Despite recent personal life turmoil, Ben Affleck receives a career boost by replacing Matt Damon in Netflix’s upcoming thriller Animals. According to Variety, Affleck will not only star in the film but will also be directing it.
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His longtime friend and frequent collaborator Matt Damon was initially set to lead the film but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey.
Netflix is looking to begin production for Animals in Los Angeles in April. Billy Ray, who is known for his work in Captain Phillips and The Hunger Games, will be writing the screenplay alongside Connor McIntyre. The film is allegedly going to follow a mayoral candidate as they search for their child, who was kidnapped.
Although he won’t star in Animals, Damon will stay on the project as a producer with Affleck through their joint production company, Artists Equity, with executive Dani Bernfeld.
Along with Ben Affleck, Gillian Anderson, Kerry Washington, and Steven Yeun have signed on to star in Animals.
Ben Affleck Releases 7-Minute ‘Movie’ of Dunkin’ Donut’s Super Bowl LIX Commercial
Amid the Animal news, Ben Affleck releases a seven-minute “movie” of Dunkin’ Donuts’s Super Bowl LIX commercial.
The movie follows members of the resurrected DunKings, the original coffee-obsessed boy band, as they compete at Java Jam, a caffeinated battle where rival coffee-fueled bands go head-to-head for a coffee cup trophy.
Two of the group’s bandmates, Matt Damon and Tom Brady, are noticeably absent. They are replaced by Affleck’s brother, Casey, and other new bandmates.
The movie starts with a flashback to last year’s DunKings spot. Ben is heard declaring, “Don’t dunk away at my heart. Why you Dunkin’ me, girl?” before the message “One year later” flashes on the screen.
Ben is then heard talking to Casey about what happened to the boy band. “First, the DunKings were popstars, and now the thing is diss tracks! Everyone is insulting each other, that’s how you get successful,” Ben explained. “We battle these other coffee brands and win this cup!”
“I don’t want to do it,” Casey responded. “You look stupid.”
“This is why people say you are a difficult actor,” Ben stated. “Nobody says that.”
Ben then continued to speak about the band. “This ain’t one of your art movies here,” he said while mimicking a mumbling and sad Casey. “You gotta have big energy when we get out there. Big time! Go get ‘em, killer! Alright?”
During Java Jam, the DunKings sign t-shirts and meet fans. Acknowledging Tom Brady and Matt Damon’s absence, Ben Affleck declared in an exaggerated Boston accent, “Forget those suckers. Matt Damon and Tom Brady don’t have the heart of a champion. We got a new squad! DunKings and [Bill] Belichick.”
The former New England Patriots coach and his girlfriend, Jordon Hudson, then appeared, and the group did their performance.