Matt Damon has revealed that his stunt double in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey was a woman, a disclosure that may further inflame Elon Musk and his followers who have criticized the film's casting and historical accuracy.
Box Office Success and Controversy
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey opened to a massive $264 million worldwide, stunning critics and audiences alike with its ambitious adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic. However, the film has been drawn into a culture war by Elon Musk and his X followers, who have complained about inaccuracies and casting choices without seeing the movie. They have criticized Nolan as a 'coward' for casting Black actress Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and trans star Elliot Page in a role incorrectly reported as Achilles.
Damon's Revelation
During an appearance on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, Damon explained that for scenes involving the Laestrygonians—giant man-eating creatures—Nolan used forced perspective. Stunt performers under five feet tall were employed to play the humans, and Damon's double was a woman. 'She had the greatest arms I've ever seen,' Damon said, praising stunt performer Devyn Dalton.
Damon, who dropped from 200 lbs to 167 lbs for the role through intense training and a gluten-free diet, credited Dalton for her work. 'When she came into the catering tent, it was the first time I met her, I went up and I hugged her and I thanked her for all the work she'd put in,' he said. 'It was almost a hundred percent my arms in the movie—but you've got to give it up where it's due.'
Dalton's Response
Devyn Dalton confirmed her role on Instagram, writing: 'No spoilers just yet, but I'm incredibly grateful to be a part of the Laestrygonian battle. Stunt doubling the incredible @matt_damon_official. An epic team effort.' Dalton has also appeared in Weapons, Thunderbolts, and The Last of Us.
