Thursday, September 19, 2024

Ben Affleck’s best friend Matt Damon talks their ‘special’ 43 year bond… but fails to address Ben’s crumbling Jennifer Lopez marriage

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Matt Damon feels ‘really lucky’ to still be making films with the Affleck brothers.

The 53-year-old actor features alongside Casey Affleck in the heist comedy The Instigators – which has been produced by Ben Affleck – and is grateful that their childhood friendship has been preserved in Hollywood.

Matt told The Hollywood Reporter at the picture’s New York premiere on Wednesday: ‘I think just 43 years into this friendship, it’s just the joy of doing what we love, but being able to do it together. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

‘I feel really lucky to be able to still be making movies at this level with the kind of people that I get to work with. 

‘But when some of them are the people that have been my closest and dearest friends for over four decades, it’s a really special thing.’

But Damon avoided talking about Ben’s state of mind these days as his marriage to Jennifer Lopez crumbles. Ben has not been photographed with Jennifer in two months as she has been spending time in New York.

Matt Damon feels ‘really lucky’ to still be making films with the Affleck brothers. The 53-year-old actor features alongside Casey Affleck in the heist comedy The Instigators – which has been produced by Ben Affleck – and is grateful that their childhood friendship is intact

But Damon avoided talking about Ben's state of mind these days as his marriage to Jennifer Lopez crumbles. Seen in 2023

But Damon avoided talking about Ben’s state of mind these days as his marriage to Jennifer Lopez crumbles. Seen in 2023

Damon explained that he took comfort from filming the Apple TV+ project in the ‘familiar’ surroundings of Boston, the city in which he and the Affleck siblings grew up.

The Oppenheimer actor said: ‘It feels really familiar to go home. 

‘The sensibility there, the sense of humour is something that just comes naturally to us. 

‘And it’s just a really comfortable place, it feels like going home every time.’

Damon also told People that Ben and Casey are real pros.

‘They’re consistently great,’ he explains. ‘They’re consistently incredible partners to work with. And no, there aren’t really, usually, any surprises.’

While the three collaborators will ‘get in creative arguments,’ Damon notes, ‘those are healthy, and we know each other well enough that our feelings don’t really get involved and our egos don’t get involved.’

Damon explained that he took comfort from filming the Apple TV+ project in the 'familiar' surroundings of Boston, the city in which he and the Affleck siblings grew up. Seen with Ben's brother Casey in the movie

Damon explained that he took comfort from filming the Apple TV+ project in the ‘familiar’ surroundings of Boston, the city in which he and the Affleck siblings grew up. Seen with Ben’s brother Casey in the movie

‘So it’s a pretty healthy working relationship with both of them,’ he adds.

Matt also shared that his wife Lucy was a producer on the movie and has great taste making him trust her choices. 

Doug Liman directs The Instigators – over two decades after first working with Damon on The Bourne Identity – and reflected on how the star has changed over the years.

He told the HR: ‘Even though 20 years had elapsed, it felt like it was yesterday that Matt and I were just starting to work together.

‘So it’s amazing in a way how little has changed, especially because Matt and I are still committed to doing something that’s original and that fits our sensibilities and not conforms to studio sensibilities – what’s amazing about Apple was how supportive they were of us.’

Liman continued: ‘There are other moments on the making of The Instigators where I’d look at Matt and go, “Oh my God, he has matured so much” – in terms of helping me as a director do my best work and understanding how he as an actor could help me.’

Matt also shared that his wife Lucy was a producer on the movie and has great taste making him trust her choices

Matt also shared that his wife Lucy was a producer on the movie and has great taste making him trust her choices

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