Ben Affleck’s new thriller Animals has added two major stars to its cast. Known for his work both in front of and behind the camera, Affleck has been in the industry for over three decades. His most recent feature was the critically acclaimed movie Air, which was about Nike’s deal with Michael Jordan which he directed, produced, and acted in. Affleck’s next project is a Netflix thriller called Animals, which will tell the story of a mayoral candidate and his wife who will go to extreme lengths to free their son from kidnapping.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Animals is now set to feature Steven Yeun and Kerry Washington. Washington will play the wife of the story’s mayoral candidate, who will be played by Affleck. Yeun will play Affleck’s campaign manager.

What This Means For Animals

The New Cast Members Have Significant Accolades Behind Them

The casting of Yeun and Washington elevates the existing high profile for Animals. Before this announcement, it was already noted that Affleck would play the lead role, and Gillian Anderson would also take part in the film. The most recent update confirmed both castings and clarified that Anderson would play a fixer in the movie. On the other hand, Affleck replaced Matt Damon, who was previously attached to the movie. With two more big-name stars taking part in Animals, the Netflix thriller got even more exciting.

Washington and Yeun are notable stars in their own right who could attract more viewers to the film. Washington is a multi-time Emmy nominee known for series such as Scandal and Little Fires Everywhere. Yeun’s career has been heating up in recent years since his tenure on The Walking ᴅᴇᴀᴅ. He has starred in many major projects and was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Minari. In 2025, Yeun has multiple big roles, including a part in Bong Joon-Ho’s Mickey 17 and in Invincible season 3.

Our Take On This Animals News

Animals Could Get Back On Schedule

The fact that Animals is getting a casting update is a good sign that the film is moving forward. After initially being announced, the project was sidelined for a full year and lost Damon as its leading actor. Now, it might be on pace to go for the April production start date it once hoped for. With the cast rounding out, the chances of Animals filming on pace are getting better, which means the film could be coming sooner rather than later.

Source: THR