Ben Affleck Teases Matt Damon Over His Shirtless Photos From The Odyssey Set

Ben Affleck recently took the opportunity to playfully mock his best friend Matt Damon during a red carpet appearance in Los Angeles. While promoting his new action thriller ‘The Accountant 2’, the actor was asked about the viral set photos showing a shredded Damon filming Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’. The images feature Damon looking rugged and incredibly muscular while shooting in Italy, sparking a frenzy across social media platforms regarding his new look. Affleck was less inclined to gush over the transformation and instead chose to roast his longtime business partner with his signature dry humor.

During a conversation with ‘ExtraTV’, Affleck quipped that the public reaction was overblown because Damon had finally gotten in shape for the first time in his life. He jokingly suggested that his friend was acutely aware of the cameras and was purposefully flexing to ensure the paparazzi captured his best angles from afar. Affleck laughed while imagining Damon asking people on set if they were watching him pose shirtless for the distant photographers. This lighthearted jealousy is a staple of their decades-long friendship and often plays out in press tours or public appearances.

The actor even feigned annoyance while speaking to ‘Access Hollywood’ by claiming that he felt upstaged by his friend’s sudden transformation into a Greek deity. He joked that he did not appreciate Damon stealing the spotlight right as his own movie was finally hitting theaters around the world. However, despite the heavy teasing and mock envy, Affleck eventually pivoted to offer some genuine praise for the physical transformation Damon achieved for the demanding role. He admitted to reporters that he was actually very impressed because getting into that kind of shape becomes increasingly difficult as you get older.

He acknowledged the intense hard work required to build such a physique in one’s fifties and gave credit where it was due. The photos from the set in Favignana confirm that Damon has fully committed to the physical requirements of playing the legendary Greek hero Odysseus. ‘The Odyssey’ marks a major collaboration between Damon and director Christopher Nolan following their successful work on ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Interstellar’. The project has generated significant buzz not just for Damon’s new look but also for its star-studded cast and ambitious scope.

While Damon is busy navigating mythological seas, Affleck is focused on his own action franchise with the highly anticipated sequel to his 2016 hit. The two are also set to reunite on screen soon for a thriller titled ‘RIP’ which they produced together through their company. Affleck expressed gratitude for being able to work so closely with his best friend even if it means enduring a bit of friendly competition over who has the better gym routine. The playful rivalry adds a layer of charm to their professional endeavors as they continue to dominate the industry side by side.

Let us know what you think about this hilarious friendship dynamic in the comments.