced his choice.
The project also stalled earlier when Affleck cancelled a version of Animals two weeks before production was due to begin, citing the complication of a similar kidnapping thriller arriving from A24 and Spike Lee. Months later Affleck revived the film, but Matt Damon, who had been set to play the lead, was committed elsewhere. Affleck joked about Damon's absence, in a ribbing that framed his own decision to play the mayoral candidate, Mark Kimball.
After reconnecting during the 2023 Hollywood strikes, Affleck chose Washington for Abigail. He praised her as "very polished, but she's also very warm. I thought, Oh my God, she's amazing for this." Affleck also spoke warmly of Garner, calling her "fabulous" and saying they remain "really good friends," and that he would still like to work with her in the future.
Animals, co-written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, follows Los Angeles mayoral candidate Mark Kimball, whose son is kidnapped, forcing him and his wife Abigail to scramble for ransom money. The film debuts Oct. 9 on Netflix, after a production path that included a cancelled start, a reshuffling of its principal actor, and a final casting that steered away from a real-life reunion to keep audience focus on the story.
