Good Will Hunting transformed the world for best friends Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. Though they ended up creating a masterpiece in 1997, audiences had to wait 25 years to witness their collaboration once more. During an interview on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show, the duo finally revealed the reasons behind their lengthy hiatus from returning to the writers’ room together.
Why Did It Take Matt Damon and Ben Affleck So Long to Write Something After Good Will Hunting?
After a staggering 25-year gap since their work on Good Will Hunting, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon reunited, to write a movie together called The Last Duel. In a 2021 interview on Jimmy Fallon’s talk show, joined by Nicole Holofcener to promote their much-anticipated joint project, the duo finally shed light on the reasons behind their prolonged absence from the writers’ room. Damon stated,
“I mean, I think Good Will Hunting took us so long. We were, like, unemployed, broke guys, It took us forever to write that screenplay. I think we wrote thousands and thousands of pages. We don’t think we really knew what we were doing and I think that kind of put us off writing again, because we never thought we’d have the time.”
As it turns out, the movie exhausted their creative energies as it took them very long to complete the screenplay, and they also believed they wouldn’t have the time. After Good Will Hunting, both individuals pursued distinct career paths, gradually ascending to Hollywood royalty status, boasting an impressive array of blockbuster hits in their resumes. However, as soon as they found an opportunity, the two swiftly re-engaged to collaborate once more. This time around, their extensive experience in the industry proved invaluable, significantly speeding the creative process.
Also Read: The Avengers Star Matt Damon Would Rather Die Than Kiss Again: “I had to kiss…”
Will There Be Any Sequel to Good Will Hunting?
Contemplating a sequel to Good Will Hunting would demand an exceptional concept. At the Los Angeles premiere of Air, Matt Damon disclosed that an individual had actually proposed an idea for a sequel to the iconic film. He said to Variety,
“Someone just tried to pitch Ben Good Will Hunting 2. I s**t you not — that happened. He told me today. He was like, ‘You’re not going to believe what I heard.’ This was a flat-out sequel. I don’t get it.”
However Ben Affleck squashed the rumors, blasting Damon and stating,
“Matt is always telling stories that he should not be telling,”
Crafting Good Will Hunting proved to be a unique journey for the inseparable duo. The script fetched around $600,000 when sold to Castle Rock as well as earned them their first Oscar, and promptly, launched them into stardom. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the possibility of a sequel to the 1997 movie, witnessing the collaborative efforts of these two close friends in any project remains an exciting and cherished experience for their fans.
Good Will Hunting is available on Max to stream.
