Ben Affleck Pranked LA Strangers as Fake Mayoral Candidate for Animals
Ben Affleck told Jimmy Kimmel Live! he posed as mayoral candidate Mark Kimball while filming his Netflix crime thriller Animals, out October 9, 2026.
Ben Affleck went method in the most public way possible while preparing for his upcoming Netflix film Animals. During an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the actor and director said he pretended to run for mayor of Los Angeles while shooting the crime thriller, approaching strangers under the character name Mark Kimball.
According to Affleck, the experiment worked better than expected: none of the people he approached questioned his claim of running for mayor.
Animals is a crime thriller directed by and starring Affleck. In the film, mayoral candidate Mark Kimball's son is kidnapped, and he and his wife must raise a ransom.
The cast also includes Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun.
Animals releases on Netflix and in select theaters on October 9, 2026.
Quick answers
What is Ben Affleck's new movie Animals about?
Animals is a crime thriller in which mayoral candidate Mark Kimball's son is kidnapped, and he and his wife must raise a ransom. Affleck directs and stars.
When does Animals come out?
Animals releases on Netflix and in select theaters on October 9, 2026.
Who else stars in Animals?
Alongside Ben Affleck, the film stars Kerry Washington, Gillian Anderson, Adriana Paz, Luis Gerardo Méndez, and Steven Yeun.