Netflix is set to acquire InterPositive, the artificial intelligence film technology company founded by Ben Affleck, in a deal worth as much as $600 million, according to people familiar with the matter.
The transaction, paid primarily in cash, could become one of the largest acquisitions ever made by the streaming giant. Sources said the initial payment is lower than the headline figure, with additional earnings tied to performance targets for the startup.
Netflix has not publicly disclosed the financial terms of the agreement. The acquisition comes shortly after the company’s unsuccessful bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, a move that would have marked a far larger takeover.
The streaming company is acquiring InterPositive to accelerate its use of artificial intelligence in film production. The startup has developed tools that allow filmmakers to manipulate existing footage, including removing unwanted elements or modifying backgrounds after scenes have already been filmed.
Director David Fincher has already used the technology on an upcoming film starring Brad Pitt, demonstrating the potential for AI-assisted editing in major productions.
The purchase also ranks among the biggest AI-focused deals in Hollywood as studios increasingly experiment with artificial intelligence to reduce production costs and improve efficiency.
Streaming rival Amazon has established internal teams to apply AI across its film and television projects, while The Walt Disney Company recently entered a commercial partnership with OpenAI to explore similar technologies.
Despite growing adoption, the expansion of AI in filmmaking has raised concerns across the industry. Hollywood workers fear studios could use the technology to cut jobs or train AI systems using creative work without proper compensation.
Affleck has emphasized that InterPositive’s technology is designed to assist filmmakers rather than replace them. The platform requires directors to first shoot a film before the software can train on the footage, allowing it to make edits or visual adjustments only to material that creators provide.
“It doesn’t train on films without permission or generate new projects without the base film,” Affleck said in a video shared by Netflix, stressing that the technology is meant to complement traditional filmmaking.
“The filmmaking process really since its inception has been one long technological progression,” he added. “We’ve always been seeking to make it feel more realistic, more honest, and InterPositive I hope is another iteration or step in keeping with that long and storied history.”
Affleck developed the startup largely in secret with backing from RedBird Capital Partners. After working on the technology for several years, he began seeking outside investment in 2025, meeting with venture capital firms and Hollywood studios.
Those discussions ultimately led Netflix to pursue the company as an internal production tool, marking a shift in strategy for the streaming service, which has historically preferred building new capabilities rather than making large acquisitions.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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