2023 Oscar Darlings Nab Matt Damon for New Movie as Fans Await 'The Odyssey'
The Academy Awards are often marked by one film dominating above all others. Anora and the genre-bending Everything, Everywhere All at Once are recent examples.
The latter cleaned up at the 2023 Oscars, and its award-winning directors are finally making big moves for their next narrative film.
Deadline reports that Matt Damon is now in talks to star in the newest feature from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the filmmaking duo known as Daniels. Universal, which is releasing the Damon-led feature The Odyssey, is backing the not-yet-titled project.
Per The Hollywood Reporter, Daniels have been working on the project for the past three years amid challenges tied to budget, script and casting.
The movie's storyline is described as involving global warming, time travel and even a possible superhero angle. Plus, there are two timelines, THR noted on Wednesday, May 20: one set in the 1980s and one set in the present day. The protagonists of the story are reportedly teens - at least in the '80s-set timeline.
Before Damon, 55, Daniels had their sights on Ryan Gosling. After initially agreeing, however, the Project Hail Mary star, 45, thought it should be larger and asked for script changes, according to THR's sources. Accommodating Gosling would require more script revisions, and time was simply running out for the directors who had to start shooting in time for a California tax credit.
THR's sources say there was even a time when Jack Black was considered. With Damon, it helps that the Oscar winner is well-liked at Universal thanks to the Bourne action franchise as well as Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic.
On that note, a new trailer for The Odyssey dropped earlier this month, which fans counting the days until its summer release. The Greek tragedy also stars big names like Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya, and it hits theaters on July 17.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 3:00 PM.