During a recent press tour for ‘The Odyssey,’ Matt Damon was left genuinely gobsmacked when he discovered his co-star Tom Holland has never seen ‘The Matrix.’
The revelation came during the whirlwind promotional cycle for Christopher Nolan‘s epic adaptation, as the two actors sat down for interviews across the globe. When the subject of the 1999 sci-fi masterpiece arose, Holland casually admitted he had never watched the film that redefined action cinema and visual effects for an entire generation.
Matt Damon Says He Is Jealous Of Tom Holland’s First Viewing
Damon’s reaction said it all. “Are you f**king kidding me?” he said, clearly shocked. But instead of giving Holland a hard time, Damon got a little jealous.
“I’m so jealous you get to see that for the first time,” Damon said. He thought about what it would be like for someone watching it today and added, “I wonder if it’ll feel as groundbreaking to you as so much has been subsequently based on it.”
That moment made people think about something that bothers a lot of movie lovers. Can a film that changed everything still feel fresh when you have already seen all the movies it inspired? ‘The Matrix‘ with Keanu Reeves as Neo did not just push boundaries. It smashed them. The famous “bullet time” shots and the wire-fu fight scenes created a whole new visual style that got copied over and over in big action movies and music videos. That is what made Damon’s question so interesting.
Matt Damon Once Wanted To Star In ‘The Matrix’
There was also a personal side to Damon’s reaction. He mentioned during the interview that ‘The Matrix‘ was one of those movies he would have loved to be in if he had the chance.
In case you missed it: “I Felt Like a Jerk”: Matt Damon Shares the Humbling Lesson Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Taught Him on Day One
Back then, Will Smith and Brad Pitt both turned down the role of Neo before it went to Reeves, a choice that ended up defining Reeves’ whole career. It is fun to imagine Damon in that part, but he admitted that now nobody else could play that character.
Matt Damon And Tom Holland Star Together In ‘The Odyssey’
Right now, both actors are working together on ‘The Odyssey,’ Nolan’s big adaptation of the old Greek poem. Damon plays Odysseus and has called the movie a “universal” story that focuses on the raw emotions of a man trying to get home after war. For Holland, getting the call for this project felt unreal. He said he thought Nolan had “dialed the wrong number” when he first got the offer.
The press tour for the movie includes Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, too. Everyone seems to get along well, but Holland, not having seen ‘The Matrix‘, quickly became one of the most talked-about moments. It shows the difference between generations when it comes to movies and how a film from years ago can still have so much power.
Damon is still waiting to hear what Holland thinks of it. He probably wonders if the younger actor will see it as a classic or just another action film, a thought that clearly terrifies the man who lived through its legendary release.
You might also want to read: Tom Holland Kept His Biggest ‘The Odyssey’ Secret From His Mom Until the Premiere
