On Thursday, Netflix announced that it had purchased InterPositive, an AI firm founded by Ben Affleck. The news came less than a week after the streaming giant exited the bidding war for Warner Bros. Discovery. According to Deadline, Netflix executives and Affleck had been in discussions since last fall.
The acquisition continues Hollywood’s gradual integration of AI tools into film production. Unlike generative AI companies focused on text-to-video prompts, InterPositive develops tools designed to assist traditional film production.
Affleck and AI at Netflix
Netflix has declined to comment on the valuation of the deal. However, industry analysts note that AI companies focused on video production can be worth billions. As part of the deal, the 16 employees of InterPositive will join the Netflix workforce, while Affleck will take on the role of senior advisor.
The Logo for Netflix – Netflix
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In a press release, Elizabeth Stone, Netflix’s chief product and technology officer, said: “The InterPositive team is joining Netflix because of our shared belief that innovation should empower storytellers, not replace them.” The deal will likely come under scrutiny, however, as the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes were in part driven by fears about artificial intelligence. A new round of talks between above-the-line unions, studios, and streamers is set to begin shortly.
“From the invention of the moving image to the transition to digital, from motion capture to virtual production, technology has evolved alongside the artists who use it,” Affleck said, framing AI as the next step in the evolution of filmmaking. He went on to express his confidence in Netflix. “Our shared commitment to continuing this legacy makes joining together a natural next step, in addition to Netflix’s decades of experience applying and scaling technology responsibly.”
The deal between Netflix and Affleck differs from other partnerships between AI companies and studios. It suggests that Netflix has a distinct strategy in how it intends to use the new technology.
A Different Strategy Than Disney
In December 2025, Disney made a $1 billion equity investment in OpenAI, along with warrants for additional equity. Under a three-year licensing deal, OpenAI’s Sora video generator is permitted to produce short, user-prompted videos with Disney characters. Talent likenesses or voices are not included.
The whole gang from Mickey Mouse Clubhouse – Disney+
By purchasing InterPositive from Affleck, Netflix will have exclusive access to the company’s dataset. InterPositive’s proprietary models are trained by human actors on a secure soundstage to create a storehouse of visual data. The tools reportedly do not rely on text-to-video prompts.
Affleck explained that he “wanted to build a workflow that captures what happens on a set, with vocabulary that matched the language cinematographers and directors already spoke.” The contrast highlights two different approaches to AI in entertainment: licensing external technology versus building proprietary filmmaking infrastructure.
The Hollywood Debate
While Hollywood continues to debate the role that artificial intelligence should play in filmmaking, studios and streamers are already experimenting with how the technology will shape production.
A screenshot of Nami, Luffy, and Zoro from the Netflix live action One Piece series – YouTube, Netflix
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By bringing InterPositive and Affleck in-house, Netflix is betting that AI can become a practical tool for filmmakers rather than a disruptive replacement for them. With an Academy Award–winning writer, director and producer behind the effort, the initiative arrives with the backing of a storyteller whose career has spanned multiple eras of industry change.
That combination of technical ambition and creative credibility may help determine how widely AI tools are accepted across the industry.
What do you think about Netflix acquiring an AI firm from Ben Affleck? Let us know in the comments!
