Why Jennifer Garner Did Not Join Ben Affleck’s ‘Animals’

Ben Affleck nearly reunited with Jennifer Garner on screen in his Netflix thriller Animals, but a major casting change led the former couple to reconsider. Affleck has explained that Garner was initially considered for the role of Abigail Kimball before the production shifted and he stepped into the film’s leading role.

The project originally had Matt Damon set to play Mark Kimball, a Los Angeles mayoral candidate whose son is kidnapped. Garner would have played Mark’s wife, Abigail. Affleck believed she could bring a different side of her talent to the character, and the plan offered a practical benefit: the co-parents could better coordinate time with their children during the shoot.

How the cast changed

That version of the movie did not move forward. Affleck said production was halted shortly before filming because another kidnapping thriller created an unfavorable release environment. When the team later revived Animals, Damon was committed to Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, leaving the lead role open.

Affleck decided to play Mark himself. At that point, he and Garner agreed that appearing as an on-screen married couple could bring too much public history into the story. Their concern was not about working together, but about viewers reading their real-life relationship into a fictional marriage already under severe pressure.

Affleck has stressed that he remains interested in collaborating with Garner on another project. He praised her ability and described their current relationship as a strong friendship, while acknowledging that this particular pairing could distract from the movie.

Kerry Washington steps into the role

Kerry Washington ultimately joined the cast as Abigail. She has described the character’s marriage as deeply troubled and said the role interested her because the kidnapping crisis tests whether the couple will move closer together or break apart.

The casting change also connected Affleck and Washington professionally after they got to know each other during the 2023 Hollywood strikes. Affleck said he saw both warmth and polish in Washington, qualities that suited his vision for Abigail.

Co-written by Affleck, Connor O. McIntyre and Billy Ray, Animals follows the Kimballs as they race to secure ransom money after their son is taken. The thriller is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on October 9, with Affleck directing as well as starring opposite Washington.