Matt Damon shocked Robert Pattinson by screaming on set
Matt Damon shocked Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland on Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey set by screaming repeatedly in his trailer. He was blowing out his voice to sound older as battle-weary Odysseus—not fighting or in distress—prompting Pattinson to call him "a complete psycho."
The story, reported by Variety, adds another memorable prep detail to Nolan's epic, which opens in theaters July 17 from Universal Pictures. For more entertainment alerts, browse our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Pattinson and Holland heard Damon screaming over and over from the next trailer on The Odyssey set.
- Damon was intentionally blowing his voice out to sound older as battle-weary Odysseus.
- Pattinson joked he thought Damon was "a complete psycho" or having a "really bad toilet experience."
- Holland called Damon's extreme prep work "amazing," per Variety.
- Damon also cut down to 167 pounds for the role, saying Nolan wanted him lean but strong.
What did Matt Damon do that shocked Robert Pattinson?
According to Pattinson's MTV U.K. interview, Damon was in the trailer next to him "making these noises." Pattinson first assumed the "nice guy" was on the phone—then decided he might be "a complete psycho."
"He was just screaming and screaming and screaming," Pattinson said. He even wondered whether Damon was having "a really bad toilet experience," before learning the truth: Damon was shredding his voice on purpose.
Why was Damon screaming to sound older as Odysseus?
Damon's goal was simple and extreme. He wanted to blow his voice out so he could sound older as the battle-weary Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's film.
Pattinson was struck by the cost of that choice. "Like, really, you're taking years off your life by doing this," he said of Damon's method. Tom Holland also overheard the screams and praised the prep as "amazing."
How far did Damon go transforming for The Odyssey?
Voice work was only part of Damon's transformation. On the New Heights podcast earlier this year, the Oscar nominee said he dropped to 167 pounds for the movie after typically weighing between 185 and 200.
"[Nolan] wanted me lean but strong," Damon explained, adding that he stopped eating gluten and followed strict training and diet. He said he had not been that light since high school.
That lean look is a sharp contrast with past roles. For 2009's The Informant, Damon told Entertainment Weekly he gained about 30 pounds by "eating like crazy" and drinking dark beer between takes.
The Odyssey arrives in theaters July 17 via Universal Pictures—just as Damon's all-in approach is making headlines again.