Ben Affleck’s upcoming thriller, Animals, has added three new actors to the cast, including a Justice League star. With Affleck in the director’s chair as well as starring, Animals tells the story of a mayoral candidate and his wife who resort to extreme measures and reveal dark secrets as they attempt to pay their kidnapped son’s ransom. The film, which is produced by Affleck and Matt Damon’s company, Artists Equity, also stars Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz, and Luis Gerardo Méndez.

Variety now reports that Animals‘ impressive cast has grown larger, with Ray Fisher, Mark Kᴀssen, and Christopher Woodley having joined the movie undisclosed roles. The film is currently in production in Los Angeles, and the city is said to play an important role in the narrative. The project doesn’t yet have an expected release date or window.

For Artists Equity, Damon, Dani Bernfeld and Lucy Damon produce the film, with Brad Weston and Collin Creighton producing for Makeready after developing the project with Fifth Season. Fifth Season will also executive produce with Michael Joe and Kevin Halloran of Artists Equity.

What The Animals Cast Update Means For The Film

Will The Thriller Get A Theatrical Release?

Though Affleck will presumably be playing the mayoral candidate mentioned in the movie’s logline, it’s unknown who all the other actors in the cast will be playing. Animals will mark a reunion for Affleck and Fisher, who starred together in Justice League (2017) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021). With Affleck as Batman/ Bruce Wayne, Fisher played Cyborg, aka Victor Stone. Fisher also recently starred in Snyder’s Rebel Moon and the acclaimed The Piano Lesson (2024) for Netflix.

It remains unclear whether Animals will release directly onto Netflix or if it will go to theaters first. Though generally averse to theatrical releases, the streamer will sometimes give movies limited runs in theaters so that they are eligible for awards such as the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Considering the impressive cast and the positive reception to Air, Affleck’s last movie as a director, it’s possible that Netflix will opt to give the movie a week-long run in select theaters.

Our Take On The New Animals Update

Animals Could Benefit From One Upcoming Affleck Release

Affleck may not carry the movie star power he once did, but he remains a very recognizable actor. With The Accountant 2 on the horizon, Affleck could be poised for a comeback as an action-thriller star, and this would only make Animals an even more exciting proposition for audiences. With Fisher having now joined the movie for a Justice League reunion, the superhero crowd could be pulled in too.

Purely in terms of acting talent, Animals seems like it’s on sure footing, but the script and direction will also be key here. With production now underway, promotional material may only be a few months away. A trailer seems likely to arrive before the end of the year, even though Netflix probably won’t release the film until 2026.

Source: Variety