Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX) (ETR: NFC) has acquired InterPositive, the AI filmmaking company that famed actor Ben Affleck quietly started in 2022.
The streaming giant revealed the takeover in a news release on Mar. 6. It will bring Affleck on board as a senior advisor and integrate his full 16-person team of engineers, researchers and creative talent into its operations.
Over the past few years, InterPositive has been developing practical AI tools that solve real post-production problems. These tools adjust lighting, correct colour, relight scenes, fix lens distortions, handle visual effects and maintain consistency across shots.
The technology works by analyzing raw dailies that filmmakers upload, so creators stay in full control while saving time and money. This approach helps fix issues like missing coverage or lighting changes that often force expensive reshoots.
Affleck launched the Los Angeles-based startup after seeing how AI could disrupt traditional filmmaking workflows. He built the models using proprietary footage shot on a controlled soundstage, focusing on visual logic, editorial rules and cinematic principles.
Netflix rarely buys outside companies because it usually develops technology internally. This deal breaks that long-standing pattern and marks one of the streamer’s few major acquisitions in recent years.
It follows Netflix stepping back from a bidding war over Warner Bros Discovery Inc (NASDAQ: WBD) (ETR: J5A) assets and instead letting Paramount Skydance Corp (NASDAQ: PSKY) take ownership. Netflix shares jumped by 13 per cent after investors learned that the company wasn’t raising its bid and perceivably overpaying.
By adding InterPositive, Netflix gains an immediate edge in enhancing visual effects and post-production for its originals, aligning with its broader push into responsible generative AI.
The timing reflects a wider shift in Hollywood. Early fears about job losses and unauthorized use of copyrighted material have given way to cautious adoption. Studios now explore AI partnerships, though unions like SAG-AFTRA — where Affleck remains a member — continue demanding strong protections for performers.
Netflix stresses that InterPositive expands creative options rather than replacing human artists. With deal terms kept private, the move positions the company to lead ethical AI integration in film, combining Affleck’s industry experience with advanced new editing tech.
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