Kerry Washington Praises Affleck’s Animals Script

Kerry Washington says Ben Affleck’s screenplay for the crime thriller Animals won her over, with its complex marriage and collaborative rehearsal process helping convince her to join the project.

The script sealed the deal

Washington, 49, stars opposite Affleck, 54, in Animals, a crime thriller written and directed by the Hollywood actor and filmmaker. Although she had long wanted to work with Affleck, she said the screenplay ultimately turned her interest into excitement about the project.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Washington recalled receiving a call from Affleck about a potential role.

“He wanted to talk to me about a project,” she said.

Washington explained that she hoped the script would be as appealing as the prospect of working with Affleck. After reading it, however, she found herself absorbed in the story.

She said she “actually couldn’t put it down”, describing a screenplay that exceeded her expectations and gave her a compelling reason to take on the role.

For Washington, the experience highlighted the importance of the material itself when deciding whether to accept a project. The opportunity to work with a filmmaker she admired was appealing, but the strength of the writing ultimately made the difference.

A complicated marriage caught her attention

One of the elements that particularly interested Washington was Affleck’s description of Animals as a thriller exploring several themes, including marriage.

However, she initially approached that aspect of the project with some caution. Washington explained that filmmakers sometimes emphasise the importance of a female character’s marriage when trying to persuade an actress to accept a role.

Having previously played a wife on screen, she was familiar with the possibility that a character’s relationship might be presented as more significant than it ultimately proved to be.

“I remember thinking, ‘They always say that when they want the girl to say yes,’” she told The Hollywood Reporter.

Washington said she was therefore reluctant to make assumptions about the role before reading the screenplay herself.

When Affleck asked her to consider playing his wife in the film, she did not initially expect the relationship to be particularly turbulent or difficult.

The script challenged that expectation, presenting a more complicated marriage than she had anticipated. Its difficult relationship dynamics helped draw her into the story and gave her character greater dramatic potential.

The experience also demonstrated how a central relationship can add another layer to a crime thriller, allowing the personal struggles of its characters to sit alongside the tension of the wider story.

Affleck’s rehearsal plans impressed Washington

Washington’s enthusiasm grew further when she learned about Affleck’s plans to develop the material collaboratively.

After she read the screenplay, the pair spoke again about the project. Affleck explained that he wanted an actor who would help him explore the story in greater depth rather than simply follow the written material.

Washington recalled him saying that he needed someone who could help him “flesh this out more and dig into the material” through a rehearsal process.

That approach appealed to the actress, who said she particularly enjoys rehearsing before filming begins.

“That also got me really excited because I love rehearsal so much,” she said.

Her comments suggest that the opportunity to examine the characters and their relationship before filming was an important part of her decision.

For Affleck, the process offered an opportunity to work closely with his leading actress as he developed the performances and explored the screenplay’s emotional complexities.

Washington’s enthusiasm for rehearsal also reflects her interest in collaborative filmmaking, particularly when a role requires an actor to navigate a challenging relationship.

Affleck discusses AI in filmmaking

Beyond Animals, Affleck has also spoken about the potential role of artificial intelligence in film production.

The filmmaker has described AI as a tool that can assist with particular filmmaking tasks without replacing actors or other creative professionals.

In comments to The Hollywood Reporter, Affleck expressed discomfort with some technology companies’ approaches to people’s images and likenesses. However, he suggested that AI could be more useful when handled by professionals who understand filmmaking.

He described the technology as a potential post-production tool rather than a means of creating artificial performers or replacing human talent.

“It’s not about making fake people or replacing anybody, ever,” he said.

His remarks highlight the distinction between using emerging technology to support production work and using it to substitute for the people responsible for a film’s performances and creative decisions.

For Washington, however, the appeal of Animals remains rooted in its screenplay, the difficult marriage at the centre of the story and the opportunity to work closely with Affleck on bringing the characters to life.