Matt Damon has confessed to feeling embarrassed after an awkward blunder during production of Sir Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey.
Speaking on The Sara Cox Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2 on Friday, the 55-year-old American star recounted how filming in remote locations often required lengthy treks to reach set.
On his first day shooting in Greece, Mr Damon reached a cave location after a 20 to 25 minute climb, only to spot wardrobe handler Corey struggling up the hillside with his costume.
“I felt like such a… I can’t say what I felt like, there are families listening, but I felt like a jerk!” the actor admitted.
Matt Damon plays Odysseus in Sir Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming epic, The Odyssey
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His embarrassment deepened when the actors playing his crew members appeared moments later, each having worn their own armour for the ascent rather than leaving it for the wardrobe team to transport.
He said: “I felt awful. I apologised profusely to Corey and said that it would never happen again.”
The star, who plays Greek king Odysseus in the adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic, said the experience taught him to prepare differently for the demanding shoots.
“So we would get kitted up and then just go,” he added.
The Hollywood star recalled an embarrassing first-day blunder while filming in Greece
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Mr Damon has described The Odyssey as “the hardest film I’ve ever done”, with production spanning six countries, including Morocco, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States alongside Greece.
The actor characterised the experience of working with Sir Christopher as resembling “more of an expedition than a movie because everyone is in it together”.
He emphasised the egalitarian nature of the shoot, noting there was no preferential treatment for anyone involved.
“You’re out there, and there’s no special treatment for anybody,” Mr Damon said.
Christopher Nolan has defended the film’s modern dialogue and creative choices amid online criticism
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GETTY“If you’re cold and wet I turn and he’s just as cold and wet and is hiking up the mountain. We are all in the same boat.”
Sir Christopher has revealed Mr Damon was his immediate choice for the lead role, praising the actor’s ability to draw audiences into a character’s predicament whilst projecting what he called “an iconic, frankly, superhero presence”.
The director told Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast he required a partner willing to tackle the gruelling production demands without complaint, including mountain climbs and boat journeys.
Mr Damon and Sir Christopher previously collaborated on Interstellar in 2014 and Oppenheimer in 2023.
The Odyssey boasts an ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.
The film has faced significant online debate in the months leading up to its release, with critics questioning several of Sir Christopher’s creative decisions.
Some fans and commentators criticised the film’s inclusive casting, while others took issue with its use of modern American dialogue instead of language more closely resembling Homer’s original epic.
The Odyssey is one of the most anticipated films of the year
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UNIVERSALThe trailers also sparked discussion over the film’s armour and ship designs, with some viewers arguing they appeared historically inaccurate for the Bronze Age setting.
Sir Christopher has defended his approach, insisting he wanted to create an “earthy” and emotionally accessible adaptation rather than a strictly historical recreation.
Despite the backlash, The Odyssey remains one of the year’s most anticipated releases, with its star-studded cast and reported $250 million (£186.4 million) budget generating huge excitement ahead of its cinema debut.