It is finally happening—the much-awaited reunion between Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, which promises to be one hell of a ride! Leaving their military roles behind (Oppenheimer), this time they are all set to embark on a daring adventure through the streets of Boston.
Indeed, the dynamic duo is teaming up for a heist film titled, The Instigators, which promises to be a star-studded affair with a list of the finest Hollywood elites. Much to your surprise, one of the big names registering for the grifting romp is none other than Rap sensation Jack Harlow.
Fresh on the heels of Apple TV+’s Oscar triumph with CODA, starring Emilia Jones & Eugenio Derbez, the company is riding high. It seems obvious that the company’s astute production decisions will result in another hit on their hands. And with the production prowess of Damon & Ben Affleck, success for The Instigators seems to be written in the stars.
The Instigators: Matt Damon & Casey Affleck Rekindle the Magic in Their Latest Project
There is no doubt that The Instigators, starring Casey Affleck and Matt Damon, will be an exciting ride. With the production company, Artists Equity, run by Ben Affleck and Damon, behind the project, you know it’s going to be something special.
This heist flick follows a group of thieves who enlist the help of one of their therapists after a job goes haywire, promising plenty of twists, turns, and unexpected alliances. According to Casey Affleck’s interview with Entertainment Weekly, the film takes cues from classic movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and Midnight Run:
The inspiration for this was definitely Midnight Run and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
In the film—helmed by Doug Liman—Damon plays Rory, a desperate father who teams up with Cobby (Casey Affleck), an ex-con, for a high-stakes heist that quickly goes awry. Ben Affleck continued, describing the movie as:
The Instigators is about two strangers who are hired for a heist. They become frenemies and then become friends while Jack Harlow yells at us, Paul Walter Hauser insults us, Ving Rhames hunts us, and Hong Chau keeps us alive.
Joining the talented cast are Hong Chau, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, and Jack Harlow, all adding their own flavor to the chaotic and thrilling story.
Matt Damon’s Insights on Working in Apple Original Heist Film
In the same interview with Entertainment Weekly, Matt Damon shared his excitement about working on The Instigators, praising Ben Affleck and Chuck MacLean for creating “some great characters” and a fun world for the film.
What really drew Damon to the project, though, was the chance to collaborate with director Doug Liman again. The Martian actor expressed his admiration for the latter’s imaginative drive, calling him one of the most “creatively tenacious people” he’s ever worked with:
I absolutely love working with Doug. I can’t believe it took us 20 years to find something else to do together. Doug is one of the most creatively tenacious people I’ve ever met. He just won’t stop until the movie is as good as it can be, and that is the best possible thing you can feel from a director. I trust him completely.
Liman, in turn, spoke highly of the growth he’s seen in Damon over the years, both as an actor and as a person. The director also reflected on the experience of working with two longtime friends & collaborators (Damon, Ben Affleck, and his brother, Casey Affleck), describing it as being “parachuted into a family” full of history and shared experiences.
With an intriguing heist narrative set to unravel and the buzz already building after a sneak peek at the Apple TV+ lineup—which also gave us glimpses of thrilling titles like Lady in the Lake—there’s no question that The Instigators is poised to join the ranks of unforgettable box office successes.
The Instigators will be released in select theaters on August 2 before becoming available globally on August 9 via Apple TV+.
