Actor Matt Damon has received a personal congratulations call from longtime friend Ben Affleck following the completion of Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated film, The Odyssey. Damon, 55, stars as the Greek warrior king Odysseus in the $250 million production, which is set to be released in cinemas next Friday, July 17. The film, featuring a cast that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Samantha Morton, and Charlize Theron, depicts Odysseus’s decade-long journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War, set in the Bronze Age.

Damon described the congratulatory call from Affleck, 53, as a significant moment, reflecting on their nearly five-decade friendship. The two first met as children in Cambridge, Massachusetts, living only two blocks apart and sharing a passion for baseball and acting. Their relationship has evolved over the years from co-writing and starring in Good Will Hunting to running the independent production company Artists Equity together since 2022.

Speaking at the London premiere alongside his wife, Luciana Barroso, and their children—including Barroso’s daughter, Alexia—Damon acknowledged The Odyssey as the largest-scale film of his career, designed specifically for IMAX giant screens. He praised Nolan not only for his directorial talent but also for his personal choice to avoid smartphones, promoting creativity and patience in an age of instant digital gratification.

Reflecting on how modern technology has transformed storytelling, Damon suggested that a character like Jason Bourne, whom he portrayed in four films, would face challenges in today’s smartphone-dominated environment. He noted that the spy’s traditional tactics of using multiple passports and disguises would be less effective when surveillance and digital technology are pervasive.

Damon shared personal anecdotes about his early career struggles with Affleck, recalling times when they pooled modest earnings into a shared bank account to fund auditions in New York. The account’s passcode was inspired by late actor River Phoenix, admired by both for his talent and the roles he secured.

Their enduring friendship often draws parallels to famous creative partnerships, with Damon comparing their dynamic to that of Paul McCartney and John Lennon, inspired by a 2021 documentary on The Beatles. He described how the film’s final rooftop performance evoked mixed emotions about creative collaboration and its challenges, prompting him to reach out to Affleck about their own shared dreams and evolving partnership.

Now estimated to be worth £130 million, Damon emphasized that despite professional success, the excitement of early breakthroughs remains meaningful, especially when shared with a close friend. He reflected, “It feels as if you have won the lottery, but your best friend won it too,” underscoring the deep bond they continue to nurture amid their respective careers.

The Odyssey is scheduled for release next Friday, with expectations high for its box office performance.