Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' Campaign Kicks Off With Matt Damon Stunt on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'

Published 06/19/2026, 2:10 AM CDT

Oppenheimer UK Premiere, Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London on 13 July 2023 Matt Damon at the Oppenheimer UK Premiere at Odeon Luxe in Leicester Square, London, United Kingdom on 13 July 2023., Credit:Cat Morley / Avalon United Kingdom, London, Leicester Square PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxFRAxUSA Copyright: xCatxMorleyx/xAvalonx 0788956097

Matt Damon successfully infiltrated Jimmy Kimmel Live! to promote his upcoming film The Odyssey. Now, it seems playing a Greek hero paid off, as the actor borrowed one of history's cleverest military strategies to outsmart his longtime rival, Jimmy Kimmel. Damon and the late-night host have kept fans entertained with their hilarious on-screen feud for more than two decades. 

So to promote his next movie, the actor leveled up his game by using the most bizarre tactic to sneak into Kimmel's show. 

Matt Damon used Trojan horses to enter Jimmy Kimmel Live!

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In a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, host Jimmy Kimmel received two horses delivered by UPS, one a giant horse and the other a baby horse. As a confused Kimmel began inspecting them, Matt Damon suddenly split open the baby horse, revealing himself. Moments after stepping out, Damon triumphantly shouted, declaring his victory.

“The horse is here and there’s no takebacks, b*****! I did it! I am here, baby!” Damon said. “I have traveled far and wide, through waves and w**, to save this audience from mediocrity.”

As soon as Kimmel shouted that it was trespassing, the two began bickering in the playful manner that fans love. When Kimmel asked how long Damon had been inside the horse, the actor jokingly replied by asking whether the Knicks had won. While it is unlikely Damon had actually been hiding inside the horse for that long, the gag landed well with the audience. And eventually, Kimmel asked what the purpose of the trespassing was.

“I’m on your show, I’m promoting a new movie, it’s coming out July 17,” Damon said. “It is called ‘The Odyssey.’ It’s based on a book, so you probably don’t know about it.”

But even while taking hilarious digs at his longtime frenemy, Damon did not forget to promote his new film. The actor stars as Odysseus in The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan. The epic boasts a star-studded cast that includes Tom Holland, Zendaya, Elliot Page, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, and several other Hollywood names.

‘The Odyssey’ Sets Sail Toward History With a Million-Dollar IMAX Triumph

Soon after promoting the film, Damon slipped right back into his fake feud with Kimmel. And that sparks curiosity around how the long-running rivalry began between the two.

Why is there a fake feud between Matt Damon and Jimmy Kimmel?

Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon's fake feud began all the way back in 2003 when Kimmel ended an episode of season 3 of Jimmy Kimmel Live! by joking, "Apologies to Matt Damon, we ran out of time.” Now, Damon was not even scheduled on the show. This gag became a recurring joke with Kimmel often mentioning it. 

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The joke continued further when Damon got repeatedly "cut off" whenever he appeared on the show. Much like the Trojan horse, he disguised himself as Tom Brady to sneak onto the show under Ben Affleck's oversized coat. Kimmel has also mocked Damon during award shows, famously rooting against him at the Oscars. Their playful back-and-forth has since become one of Hollywood's longest-running and most beloved fake celebrity feuds.

Fact Check: Did Christopher Nolan Really Race-Swap Helen of Troy in ‘The Odyssey’ by Casting Lupita Nyong'o?

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What do you think about Matt Damon's strategy to enter Jimmy Kimmel Live!? Let us know in the comments.

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Pritha Debroy

830 articles

Pritha Debroy is an Entertainment writer at NetflixJunkie who can seamlessly switch between breaking down an NBA play and obsessing over the latest K-drama twist. She has written over 3,400 NBA and NFL articles, but her true joy lies in diving into Netflix’s trendiest shows—unpacking themes, stories, and yes, the occasional celebrity chaos. When she is not writing, you’ll find her devouring thrillers (anything by Freida McFadden is an instant yes), revisiting comfort classics like 10 Things I Hate About You and 27 Dresses, or hunting for her next binge-worthy series.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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