Matt Damon Says Nolan’s Odyssey Tops His Career Highlights
Matt Damon opens up about filming Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, calling it the highlight of his acting journey. He shares insights into the demanding shoot, his physical transformation, and the star-studded cast. The film hits cinemas July 2026.
Matt Damon’s career has seen him take on a stack of memorable roles, from The Talented Mr. Ripley and Interstellar to the Bourne series, Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, and The Departed. But for Damon, none of those compare to his latest gig: starring in Christopher Nolan’s ambitious take on The Odyssey. This time around, Damon steps into the sandals of Odysseus, making the long trek back to Ithaca after masterminding the Trojan Horse. Along the way, he and his crew run into all sorts of wild and mythical trouble, including a run-in with the cyclops Polyphemus and a brush with the Sirens.
Appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon with his mate and The Rip co-star Ben Affleck, Damon chatted about what it was like filming with Nolan last year. The production took the team across Greece, Morocco, and Italy between February and August 2025. Even by Nolan’s standards, the scale was massive. Damon didn’t hold back on his praise, saying,
‘the pinnacle of my entire career. I loved every minute of it. I just loved it.’
On Set with Nolan: A Massive Undertaking
Affleck and his kids were the only visitors allowed on set, getting a front-row seat to the crew whipping up a real storm for the ‘warriors on the water’ sequence. Damon mentioned that his own kids, who usually steer clear of film sets, were actually keen to come along this time because his middle child is a big fan of The Odyssey. He described Nolan as a director who takes his work seriously and said he was grateful for the rare chance to have family on set.
To get into character as Homer’s legendary hero, Damon had to completely overhaul his look. He grew out a beard and dropped a fair bit of weight. Speaking on the New Heights podcast, the 55-year-old explained that Nolan wanted him to be lean but still strong. Damon trimmed down from around 185-200 pounds to 167 pounds—the lightest he’s been since his school days—thanks to a tough training regime and a strict diet that meant cutting out gluten.
Star-Studded Cast and Epic Locations
Nolan didn’t skimp on the cast, either. Joining Damon are Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Queen Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Circe, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, John Leguizamo as Eumaeus, and Mia Goth as Melantho. There are also appearances from Lupita Nyong’o, James Remar, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, and Logan Marshall-Green, though their roles are still under wraps.
The Odyssey is set to land in cinemas on 17 July 2026, and with this much hype and talent behind it, punters are already keen to see how Nolan’s vision of the ancient tale plays out on the big screen.