Matt Damon on ‘The Odyssey’: ‘Hardest Movie I’ve Ever Done’

Matt Damon, a veteran of Hollywood with an impressive filmography spanning over three decades and approximately 80 movies, has revealed that Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic, “The Odyssey,” presented the most significant challenge of his career. The acclaimed actor shared his experiences during an appearance on “Sunday Sitdown with Willi Geist,” detailing the intense physical and mental toll the ambitious production took on everyone involved.

An Unprecedented Challenge

Damon recounted an early conversation with director Christopher Nolan, who warned him about the film’s difficulty. “He was like, ‘This movie’s gonna be hard.’ And I looked at him like, ‘I’ve made, I don’t know, 80 movies,'” Damon recalled. Nolan’s response was stark: “‘No. This movie’s gonna be really hard.’ He, to his credit, was not lying.”

The actor elaborated on the immense undertaking, stating, “It was definitely the hardest movie I’ve ever done just because it was so ambitious, just because what he was trying to do.” A significant part of this challenge, Damon noted, was the personal preparation required for a man in his 50s. “The prep and all that I had to do as a guy in his 50s, that was its own challenge. That was my own cross to bear, away from everybody.”

An Expedition, Not Just a Film

Filming “The Odyssey” subjected the cast and crew to a variety of harsh environments. “The prep and all that I had to do as a guy in his 50s, that was its own challenge. That was my own cross to bear, away from everybody,” Damon explained. The production journeyed through demanding locales, including Moroccan beaches, remote mountaintops, and unpredictable open waters from aboard boats.

Describing the experience, Damon said, “There was a lot of physical discomfort. It felt more like an expedition than a movie.” He added, “Everybody was pushed to kind of the limit of what they could do. But the beauty of it is you look around and everyone is going through it with you.” This shared struggle, he suggested, fostered a unique camaraderie on set.

Leadership in Adversity

Despite the punishing conditions, Damon expressed admiration for Nolan’s leadership. He highlighted the director’s ability to inspire the cast and crew by enduring the same hardships. “Directing is by far the hardest job on set,” Damon observed. “When you’re out there kind of in the middle of a storm and you’re soaked and you’re cold and you’re like, ‘Man, I’m in discomfort right now,’ it is helpful to turn and see the person with the harder job… looking like a drowned rat, just as cold, just as wet, and never complaining.”

Physical Transformation and Dietary Changes

Damon had previously discussed the rigorous physical transformation he underwent for the role of Odysseus. Earlier this year, on the “New Heights” podcast with Travis and Jason Kelce, he mentioned losing a considerable amount of weight. This came after former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce commented that Damon appeared “pretty yoked up” in leaked set photos.

“Yeah, I was in really good shape,” Damon confirmed. “I lost a lot of weight.” Nolan’s specific vision for the character was to be “lean but strong,” a goal that required significant effort. “It’s a weird thing,” Damon mused.

The Gluten-Free Revelation

A key factor in achieving this physique was a major dietary shift: eliminating gluten. Damon revealed to doctors that he stopped eating gluten, a change that profoundly impacted his weight and overall well-being. “I used to walk around between 185 and 200 pounds. And I did that whole movie at 167 pounds,” he stated. “I haven’t been that light since high school.” This, combined with extensive training, formed the core of his preparation.

Further elaborating on this lifestyle overhaul during an appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast, Damon described giving up gluten as “life-changing.” He contrasted this experience with previous attempts at fitness regimens. “There’s no planning it. Any other time I tried to do something like that, it was always like, ‘Well, my time, my workouts’… and this was like… just put your foot on the gas and that’s it. And that’s the only way to do it, and eat a little less.”

The unexpected benefit of this dietary change was a significant improvement in his daily life. “We didn’t talk about it, and I didn’t realize the level to which it was affecting me,” Damon said. “It’s completely changed my life these last couple years of not eating it.” While acknowledging his fondness for traditional staples like bread, beer, pasta, and pizza, he concluded that the positive impact on how he feels day-to-day has made the sacrifice worthwhile. “It’s a bummer. I’m a big fan of bread and beer, and pasta and pizza and all that stuff, but how I feel is just so much better.”