During a recent appearance on EW's Around the Table, actor Matt Damon revealed an intriguing story about how he negotiated with his wife during a couples therapy session to take a break from work, with one exception: if acclaimed director Christopher Nolan were to call him about being part of the Oppenheimer cast.
Damon, who previously worked with Nolan on the film Interstellar, shared that he had been “put on ice” for a couple of movies by the director, which meant he was not part of Nolan's regular roster of actors. Seeking some time off, Damon recalled negotiating extensively with his wife, discussing his plans to take a break from his acting career.
However, there was one condition that Damon insisted upon during the negotiation process: if Chris Nolan were to call him, he would make an exception and return to work. Damon humorously revealed that this negotiation took place during a couples therapy session, highlighting the unique circumstances surrounding his decision.
Damon explained that Nolan has a tendency to reach out to actors out of the blue, without giving them any prior indication of his ongoing projects. So, even without any knowledge of Nolan's current work, Damon included this specific clause in his negotiation with his wife.
The result of this negotiation is Damon's involvement in Nolan's upcoming film Oppenheimer, where he portrays Leslie Groves, the general who oversaw the Manhattan Project. The film features a star-studded cast, including Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Robert Downey Jr., Florence Pugh, Josh Hartnett, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, and Kenneth Branagh, among others.
Oppenheimer is set to release in theaters on July 21, showcasing the outcome of Damon's unique negotiation and his collaboration with the talented Christopher Nolan once again.