By Nicolas Ayala
There’s a certain delicious irony in watching Matt Damon — a name synonymous with gritty, intelligent action thanks to Bourne— transform into the muscle-bound, mythic Greek hero Odysseus. But Damon’s physical evolution for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey isn’t just about abs and armor; it’s a powerful symbol of a career hero stepping into legendary territory, both on-screen and off.
And if you needed a bit of extra flavor to this blockbuster build-up, Ben Affleck — Damon’s longtime collaborator, co-founder of Artists Equity, and full-time friendly rival — has made it his mission to lovingly roast Damon over every shirtless photo that’s surfaced from the Italian set. Affleck’s playful jabs, delivered during press rounds for his own return to action in The Accountant 2, only underscore how far Damon’s come (and how hard he’s flexing to show it).
Ben Affleck’s Teasing Highlights Matt Damon’s Earned Action Hero Status
Affleck’s commentary isn’t just comic relief—it’s context. When Damon’s sculpted physique was paraded across morning shows like Today, Affleck couldn’t help but joke that it was “the first time he got in shape in his life.” But as with all good jokes between old friends, there’s admiration lurking beneath the surface. At the Access Hollywood interview during The Accountant 2 premiere, Affleck even admitted, “As you get on in life, it’s less and less easy to do this… and he is getting it done.”
For a man who’s already been through the cinematic wringer of physicality and intensity in the Bourne series, Damon’s willingness to dive back into that realm — this time in the mythological realm of Nolan’s imagination — speaks volumes. It’s not about proving he can still do it. It’s about redefining what “doing it” means at 54.
Matt Damon’s Odysseus Is a Fusion of Myth, Muscle, and Mature Mastery
Though details about The Odyssey remain tightly under Nolan’s signature lock and key, the images alone have sparked fan theories and mythology buffs into a frenzy. Damon, clad in ancient armor with a weathered cape and a beard that somehow manages to look both heroic and world-weary, embodies Odysseus in a way that feels both grounded and larger-than-life.
Captured on location in Favignana, Italy — one of the many global locales Nolan is using to shoot this epic — Damon’s look is straight out of Homer’s imagination. But this isn’t just a costume job. It’s a role that calls for the kind of emotional and physical storytelling Nolan excels at. Damon’s Odysseus isn’t just a warrior; he’s a strategist, a survivor, a father (with Tom Holland’s Telemachus adding a generational dynamic), and, most importantly, a man on a mythic journey.
The Odyssey Marks a Cinematic Reunion and a New Chapter for Damon and Affleck
While Damon and Affleck won’t be sharing the screen as brothers or co-conspirators in the same way they did in Good Will Hunting, their upcoming Netflix thriller RIP will give fans a taste of their dynamic once more. But it’s The Odyssey — Nolan’s July 2026 release — that really pushes Damon into new terrain.
Affleck’s plan to “just watch Nolan direct” when he visits Damon on set says more than he probably intends. It speaks to the respect both actors have for Nolan’s craft, and for each other’s journey as performers. Damon stepping into this ancient action epic, especially after Nolan’s cerebral Oppenheimer where the two first collaborated, feels like a full-circle moment — with a knockout twist.
More Than Muscle: Damon’s Role in The Odyssey Is a Testament to His Enduring Star Power
It’s easy to get caught up in the spectacle — the IMAX cameras, the ancient battles, the shirtless shots meant to break the internet. But Matt Damon’s Odysseus is a reminder that superhero-level storytelling doesn’t always come from capes or comic books. Sometimes, it comes from a man who’s spent three decades crafting characters that balance brains, brawn, and heart.
Christopher Nolan bringing Homer’s foundational saga to the big screen for the first time in IMAX film format is monumental. Even more so when he casts a modern mythic hero like Damon to lead the charge. The Odyssey isn’t just about ancient quests; it’s about legacy, resilience, and the timeless fight to find one’s way home.
And if getting into legendary shape a few centuries too late for Homer means Damon gets to flex a little — well, let him have his moment. Even Ben Affleck can’t deny, it looks pretty damn heroic.