Matt Damon reveals logistics of shooting Trojan Horse scene were unclear until they 'were in it'

Matt Damon has revealed that Christopher Nolan had not fully worked out how to film one of The Odyssey's most famous moments until the cast and crew were literally inside the Trojan Horse together.

Speaking exclusively to People, Damon recalled the collaborative process behind shooting the pivotal sequence, saying even just days before filming, Nolan was still refining how the scene would work. 

"We didn't really know exactly how we were going to shoot it until we were in it," Damon said.

The Oscar winner, who plays Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's epic poem, explained that Nolan, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and several members of the cast climbed inside the enormous wooden horse together to work out the logistics of the scene.

"Chris got in there with Hoyte and all of us, and we kind of figured it out together," Damon said, describing the experience as surprisingly fluid for a production of such scale.

Rather than relying on rigid storyboards, Damon said Nolan encouraged experimentation, allowing the actors to move naturally within the confined space until the director found the shots he wanted.

The actor compared the atmosphere to making an independent film despite The Odyssey being one of the biggest productions of Nolan's career.

"It felt like an indie movie," Damon said. "Everybody was collaborating."

Damon also singled out co-star Jon Bernthal for his commitment during filming in Morocco, recalling that the actor endured freezing temperatures while performing an emotional scene.

According to Damon, Bernthal was visibly shivering between takes but remained completely focused on the performance, setting the tone for the cast's dedication throughout production.

John Leguizamo, who also appears in the film, admitted he was surprised to discover Nolan inside the Trojan Horse alongside the actors rather than directing from a monitor outside.

The actor said the hands-on approach reflected Nolan's filmmaking style, allowing everyone to contribute ideas while solving creative challenges together.

The Odyssey stars Damon as the legendary Greek king Odysseus alongside Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Calypso, Elliot Page as Sinon and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus.

The film is the first feature ever shot entirely using IMAX film cameras and adapts Homer's ancient Greek epic, following Odysseus' perilous journey home after the Trojan War.

The Odyssey opens in cinemas on July 17, 2026.