Outline:
What action do you take for an encore if your first written script receives the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay?If you’re Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, you part ways for 22 years until Ridley Scott reunites you to star in and co-write (with Nicole Holofcener) “The Last Duel.”
I always found it odd that Affleck and Damon didn’t return to another writing endeavor afterthe triumph of “Good Will Hunting,”If only to counter the critics who argued that “All the President’s Men” writer William Goldman had completely rewritten their Oscar-winning script. Both actors were clearly offended by the suggestion (which Goldman consistently denied), so what better way to prove that “Good Will Hunting” wasn’t just a coincidence?
It’s not as if the following two decades were a total loss for Affleck and Damon. Both established themselves as true movie stars independently, with Affleck expanding into directing through impressive films such as “Gone Baby Gone,””The Town,” and the Academy Award-winning “Argo.” However, after their challenging experience working on Scott’s disappointingly overlooked film “The Last Duel,” the pair soon reunited to provide uncredited rewrites for the Nike biographical film “Air.” Considering the success of both projects, anyone who still credits “Good Will Hunting” to Goldman is either unaware or resentful.
Why did Affleck and Damon wait 22 years between writing projects? They were simply too busy with acting roles.
Read more: 15 Actors That Were Not Worthy of Their Oscars
Affleck and Damon had to content themselves with being film stars.
In a recent conversation with Empire, Affleck stated, “Honestly, it always felt like I was making things up, that I probably had something to demonstrate on my own. I believe most people tended to mix us up with those [‘Good Will Hunting’] roles, which were quite intense. Matt was the genius, and I was his companion.”
The breakup turned out well for both actors. In 1998, Damon starred in the lead role of Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed film “Saving Private Ryan,” while Affleck played the antagonist to Bruce Willis in Michael Bay’s epic asteroid movie “Armageddon.” However, Affleck does have some regrets. In the interview, he praises Damon for pursuing collaborations with top directors, whereas his own choices were not as wise, as seen in “Phantoms,””Forces of Nature,” and “Bounce” (I’ll excuse “Reindeer Games” since it was a chance to work with”Seconds” director John Frankenheimer).
Damon returns with a compliment for Affleck, whom he thinks is the more talented writer between them. As Damon states:
Since we were kids, Ben and I used to go to the movies constantly with our friends, right? It didn’t matter what was showing. We could leave a movie and eight of us would say, ‘Oh, that was awful.’ And Ben would respond, ‘Yeah, but you know what would have made it better? If this happened and then that happened…,’ and he would rewrite the movie in the parking lot. He would get so involved in the films, knowing how to improve them, but never having the ability to do so.
“They refer to it as wishful thinking,” said Affleck.
That desire was fulfilled and more. I hope the boys’ return to writing remains strong, and I can’t wait to see them together on screen when Joe Carnahan’s “The Rip” is released on Netflix on January 16, 2026.
If you’re seeking the simplest method to stay updated on all the key movie and television news, why notregister for our free newsletter? You can also Add us as a preferred search provider on Google.
Read the original article on SlashFilm.