Ben Affleck is ruling out a run for public office as he promotes Animals, a thriller he directed, co-wrote and stars in. Questions about his character’s political ambitions have prompted some blunt answers about his own.
In an Oct. 8 interview with Variety, Affleck described politics as “very depressing” and “tawdry” when asked whether he would ever consider elected office.
He plays Mark Kimball, an independent candidate for Los Angeles mayor whose campaign is disrupted by a caller claiming to have kidnapped his son. Kerry Washington plays his wife, Abigail, who must help navigate the crisis.
Affleck previously campaigned for Al Gore and Barack Obama during their presidential runs and traveled in support of John Kerry’s 2004 campaign. His current assessment follows years of involvement in helping other candidates reach voters.
Affleck Calls Political Office an ‘Awful Job’
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“On a personal level, I think it would be an awful job,” Affleck told USA TODAY in an interview published Oct. 6.
He said he had grown resistant to entering politics after seeing what he described as “hypocrisy, corruption and failure.” His criticism extended to a campaign environment he sees as dominated by money, sound bites, personal attacks and attempts to catch opponents out.
Affleck argued that those priorities have little connection to voters’ daily lives. He also said appealing to people’s worst instincts can be an easier route to winning votes than appealing to their best.
In his view, those conditions help determine who pursues the job, leaving the electorate repeatedly dissatisfied. He described that frustration as something that extends across party lines, including among people who voted for different candidates.
Even Filming a Campaign Left Him Exhausted
Speaking with ComicBook‘s Chris Killian, Affleck said his earlier political involvement had “really disillusioned” him. Making Animals gave him another reason to question whether he would enjoy a candidate’s daily routine.
He recalled spending a day filming campaign activity that required repeatedly shaking hands, meeting people and maintaining constant public engagement.
“I think that was the most exhausting day ever,” he said.
Affleck described the encounters as an emotional drain, with a candidate continually exposed to other people’s attention. He also questioned the expectation that politicians sacrifice personal convictions in pursuit of a supposedly higher goal that may never materialize.
His Fictional Campaign Drew Real Responses From Strangers
During an Oct. 7 appearance on Good Morning America, Affleck recalled taking to the streets of Los Angeles during filming and introducing himself as Mark Kimball, a candidate for mayor.
According to Affleck, some people accepted the introduction and began telling him about issues they wanted addressed. Their reaction surprised him enough that he joked about the prospect of accidentally succeeding.
“I said if I’m not careful, I’m gonna win!” he recalled. “Do not vote for me!”
The film uses its candidate’s public image to explore what happens when private interests collide with professed values. Affleck told Variety that he wanted audiences to reconsider their understanding of the characters as the story unfolded.
He also described the marriage between Mark and Abigail as central to that question. Both struggle to acknowledge fundamental truths about themselves and each other, even before the crisis forces them to act.
Affleck Declined to Endorse a Candidate Before the Film’s Release
When Variety asked whom he supported in the Los Angeles mayoral election, Affleck declined to name a candidate. He said he was unsure whether an endorsement would help or hurt anyone while he was promoting a film in which he plays a mayoral hopeful.
“I should stay agnostic, at least until the movie comes out,” he said in the interview published before the release.
Animals began streaming on Oct. 9. Its cast also includes Gillian Anderson, Steven Yeun, Adriana Paz and Luis Gerardo Méndez, according to Netflix.