MIAMI - In the most Latino block of Miami Beach, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck sat down with The Latin Times to share their latest cinematic venture and future aspirations. Amid the palm trees and the sultry atmosphere, they bantered, remembered their first movie together, which was filmed in Latin America, and admitted that their relationship bled into their new project, "The Instigators," a movie that will be released on Friday on Apple TV+.
However, since Miami is a city close to Damon's heart and his romantic relationship with Latin America (he met Luciana Barroso, his Argentinian wife of 20 years and mother of their four daughters, a few blocks south of the Faena Hotel, where the interview took place), it was impossible not to talk about Latino projects and his connection with the culture. It turns out that both Damon and the younger Affleck (Ben Affleck is Casey's big brother) speak decent Spanish and have traveled to the region several times. During the interview, the pair made exciting revelations.
Matt Damon's Latino Dream
The Oscar-winning actor expresses a particular hope: a good Latino project that reaches him. "I would love it if a great Argentinian or great story from anywhere in Latin America fell in my lap," Damon reveals, his eyes lighting up enthusiastically. He admits being "reactive" with his projects, meaning he tends to react to things that reach him.
He also welcomes projects based in Miami or connected to the Latin community. Founded in 2022, his and Ben Affleck's production company, Artists Equity, produced the Jennifer López movie "The Greatest Love Story Ever Told."
A Friendship 43 Years in the Making
Artists Equity also produced the critically acclaimed 2023 movie "Air" and now "The Instigators," with Damon's wife working as a producer.
"I sent it to Matt and Lucy, his wife," said Casey Affleck when talking about the script co-written by him. "They both really liked it. Lucy was kind of a little more insightful with her feedback than Matt was, but they both liked it. Matt said he wanted to do it and that he wanted to produce it through his company and from then on, it was kind of smooth sailing."
In the buddy heist production, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck's four-decade friendship translates seamlessly onto the screen in their new Apple TV+ release. "A lot of our real relationship does bubble up in these scenes," Damon shared. We can't help but, uh, we find a lot of the same things funny."
Directed by Doug Liman, the movie follows Rory (Damon) and Cobby (Affleck), a desperate father and ex-convict, who find themselves on the run after a botched robbery.
The authenticity of their performances is no accident. Much of the film's dialogue was developed on the fly, a testament to their deep personal connection. "The scenes developed as we worked on them," Damon explained. "In large part, probably because of our shared history."
Affleck echoed this sentiment, adding that their dynamic allowed for a level of improvisation that would be challenging with less familiar co-stars. "Our relationship is intense and very hilarious," he said. "That's our real-life dynamic as well."
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