The Ocean’s Eleven (2001) franchise has achieved great success, giving rise to spinoffs and an abundance of supplementary content. The initial movie, which was a remake of a Rat Pack production from 1960, was a fun-filled adventure featuring a constellation of stars, including Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Matt Damon, and others, that left audiences clamoring for more. In subsequent years, a few sequels were released.
Ocean’s 8, a spinoff film released in 2018, featured appearances from numerous Hollywood luminaries. However, to the dismay of fans, the movie excluded Damon’s character due to popular demand for the removal of the high-profile actor’s scene from the final cut.
The movie Ocean’s Eleven included Matt Damon in a prominent role
Ocean’s Eleven(2001) was a highly successful movie that featured an ensemble cast of renowned actors. Among them was Matt Damon, a Hollywood superstar who was already a household name when the film premiered. In the movie, Damon portrayed Linus Caldwell, a gifted pickpocket who was enlisted by Danny Ocean, played by George Clooney, to assist him in executing an elaborate heist. Damon’s portrayal of Linus was widely praised, and he went on to reprise his role in Ocean’s Twelve(2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen(2007), two highly popular sequels.
Also Read: WB Reportedly Making Ocean’s Eleven Prequel With Ryan Gosling, Margot Robbie
As the Ocean’s franchise continued to grow in popularity, Damon became an integral part of its universe. In fact, according to BuzzFeed, Damon even filmed a cameo appearance for the 2018 spinoff film Ocean’s 8(2018). However, despite his established status as a key figure in the franchise, Damon’s role was ultimately cut from the final version of the movie. While the reasons for the removal of his scene are not entirely clear, it is known that fans had demanded that his role be edited out due to controversy surrounding comments he made about the #MeToo movement.
What was the reason for the removal of Matt Damon’s cameo appearance from the film Ocean’s 8?
Damon’s appearance in Ocean’s 8 was intended to create a connection between the original Ocean’s franchise and its spinoff. However, the actor’s planned cameo in the movie was ultimately removed from the final cut due to the controversy sparked by his comments regarding Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo movement.
During an interview, Damon condemned Weinstein but also stated that not all claims of sexual abuse belong in the same category and that there was a spectrum of behavior. His remarks generated a great deal of outrage, and a fan petition was circulated calling for his role to be cut from Ocean’s 8. The petition described Damon’s comments as “thoughtless and sexist,” and garnered a significant number of signatures in the days following the interview.
What did Matt Damon have to say about his polarizing remarks?
According to BuzzFeed, Damon expressed regret and apologized for his words. He acknowledged that he should have listened more before weighing in on the topic and stated that he did not want to cause further pain to anyone.
Damon also expressed his support for the women who had come forward and spoken out against sexual misconduct. He noted that many of these women were his friends and that he respected and loved them. He also acknowledged that he needed to take a step back and refrain from commenting for a while.
Despite his efforts to make amends, Damon’s cameo was ultimately cut from “Ocean’s 8” and was never reinstated. However, his career was able to bounce back successfully in the years that followed. While the incident may have been a blip on the radar for Damon, it remains a sore spot for those who fought hard on behalf of the #MeToo movement.
Source: Showbiz CheatSheet
