Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have been close friends for years, and their bond has also led to an award-winning and critically praised creative partnership. They have worked together on several unforgettable projects, many of which have turned out to be big hits. So when it was announced last year that Affleck would be directing a new Netflix thriller with Damon set to star, fans started dreaming of another creative powerhouse coming to life on the streaming giant after years. But as it often goes, things do not always work out as planned.
A recent report revealed that Ben Affleck will now take over as the lead in the Netflix thriller, as Damon is already tied up with what is likely one of the biggest projects of his career.
Matt Damon’s packed schedule gets in the way of a dream team-up
The project in question is Ben Affleck’s next directorial venture, a Netflix thriller titled Animals
. When the project was first announced, the only thing we knew for sure was that Matt Damon was set to take the lead in it. But beyond that, there were not many details available at the time. Soon, even Netflix decided to put the project on the back burner. But a recent report from Deadline
has revealed that Animals
is back on track, though this time, Affleck will not only direct but also take over Damon’s lead role.
Ben Affleck will move forward with his kidnapping thriller ‘ANIMALS’ which he will direct & now also star as the lead in.
• Matt Damon was initially meant to star but had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts
• Gillian Anderson has joined the cast
(Source: Deadline) pic.twitter.com/Ms2pMqSWKP
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) February 5, 2025
Affleck has also roped in Gillian Anderson. While there is no word yet on when we can expect the film, production is scheduled to kick off in Los Angeles this April. Damon’s exit from the role is said to be due to scheduling conflicts, as he is already committed to working on his next big project with Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey
. Still, there are lingering questions about whether he will get to play the lead in the film.
Some reports are now suggesting that Matt Damon may have just lost his shot at leading a Christopher Nolan movie—yet again.
Who is playing the lead in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey?
Matt Damon has never been the lead in a Christopher Nolan film—a dream that Cillian Murphy finally got to live out after years of persistence. When The Odyssey
was first announced, many fans speculated that Damon might finally land the lead role. But now, reports are saying that Tom Holland will be playing the lead instead, which has sparked some controversy, as fans believe he does not quite fit the bill for Odysseus, who is described as a massive, muscular, and intimidating figure.
At first, fans thought Holland might be cast as Telemachus, Odysseus’ son. But if this new report about Holland leading the film turns out to be true, it would mark the fourth time Damon has missed out on leading a Nolan movie— for which he seemingly passed up the chance to star in Ben Affleck’s Animals
too. But even though Affleck and Damon are not collaborating on Animals
, the two are still teaming up for a police procedural/martial arts thriller
. As for Damon’s role in The Odyssey,
fans will have to wait a little longer to see how that plays out.
What do you think about Matt Damon’s decision to let go of Animals
? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
