Matt Damon Calls Nolan's Odyssey His Final Epic Film
The Hollywood veteran opens up about working on Christopher Nolan's ambitious adaptation, revealing why this massive production might mark the end of an era for his career in blockbuster filmmaking.
Matt Damon believes Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey represents his swan song in big-budget cinema. Speaking on Netflix's Skip Intro podcast, the actor described still processing the magnitude of his experience on the epic production.
The Boston native didn't hold back when discussing the film's impact on him personally. This marks his most substantial role in a Nolan project after smaller parts in previous collaborations.
"Doing 'The Odyssey' this last year, it felt like my one chance in my life to make a David Lean movie, you know? That I was making the last big movie on film that I was ever going to get to make," Damon explained.
Perfect Timing for a Career-Defining Role
The timing couldn't have been better for the 56-year-old actor. He admitted that tackling this demanding role two decades earlier would have been miserable. The physical and emotional requirements of bringing Homer's legendary character to life demanded maturity he simply didn't possess in his younger years.
"If I look objectively at what was required to do that job, I think it came at just the right time in my life. I think I would have been miserable 20 years ago, trying to do that job. You were uncomfortable every day. But I really enjoyed, like, deeply enjoyed every minute of it," he shared.
Nolan approached Damon after his memorable turn as Lt. General Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer. That supporting role showcased his ability to balance scientific complexity with wartime pressure. Some of that commanding presence carries over into his Odyssey performance.
Gratitude for an Exceptional Creative Team
Working alongside an stellar ensemble cast brought Damon unexpected joy. The experience reminded him of his early career breakthrough moments, particularly his time filming School Ties with legendary cinematographer Freddie Francis.
"But to really feel gratitude — and I think because it was tied into not only the joy of being able to have a role that great with a director that great with a group of people that great and a story that great, but in that sense of nostalgia I had for how I started, how I came into the business, the feeling I had when I was shooting 'School Ties' and Freddie Francis was the cinematographer and I, you know, and I was like, 'This is really happening,'" Damon reflected.
Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus in the film, expressed mutual admiration for his co-star. Speaking with GQ Sports, Holland called it "the job of a lifetime" and "the best experience."
"Matt Damon has always been a hero of mine, Anne Hathaway has always been a hero of mine. So to share scenes with them, to learn from them, to become friends with them, I couldn't have asked for a better job," Holland said.
Technical Innovation Meets Ancient Storytelling
The production broke new ground as Hollywood's first movie shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. Damon previously discussed this technical achievement on the New Heights podcast, praising Nolan's commitment to the format.
The cast includes Zendaya as Athena, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, and Charlize Theron as Circe. Additional roles feature Jon Bernthal as Menelaus and Benny Safdie as Agamemnon. Several cast members' characters remain undisclosed.
Filming took place across Morocco and Sicily, with Universal Pictures distributing the project. This marks Damon's third collaboration with Nolan, following Interstellar and Oppenheimer. The partnership places him among an elite group of actors who've worked multiple times with the acclaimed director.
The Odyssey hits theaters July 17, 2026.