Kerry Washington has long liked the idea of working with Ben Affleck. When the opportunity finally came along, however, it was the script for Animals that turned her interest into enthusiasm.
The 49-year-old actress stars opposite Affleck, 54, in the new crime thriller, which Affleck wrote and directed. Washington recently revealed that she was already a fan of the Hollywood star when he approached her about the project, but she still hoped the screenplay would live up to her expectations.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Washington recalled receiving the call from Affleck.
“He wanted to talk to me about a project,” she said.
“I remember hoping that I would like the script as much as I liked the idea of working with him … and I actually couldn’t put it down.”
Kerry Washington on the marriage at the heart of ‘Animals’
Washington was particularly intrigued by Affleck’s description of Animals as a thriller with several themes, including one that he considered central to the story: marriage.
But the actress admitted she was initially cautious about the emphasis placed on her character’s relationship.
Having played a wife in a film, she was familiar with the possibility that a character’s importance could be oversold to secure an actress’s involvement.
“I remember thinking, ‘They always say that when they want the girl to say yes,’” Washington told The Hollywood Reporter.
She explained that when an actress is being asked to play a wife, filmmakers can stress the importance of the marriage to make the role seem more substantial.
Her response was to reserve judgment until she had read the script.
“When he said, ‘Oh, I want you to consider playing my wife in something,’ I don’t know why, but I didn’t think it was going to be such a tumultuous, difficult marriage,” she said.
The screenplay, however, proved more compelling than she had anticipated, drawing her into the story and its complicated relationship dynamics.
Why Ben Affleck’s rehearsal process appealed to her
The script was not the only thing that excited Washington about the project. She was also encouraged by Affleck’s desire to collaborate closely with her on developing the material.
After reading the screenplay, the pair spoke again, and Affleck explained that he wanted an actor who would help him explore the story in greater depth.
Washington said he told her: “I really need somebody who’s going to help me flesh this out more and dig into the material with me. We’re going to have a rehearsal process.”
For Washington, that approach was a major draw.
“That also got me really excited because I love rehearsal so much,” she said.
Her comments offer a glimpse into the creative process behind Animals, with the actor-director seeking a collaborative approach to a story that places a difficult marriage alongside its crime-thriller framework.
Ben Affleck explains his approach to AI in filmmaking
Away from the film’s performances and themes, Affleck has also discussed another aspect of modern filmmaking: the use of artificial intelligence.
The actor and director recently spoke about incorporating AI into the filmmaking process, describing an approach that uses the technology as a subtle, collaborative tool rather than a way to create artificial performers or replace people.
Affleck told The Hollywood Reporter that he was uncomfortable with some technology companies’ approaches to image and likeness, but argued that AI could produce better results when placed in the hands of people who understand the filmmaking process.
He also pointed to the importance of using the technology in a way that supports the work without drawing attention to itself.
“It’s not about making fake people or replacing anybody, ever,” he said, describing the technology as another post-production tool.
His comments reflect a distinction between using AI to assist with specific filmmaking tasks and using it to replace the actors and creative professionals responsible for bringing a story to life.
With Animals, Washington’s enthusiasm centres on the script, the complexity of its central relationship and the opportunity to work closely with Affleck as he brings his vision to the screen.