Clint Eastwood’s Invictus is regarded as one of the most celebrated sports dramas featuring Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman in the primary roles. The 2009 movie was well-received by critics and grossed over $122.2 million against a budget of $50–60 million.
The movie was special for many as Morgan played one of the beloved historical figures, Nelson Mandela in the movie. The movie focused on the 1995 Rugby World Cup. But Damon who played Francois Pienaar in the movie has pretty interesting behind the scene memories.
Clint Eastwood Rejected Matt Damon’s Sincere Appeal
Matt Damon vividly recalled when the director Clint Eastwood rejected his appeal for a retake in a scene in Invictus. Damon knew the fact that Eastwood often finish with just one take, “he does one take, I heard that.”
“So I worked on that South African accent like an office job. Tim Monich, this great dialect coach would come and we would from Monday to Friday from, from nine in the morning till five like, like it was an office job we worked for about six months on that thing. Because I knew I was only going to get one take,” Damon told GQ.
On the first day of shooting, Damon felt that he can do better. “And on the first day, I did my first take and I knew that I got I got it right,” The Martian actor added. “But I was like you know hey boss, can I have another one?” Damon continued. Eastwood just turned to Damon and said “Why? You want to waste everybody’s time?” the actor recalled.
“And I was like all right I guess we’re moving on. You know, so, that was, that was day one with Clint.”
However, Damon loved working with the legendary director in the film.
When Matt Damon Could Not Reach Clint Eastwood
Eastwood has been living his life with a specific set of principles which includes his detachment from his work when he is with his family. When Damon called the 93-year-old to discuss his role in Invictus, the actor could not reach him as Eastwood was on vacation with family. Talking to GQ, the actor revealed that Warner Brothers called him for the part of Francois Pienaar. “Invictus, well it’s an incredible book and it was a great script Alan Horn who ran Warner Brothers at the time called me and told me that he wanted me for this part,” Damon said.
“So I immediately called Clint and I remember I got his office they said, ‘uh oh, he’s not, he’s not here right now.’ And I go, ‘Okay great just he can just call me back whenever.’ And they go, ‘Oh, that’s a thing we don’t we don’t know when he’s gonna call because he’s on vacation and nobody knows how to reach him, and when, whenever he calls it could be a couple days but I’ll give him your message’”
The Bourne actor was particularly impressed with that. “I remember hanging up the phone and saying to my wife, ‘Wow that’s pretty cool,’” Damon said.
“Like when you’re at the place where you’re like I’ll call you in three days because I’m with my family and I can’t be bothered. I’m like, wow that’s that was, that was kind of neat but I just remember loving working with him.”
Based on John Carlin’s 2008 book, Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game that Made a Nation, the Eastwood-directed movie has received several accolades. Morgan Freeman was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in 2010 while Damon received the Best Supporting Actor for his role.
Damon is set to appear in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer which is scheduled for 21 July 2023 release. The 52-year-old will also appear in Ethan Coen’s comedy Drive-Away Dolls, set to release on 22 September 2023, and John Krasinski’s fantasy comedy Imaginary Friends which is slated for 24 May 2024 release.