Matt Damon has clarified the use of a female stunt double for certain scenes in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey.' Damon, who underwent a significant physical transformation for the role of Odysseus, slimming down from 200 lbs to 167 lbs, explained that director Nolan employed a specific technique for scenes involving the man-eating giants known as the Laestrygonians.
To emphasize the colossal size of the giants compared to Odysseus, Nolan utilized forced perspective. This involved casting very tall actors as the giants and unusually short actors as Damon's double. The double chosen for these scenes was Devyn Dalton, a female stunt performer.
"When we did the forced perspective stuff of the Laestrygonians, there were these kind of stuntmen who were all seven feet," Damon said in a recent interview on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast. "And then they got stuntmen who were under five feet, and so my double was a woman, a female stunt performer who had the greatest arms I've ever seen."
Damon expressed his admiration for Dalton, recounting how he thanked her for her contribution upon meeting her. "So it was almost 100 percent my arms in the movie, but you gotta give it up where it's due," he added.
Dalton herself confirmed her involvement in the film via an Instagram post, sharing photos from Scotland where the movie was filmed. She described the experience as an "epic team effort" and expressed gratitude for being part of the Laestrygonian battle sequence, stunt doubling for Damon. Fans may recognize Dalton from other projects such as the horror film 'Weapons' and the television series 'The Last of Us.'
Damon also discussed the extensive lifestyle changes required for his role, which included a strict diet and overall physical fitness regimen. He noted that the film was one of the most challenging he has ever been a part of, marking his third collaboration with Nolan following 'Oppenheimer' and 'Interstellar.'
The ensemble cast of 'The Odyssey' features a wide range of actors including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, among others. Theron had previously praised Damon's physical transformation for the role.
The film has achieved significant box office success, grossing $124.5 million domestically in its opening weekend and an additional $139 million internationally, totaling $263.5 million globally against its $250 million budget. Despite early online criticism regarding the film's diverse casting, 'The Odyssey' has received largely positive reviews.