Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via GettyMatt Damonsays he wants “to make every second count” when it comes to working with his longtime friendBen Affleck.As Damon spoke with journalist Chris Wallace onWho’s Talking to Chris Wallaceprior to theScreen Actors Guild strike, theOppenheimerstar, 52, noted that he and Affleck, 50, have “been bizarrely close for a long time.“When Wallace asked Damon whether he and hisAircostar and director ever went through a period where they were not close, the actor cited the 2021 Beatles documentaryGet Backas a turning point in how he thought about his relationship with Affleck.Damon recalled how the documentary, which captured the iconic rock band as they wrote and recorded their final studio album prior to their 1970 breakup, “made me so sad… because you look at them and they’re so happy.““And Ben and I, I called him and I said, ‘Look man, you know, we were talking about [working together more] and it’s been 25 years or something sinceGood Will Huntinglike… what are we doing?’ “Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty”‘You know, we both kind of hit the lottery. Why aren’t we working together more often?’ " Damon recalled saying to Affleck. The pair famously refrained from writing together afterGood Will Hunting, even though they won anAcademy Awardfor their screenplay, until reuniting for 2021’sThe Last Duel.The actor went on to note that their relationship changed after Damon’s father Kent, whom Affleck “was very, very close with,“died in 2017at age 74.Never miss a story — sign up forto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter"It’s like it changed something in us. I think and you know, you start to really…you start to see the end game and you start to feel like I want to make every second count,” Damon noted. “I don’t want to fritter away time anymore.“The two have made time count since then, using their star power tocreate the production company Artists Equityback in November.Airmarked Artists Equity’s first release and followed Damon and Affleck as Nike sports executives who signed NBA star Michael Jordan to a historic brand deal in 1984.Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in ‘Good Will Hunting’.Miramax/Kobal/ShutterstockDamon andCasey Affleckare listed as the stars of one of thecompany’s upcoming movies, titledThe Instigators. Ben is working as a producer alongside Damon on that film, which notablyfilmed scenes in Bostonthis spring.Damon recently cited his personal friendship and working relationship with Ben as one of “the three most significant partnerships in my life” as he sat down with Sunday TODAY’s Willie Geist.“You’re supposed to divide your day up into thirds, so there’s no particular order, but obviously my wife,” the actor said, after Geist asked which partnership takes priority. “That [question] was a layup,” he then joked.Oppenheimeris in theaters now.Who’s Talking to Chris Wallaceon Max and CNN is available on Max now.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Photo: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty
Matt Damonsays he wants “to make every second count” when it comes to working with his longtime friendBen Affleck.As Damon spoke with journalist Chris Wallace onWho’s Talking to Chris Wallaceprior to theScreen Actors Guild strike, theOppenheimerstar, 52, noted that he and Affleck, 50, have “been bizarrely close for a long time.“When Wallace asked Damon whether he and hisAircostar and director ever went through a period where they were not close, the actor cited the 2021 Beatles documentaryGet Backas a turning point in how he thought about his relationship with Affleck.Damon recalled how the documentary, which captured the iconic rock band as they wrote and recorded their final studio album prior to their 1970 breakup, “made me so sad… because you look at them and they’re so happy.““And Ben and I, I called him and I said, ‘Look man, you know, we were talking about [working together more] and it’s been 25 years or something sinceGood Will Huntinglike… what are we doing?’ “Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty”‘You know, we both kind of hit the lottery. Why aren’t we working together more often?’ " Damon recalled saying to Affleck. The pair famously refrained from writing together afterGood Will Hunting, even though they won anAcademy Awardfor their screenplay, until reuniting for 2021’sThe Last Duel.The actor went on to note that their relationship changed after Damon’s father Kent, whom Affleck “was very, very close with,“died in 2017at age 74.Never miss a story — sign up forto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter"It’s like it changed something in us. I think and you know, you start to really…you start to see the end game and you start to feel like I want to make every second count,” Damon noted. “I don’t want to fritter away time anymore.“The two have made time count since then, using their star power tocreate the production company Artists Equityback in November.Airmarked Artists Equity’s first release and followed Damon and Affleck as Nike sports executives who signed NBA star Michael Jordan to a historic brand deal in 1984.Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in ‘Good Will Hunting’.Miramax/Kobal/ShutterstockDamon andCasey Affleckare listed as the stars of one of thecompany’s upcoming movies, titledThe Instigators. Ben is working as a producer alongside Damon on that film, which notablyfilmed scenes in Bostonthis spring.Damon recently cited his personal friendship and working relationship with Ben as one of “the three most significant partnerships in my life” as he sat down with Sunday TODAY’s Willie Geist.“You’re supposed to divide your day up into thirds, so there’s no particular order, but obviously my wife,” the actor said, after Geist asked which partnership takes priority. “That [question] was a layup,” he then joked.Oppenheimeris in theaters now.Who’s Talking to Chris Wallaceon Max and CNN is available on Max now.
Matt Damonsays he wants “to make every second count” when it comes to working with his longtime friendBen Affleck.
As Damon spoke with journalist Chris Wallace onWho’s Talking to Chris Wallaceprior to theScreen Actors Guild strike, theOppenheimerstar, 52, noted that he and Affleck, 50, have “been bizarrely close for a long time.”
When Wallace asked Damon whether he and hisAircostar and director ever went through a period where they were not close, the actor cited the 2021 Beatles documentaryGet Backas a turning point in how he thought about his relationship with Affleck.
Damon recalled how the documentary, which captured the iconic rock band as they wrote and recorded their final studio album prior to their 1970 breakup, “made me so sad… because you look at them and they’re so happy.”
“And Ben and I, I called him and I said, ‘Look man, you know, we were talking about [working together more] and it’s been 25 years or something sinceGood Will Huntinglike… what are we doing?’ "
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
“‘You know, we both kind of hit the lottery. Why aren’t we working together more often?’ " Damon recalled saying to Affleck. The pair famously refrained from writing together afterGood Will Hunting, even though they won anAcademy Awardfor their screenplay, until reuniting for 2021’sThe Last Duel.
The actor went on to note that their relationship changed after Damon’s father Kent, whom Affleck “was very, very close with,“died in 2017at age 74.
Never miss a story — sign up forto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter
“It’s like it changed something in us. I think and you know, you start to really…you start to see the end game and you start to feel like I want to make every second count,” Damon noted. “I don’t want to fritter away time anymore.”
The two have made time count since then, using their star power tocreate the production company Artists Equityback in November.Airmarked Artists Equity’s first release and followed Damon and Affleck as Nike sports executives who signed NBA star Michael Jordan to a historic brand deal in 1984.
Ben Affleck and Matt Damon in ‘Good Will Hunting’.Miramax/Kobal/Shutterstock
Damon andCasey Affleckare listed as the stars of one of thecompany’s upcoming movies, titledThe Instigators. Ben is working as a producer alongside Damon on that film, which notablyfilmed scenes in Bostonthis spring.
Damon recently cited his personal friendship and working relationship with Ben as one of “the three most significant partnerships in my life” as he sat down with Sunday TODAY’s Willie Geist.
“You’re supposed to divide your day up into thirds, so there’s no particular order, but obviously my wife,” the actor said, after Geist asked which partnership takes priority. “That [question] was a layup,” he then joked.
Oppenheimeris in theaters now.Who’s Talking to Chris Wallaceon Max and CNN is available on Max now.
source: people.com
