Matt Damon shares how Clint Eastwood rejected his request for more takes on Invictus

“Why? You wanna waste everybody’s time?” Eastwood shot back when Damon asked to re-shoot a scene

Matt Damon recently opened up about a memorable moment early in his collaboration with legendary director Clint Eastwood, revealing that Eastwood once shut down his request to film additional takes on set and that the blunt exchange taught him about the veteran auteur’s efficient style of filmmaking.

Damon shared the anecdote on the “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend” podcast, recalling his first day on the set of Eastwood’s 2009 film Invictus, where he portrayed South African rugby captain Francois Pienaar. The Oscar‑nominated actor said he had spent six months working with a dialect coach to perfect the tough South African accent, eager to impress one of his cinematic heroes.

“When I showed up, I’m ready, it’s like my chance to work with, you know, one of my heroes,” Damon said. After delivering what he thought was a solid first take, he told Eastwood he had a few other ideas for the scene and asked if they could try again.

Eastwood’s response was immediate and succinct: “Cut, print, move on.” When Damon insisted, saying, “I want to… do another one,” the director shot back, “Why? You wanna waste everybody’s time?”

Despite the brusque phrasing, Damon stressed that he believes Eastwood’s approach came from a place of professionalism rather than animosity. “There was a kindness to it,” Damon said, calling Eastwood “a lovely guy.”

The actor also highlighted how Eastwood’s philosophy played out differently on subsequent shoots, especially with non‑professional actors. On a later scene with a young child in Invictus, Damon said the production went through dozens of takes to support the boy’s performance — with Eastwood right beside him guiding the moment. “We must have done 40 takes with this little boy,” Damon remembered.

Eastwood’s minimalist style, built around trust in prepared actors and respect for the crew’s time and energy, reflects a reputation he’s maintained throughout his decades‑long career. The director is known in Hollywood for his efficiency and focus on momentum during production, rarely lingering on multiple takes if the initial performance serves the story.