Ben Affleck and Gillian Anderson are set to star in kidnapping thriller "Animals" for Netflix, according to an insider with knowledge of the project. Affleck is also set to direct. Matt Damon was originally attached to star in the film but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey.

Ben Affleck is set to star in his upcoming Netflix thriller “Animals,” which he’s also directing. His longtime friend Matt Damon was originally slated to lead the film but had to depart due to scheduling conflicts with Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic “The Odyssey.

Ben Affleck is set to direct and star in new film Animals over at Netflix. Gillian Anderson is also set for a lead role in the film, as per Deadline. Affleck replaces best mate Matt Damon in the lead who is off to film Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey.

The project has been revived with Affleck still in the director’s chair. But he will now star in it as well. Gillian Anderson, the X-Files star who in recent years appeared as Margaret Thatcher in Netflix’s The Crown, is also joining the production. As before, the project aims to shoot in Los Angeles and is looking at an April start.

Ben Affleck is set to star in the next directorial project from — Ben Affleck. The Argo filmmaker-star will now play the lead role in Animals, the Netflix thriller he was already set to direct, Entertainment Weekly has learned.