Matt Damon is one of the most recognizable figures whose career has spanned beyond acting. The actor has captured the hearts of millions with his charismatic on-screen persona, handsome looks, incredible acting talent, and knack for playing intriguing characters.
Damon began his acting career in 1988 with the film Mystic Pizza. He found early success and shot to global stardom in 1997 with his performance in the American psychological drama Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with his actor-friend Ben Affleck.
However, many people might not know that before starring in the flick, the actor pitched the movie to the studios, and they suggested casting A-list stars like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead roles. Damon once shared that it was because of Sylvester Stallone and his film Rocky, which Stallone wrote, that inspired him and his co-star Affleck to fight for their spot to appear in the movie and keep their vision unchanged for the project.
Matt Damon Reveals How Sylvester Stallone Inspired Him in His Early Career
Matt Damon has established himself as a leading star and has earned bucketloads of cash, enormous fame, and fortune in his thriving career. The actor has built himself as a juggernaut and has collaborated with some of the top echelons of directors in the film industry. Damon earned his first Academy Award for writing Best Original Screenplay for his 1997 masterpiece Good Will Hunting which he co-wrote with his co-star-friend Ben Affleck.
The actors were beginning their careers when they pitched this highly acclaimed screenplay to the studios. In the award-winning movie, he played the role of Will Hunting while Affleck played Chuckie Sullivan. This monumental project paved the way for their careers, which skyrocketed overnight after the success of this movie.
However, the 52-year-old actor once revealed during his award acceptance speech in 2016 that he and his co-star were encouraged to star in the flick because of legendary actor Sylvester Stallone. He claimed that his Rocky movie, which the veteran star wrote and appeared in, inspired them, and they both insisted studios let them make their debut on the silver screen.
Matt Damon Credits Sylvester Stallone For Encouraging Him To Star in Good Will Hunting
In 2016, Matt Damon won the Best Actor award for his excellent performance in the 2015 sci-fi movie The Martian at the National Board of Review awards gala in New York. During his award acceptance speech, the Oppenheimer actor revealed that during the casting, producers suggested offering the roles to more bankable actors like Leonardo DiCaprio, as Damon was a newcomer in the industry. The actor shared that the inspiration behind his decision to work in the titular movie came from Sylvester Stallone. He said,
“Believe, me they really wanted to take it away from us. They were like, ‘God, Leonardo DiCaprio would be so good in this.’’’
He thanked Stallone for encouraging them,
“Every time they said, ‘You can’t do this,’ we said, ‘Actually it’s been done once before.’ [Sylvester Stallone’s] story changed my life. He had an incredible amount of courage, and he changed the course of our lives, ” Matt Damon said.
Gus Van Sant-directed Good Will Hunting boasts a stellar cast ensemble featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgård, and Minnie Driver. The movie won nine Academy Awards nominations and received positive reviews from the audience and critics alike. It was commercially successful and grossed $225 million against the budget of $10 million.
Source: Vanity Fair
