Imagine coming fresh off a tough, physically intense action shoot and having to ask the next director for a cut in screen time. Well, that is precisely what Matt Damon did before joining the star-studded cast of ‘Ocean’s Twelve.‘ Because of his utter exhaustion from a physically demanding action movie, Damon had to ask director Steven Soderbergh for a smaller part.
Soderbergh, however, turned down the actor’s proposal. What happened next set off an unexpected behind-the-scenes clash, leaving many fans wondering how the director’s insistence affected the project. Read on to get the lowdown!
Damon’s Exhaustion Led To An Unusual Request
After shooting the punishing blockbuster ‘The Bourne Supremacy,’ Matt Damon wanted to give himself a break. According to the actor, the project left him lethargic, which is why he approached Steven Soderbergh to see if he could scale down Linus Caldwell’s character.
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Back then, Damon had been on set for months, doing intense training and performing stunts while shouldering a major studio project. He felt that reducing his screen time for the upcoming production was the best course of action, as it would give him time to recover from the previous grueling shoot without abandoning the project.
‘Ocean’s Twelve’ was significantly less physically taxing than its predecessor. However, it still required months of on-set shooting across Europe and a busy schedule for the star-studded cast. In the end, the director rejected Damon’s request. What was the logic?
Soderbergh Believed Linus Was Too Important To Cut Short
Soderbergh was adamant that Linus was vital to the movie’s storyline and comedy. Unsurprisingly, he insisted that Damon needed ample screen time. And guess what? The director was right, as Linus ended up with some of the funniest parts in the multi-million-dollar heist movie. In fact, the movie became one of the actor’s most popular films in an ensemble role.
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The most humorous parts feature Linus’ attempts to prove himself worthy of joining Danny Ocean’s team. These included moments when Linus starts undercover operations that lead to hilarious mishaps, or when he grows increasingly frustrated by people underestimating him.
Rather than fading into the background of the star-studded cast, Linus emerged as one of the movie’s most important and entertaining characters. Meanwhile, the movie grossed $360 million at the box office. This turned out to be an incident where Damon’s rejection worked in his favor. Did you like his performance? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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