Matt Damon Nearly Skipped Oscar-Nominated Role

Matt Damon revealed that he nearly declined the lead role in 'The Martian,' a film that ultimately earned him his fourth Oscar nomination. He initially hesitated, believing the part was too similar to his character in 'Interstellar,' as both involved being stranded on a planet. Damon expressed this concern to director Ridley Scott during their first meeting.

Scott's unvarnished response, 'No one gives a s---,' immediately persuaded Damon to take the role. He later described this decision as "one of the great decisions" of his life, thoroughly enjoying his collaboration with Scott. The 2015 film was a major success, grossing $630 million globally and securing seven Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Damon.

This positive experience with Scott led to a subsequent collaboration on 'The Last Duel' in 2021. Damon also recalled Scott's filmmaking style on 'The Martian,' noting the director's use of multiple cameras, a technique Damon initially questioned but later admired for its effectiveness.