Matt Damon Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images Logo text Daniels have finally found their man.
Matt Damon is in talks to be the big name star in the newest feature from Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, the filmmaking duo known as Daniels.
Universal is backing the project, Daniels’ first since their sensation Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven Oscars in 2023.
The project is operating under a cloak of secrecy…well, make that “has” been operating under such a cloak, as The Hollywood Reporter can exclusively reveal previously unknown details about the casting and the story.
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Universal could not be reached for comment.
Daniels have been working on this project for the last three years, powering through challenges of budget, script and casting. The latest issues involved the latter two.
The story for the feature is a described as involving global warming, time travel, as well as a possible superhero angle. And there are two timelines, one set in the 1980s and one set in present day. The protagonists of the story are teens…at least in the 1980s-set timeline.
Daniels are said to have been casting the teen roles since 2024, before postponing the production one or more times. (Streamlining the story from an initial three time periods to two impacted the script writing, and was one of several factors behind the delays.) In fact, they may already have their choices to play the teens, but have been waiting to cast some of the big-name roles first.
Initially, Daniels had their sights on Ryan Gosling as the big name for the feature. The role was that of the father of one of the teens and was, as substantial as it was, supporting in nature. Gosling, after initially agreeing, thought it should be larger and asked for script changes, according to sources.
Daniels did not necessarily disagree but there was a larger issue. The project, which had already pushed, had to start production by the end of summer or early fall because it had received a California tax credit. Accommodating Gosling would require more script revisions and time was simply running out.
So in a whirlwind week or two, Gosling was in then out. Daniels scrambled and sources say there was even a time when Jack Black was considered. The duo quickly pivoted to Damon, who is already well-liked at Universal for not only starring in the Bourne action movies but as the lead of Christopher Nolan’s epic The Odyssey, which the studio releases in July.
With Damon now on the path, Daniels can turn their attention on finding the right actor to play his son.
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