Netflix has disclosed that it paid $587 million in cash to acquire InterPositive, the artificial intelligence startup founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck, offering the first official confirmation of the deal's value months after reports suggested the acquisition could approach $600 million.
The figure was revealed in Netflix's latest Form 10-Q filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where the streaming giant confirmed it completed the acquisition in March for "a total purchase price of approximately $587 million."
The disclosure follows a Bloomberg report that estimated the overall transaction could be worth as much as $600 million for Affleck and InterPositive's investors. According to the report, part of that amount could be tied to certain performance targets, meaning the final payout may depend on the startup meeting agreed business objectives. Netflix did not immediately comment on the report.
Founded by Affleck in 2022, InterPositive operated largely in stealth before its acquisition, quietly developing artificial intelligence tools aimed at improving film production without replacing the creative decisions of filmmakers.
Rather than focusing on AI-generated movies or scripts, the company's technology is designed to assist production teams during post-production. Its tools enable filmmakers to build AI models using production dailies, helping streamline complex tasks such as relighting scenes, improving sound mixing, and creating visual effects while keeping creative control firmly in human hands.
The acquisition also brings InterPositive's 16-member team of engineers, researchers and creatives into Netflix. Affleck has joined the streaming company as a senior adviser, where he is expected to help shape the future of AI-assisted filmmaking.
Speaking when the merger was announced, Affleck emphasized that technological innovation has always been part of filmmaking and insisted that artificial intelligence should empower artists rather than replace them.
"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. 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."
Netflix also highlighted the acquisition during its second-quarter earnings call, where co-CEO Ted Sarandos discussed the company's growing use of generative AI across its productions.
According to Sarandos, approximately 300 Netflix titles have incorporated some form of generative artificial intelligence this year. While describing the InterPositive acquisition as still being in its "early days," he said the company is already seeing encouraging results as the technology is integrated with Netflix's existing production tools.
Sarandos pointed to the documentary series "The American Experiment" as an example of AI improving production efficiency. He said generative AI helped create certain sequences "twice as fast and at half the cost of previous options," demonstrating how the technology can reduce production time and expenses without replacing the people behind the camera.
Despite Netflix's increasing investment in artificial intelligence, Sarandos stressed that the company has no intention of allowing AI to take over the creative process.
"We believe it takes great artists to make something great, and AI is not changing that. Movies are being made by people who make movies. AI provides them with better tools to make them even better."
His comments come as Hollywood continues to debate the role of artificial intelligence in entertainment, with filmmakers, actors and writers raising concerns about copyright, job security and creative ownership. Netflix's acquisition of InterPositive signals that the streaming giant sees AI primarily as a production assistant—one designed to accelerate workflows while leaving storytelling and artistic decisions in the hands of human creators.
With a $587 million investment now confirmed, Netflix is positioning itself to play a leading role in the next phase of AI-assisted filmmaking, betting that technology can enhance the creative process without replacing the talent that drives it.