Matt Damon admits 'It was hard to watch' new 'Ripley' series on Netflix

Matt Damon isn’t ready to return to 1960s Italy for a binge of Andrew Scott’s Ripley series.

With the latest adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s bestselling novel now available, Damon reflects on his portrayal of the villainous protagonist, Tom Ripley, in 1999's "The Talented Mr. Ripley."

In a recent interview with IndieWire, Damon seemed uncertain about reprising his role as the chameleonic con artist.

"I don’t know,” Damon said. “I associate the one that we did so much with Anthony Minghella, who’s passed away now, that I don’t know.”

He admitted, “I even had trouble watching the new one, as beautiful as it was and as great as everybody was.”

Directed by Oscar winner Steven Zaillian, the Netflix series tells the story of a scammer scraping by in early-1960s New York until he falls into a world of opulence, leading to a path of deceit, fraud, darkness, and murder.

Andrew Scott stars in the titular role, with Johnny Flynn as Dickie Greenleaf and Dakota Fanning as Marge Sherwood.

Reflecting on his experience with the show, Damon said, “It was hard at first for me to sink back into it just because I have so many great memories, but they’re all wrapped up in these personal feelings about the experience.”

Damon starred alongside Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Cate Blanchett in the 1999 film.

Director Anthony Minghella, known for films such as "The English Patient" and "Cold Mountain," passed away in 2008 at age 54.

Law, who received an Oscar nomination for his role as Dickie, expressed his enthusiasm for the Netflix series, noting his own complex emotional reaction.

"Like any great source material, it's really rewarding and interesting to watch something from a new perspective, a new angle,” Law told Entertainment Weekly.

“Steve Zaillian's, in many ways, couldn't be further from Anthony's. It's very interesting to see what scenes and threads still come to the surface, even if they are very different stylistically and in their pacing."

He added, “I haven't watched the one I'm in in many, many years. So, it was funny how many of the scenes are similar and kicked up so many memories in my mind. And how well I knew it. I kept thinking, 'Oh God, I remember this.' Down to the name of Dickie's maid, Ermelinda. I always remember saying, 'Ermelinda, Ermelinda.' There was an emotional level, too, to revisiting those characters."