Matt Damon talks about the formidable Christopher Nolan’s most powerless moments, where nerves take over his usual calm and composed demeanor. When you are the master architect behind some of modern cinema’s most colossal blockbusters, the pressure never truly stops. Even a legendary filmmaker like Christopher Nolan, whose name alone commands global box office dominance, wrestles with intense anxiety right before his creations face the ultimate verdict of the public. 

Now, frequent collaborator Matt Damon is pulling back the curtain on what goes on behind the scenes on the eve of a major premiere.

In a candid conversation with GQ, Matt Damon sheds light on the one specific point during the entire filmmaking process where even the great Magician of the Screen appears to be powerless in front of the will of the audience. The Odyssey actor reveals that the legendary director is his most vulnerable just before the release of the film.

“Chris [Nolan], the most nervous he is in the entire process, from the very beginning to the very end, is the eve of the film coming out,” Damon said.

"He’s genuinely nervous. He talks openly about it, because that is the moment that you put it out into the world and you have to live with the reaction," The Martian fame added.

While explaining the reason behind this rare phenomenon to GQ, Damon emphasizes that the fate of any film, no matter how great the makers and the actors think it is, ultimately rests in the hands of the audience. The film has a life if the audience likes it, or it just drifts slowly to oblivion.

Talking specifically about The Odyssey, he says that they were kind of relieved once it opened in the theaters, as they were continuously receiving positive affirmation from the viewers about the movie. According to the actor, this was especially a big deal for him because of the huge budget attached to the project and his belonging to the slightly lesser bracket of that kind of investment.

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The GQ interview comes just in time for the Oscar campaign for Christopher Nolan’s magnum opus.

Universal’s official Oscar campaign for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey kicks off in earnest the week of November 9, 2026. While Universal is pushing for a number of Oscar contenders across different categories, the acting race is spearheaded by Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway. Damon will undoubtedly compete in the Best Actor category, while Hathaway is joined by fellow co-star, Samantha Morton, for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson also get Universal’s backing for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. It is really shaping up to be a tough fight inside the movie's own camp, but the more the merrier for Universal, and it has planned a campaign accordingly, fitting for the sheer scale and bottomless talent pool of The Odyssey.    

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Do you think even the mighty Christopher Nolan feels powerless in front of the audience? Do let us know.