“We’re never gonna make a sequel”: Despite Starring in 2 Billion-Dollar Franchises, Matt Damon Has No Intentions of Making a Sequel to His One $225 Million Film

Matt Damon rose to stardom after appearing in the highly acclaimed drama film Good Will Hunting in 1997, but despite its critical and commercial success, he has no plans on making a follow-up installment.

He starred in Gus Van Sant’s masterpiece alongside fellow Cambridge native Ben Affleck, Robin Williams, Stellan Skarsgård, and Minnie Driver. It received nine Academy Award nominations, winning two, including Best Supporting Actor for Williams and Best Screenplay for Damon and Affleck.

Matt Damon Won’t Consider A Sequel To Good Will Hunting

While speaking with Collider, actor Matt Damon refuted the claims that they have been accused of helming a sequel for Good Will Hunting.

I don’t think – were we accused of making a Good Will Hunting sequel? I don’t think we got it. I think people were smart enough to know we’re never gonna make a sequel to that movie.

He firmly stated that fans should not expect any possibility that they will tackle the beloved franchise anytime soon. The interviewer, however, brought up the return of Hugh Jackman as Wolverine despite declaring he’s done with the role. Damon quipped, “That’s fair. Who knows? We might be really desperate someday… Maybe there’s a multiverse where Good Will comes back.”

In another conversation with Variety, Damon revealed someone attempted to sell Ben Affleck the idea of making a part two of their iconic movie.

Someone just tried to pitch Ben ‘Good Will Hunting 2’. I sh*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.

Good Will Hunting grossed over $225 million against a budget of $10 million. Damon wrote the screenplay while attending Harvard University, and instead of a one-act play, he submitted a 40-page script. The actor later approached Affleck to help him develop it, and the script came together in 1994.

Matt Damon Reflects On Making Good Will Hunting

Damon’s career soared after his stint in Good Will Hunting. He starred in major blockbuster franchises such as the Bourne and Ocean’s movies that earned over a billion dollars in worldwide gross. Still, nothing beats his love for his own creation. He told Boston Magazine:

I don’t think there could ever be another movie that I felt that way about. Because of what it meant for our lives, because of that time in our life. Another movie couldn’t occupy that much of my heart and soul at this point in my life. A movie could never change my life like that again.

This is perhaps the reason Damon doesn’t want to make a sequel – there’s no way they could recreate the magic of the original film. Follow-up movies are usually made with the intention of doing something better than the first, and that would put them under a lot of pressure and criticism.

The Oppenheimer star seems resolute in his decision not to touch the franchise ever so fans shouldn’t expect a sequel anytime soon.

Good Will Hunting is available to watch on Hulu.