Matt Damon recalls funny misunderstanding with Tom Holland on 'The Odyssey' set

Matt Damon recounted a lighthearted on-set mishap with co-star Tom Holland during the filming of Christopher Nolan's epic 'The Odyssey'. The incident occurred while they were shooting a scene portraying father and son, Odysseus and Telemachus, with Damon on a ship and Holland on the shore.

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No… My suit was choking me.

Damon observed Holland repeatedly touching his chest and, believing it to be a directorial instruction or a shared emotional cue, mirrored the gesture. It wasn't until later that Holland clarified, "No… My suit was choking me." Damon, who suffers from myopia, admitted he misread the gesture from a distance, adding another layer to the amusing confusion.

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It really felt more like an expedition than a movie.

The anecdote offers a glimpse into the demanding production of 'The Odyssey,' which filmed across various countries including Greece, Morocco, Iceland, Scotland, and Italy. Damon described the experience as more of an "expedition than a movie," highlighting the challenging conditions. He noted the shared struggle among the cast and crew, stating that even director Christopher Nolan endured the same cold and wet conditions. The team celebrated overcoming each week of filming.

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If you were cold and completely wet, you just had to turn around and look at Chris. He was freezing and wet too.

Even the final scenes shot in a giant tank at Universal Studios presented significant challenges. To create realistic waves and currents for the ship sequences, the production employed two massive jet engines. Damon described this as one of the most difficult tasks performed in a controlled water environment. Despite the physical and technical hurdles, the filming of 'The Odyssey' became a testament to the team's resilience and perseverance.

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It was one of the hardest things that can be done with water in a controlled environment.