Entertainment · Film · 2 hrs ago
Ben Affleck Paused ‘Animals’ After Spotting a Similarity to Spike Lee’s Film
Ben Affleck’s film “Animals,” starring Affleck and Kerry Washington, is a kidnapping thriller set in Los Angeles.
Two weeks before filming was due to start, Affleck learned that Spike Lee’s “Highest 2 Lowest” was also about a kidnapping and had the same twist.
He stopped production because he worried the similarity would make it harder for his film to succeed.
Affleck later said he could not stop thinking about making “Animals,” and decided to go ahead.
Matt Damon, who had been expected to star, left to work on “The Odyssey.”
In “Animals,” the couple discover that their son was not kidnapped, and he returns home safely on Halloween night.
The film later received a limited theatrical release alongside its Netflix debut.
Ben Affleck paused production on his film Animals two weeks before filming was due to begin after learning about the similar premise of Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest.
Both films are kidnapping dramas about wealthy fathers and share what Affleck described as an identical twist.
Affleck told his producing partners at Artists Equity, including intended star Matt Damon, that they would not move forward with Animals.
He later decided he still wanted to make the Los Angeles-set thriller.
Affleck stars in Animals alongside Kerry Washington.
- Who
- Ben Affleck paused production on Animals. Matt Damon was intended to star.
- What
- Affleck halted the film after hearing that Spike Lee’s Highest 2 Lowest had a similar kidnapping premise and twist.
- When
- Two weeks before filming was due to begin. The sources do not state a date.
- Where
- Animals is set in Los Angeles.
- Why
- Affleck was concerned that the similarities between the two films would create difficulties for Animals.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
We were two weeks from shooting, and I was like, ‘We’re not doing it,’
It’s hard enough to make a good movie. You don’t need those kinds of headwinds.
Affleck learned that Spike Lee and Denzel Washington were making a kidnapping film and halted production on Animals.
Affleck decided he still wanted to make his Los Angeles-set thriller.
- Film
- Animals
- Similar film
- Highest 2 Lowest
- Production halt
- Two weeks before filming was due to begin
- Artists Equity partner
- Matt Damon was intended to star
- Setting
- Los Angeles
Sources
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