Casey Affleck, the Oscar-winning younger brother of Ben Affleck, brought a family affair to the Venice Film Festival this week for the premiere of his new directorial effort, Company. The event spotlighted the next generation of a Hollywood dynasty that now spans both the Affleck and Phoenix families.
A Family Premiere in Venice
Casey Affleck, 48, shares two sons—Indiana, 22, and Atticus, 18—with his ex-wife, actor Summer Phoenix. The brothers have five children between them; Ben Affleck shares three children with his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner. At the Tuesday premiere, Ben appeared on the red carpet in a proud uncle and brother role, snapping photos alongside Indiana. Atticus did not attend the premiere, a detail that aligns with reports that his role in the film is relatively brief.
The appearance marked a rare public outing for Indiana, who was last widely photographed at a premiere with his father in 2017. His return to the red carpet immediately drew attention to his striking resemblance to his famous maternal uncles.
The Phoenix Connection
Summer Phoenix is the youngest sibling of River, Rain, Joaquin, and Liberty Phoenix, giving Indiana and Atticus a formidable lineage of talent on their mother’s side. Social media users were quick to note the “strong” resemblance to the Phoenix side of the family, particularly Joaquin Phoenix.
One user on Instagram wrote, “The nephew of Joaquin and River Phoenix, his destiny is laid out for him” — a sentiment echoed by early critical reaction.
Critical Praise and a Casting Story of Convenience
In a review of the movie, Deadline said that Indiana’s “mesmerizing” performance “signals the birth of yet another acting star in the family,” which adds a layer of irony to the story of how he was cast. According to Casey Affleck, the casting was born of necessity and convenience during pre-production.
Speaking at a press conference in Venice, the director recalled the process: “I was sitting around the house doing read-throughs of this script over and over, and I would have my two kids read the younger and older teens, and they were fantastic.” He explained that the production struggled to find actors for the younger parts. “I got to the point where I was there in pre-production and I had a cast and film and they were willing to show up and do it.”
Reflecting on the experience, the Oscar winner added: “They were amazing, and it made it the best professional experience of my life by far because I got to work every day with my kids and hang around. I would do it over and over again if I could.”
With Company, the convergence of the Affleck and Phoenix legacies moves firmly onto the screen, signaling that the third generation of this Hollywood family is officially ready for its close-up.
