Matt Damon Was Convinced to JoinThe InstigatorsAfter Wife Luciana ‘Worked On’ Him, Costar Casey Affleck Says

Mar. 15, 2025

Luciana and Matt Damon, and Casey Affleck.Photo:John Nacion/Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty

John Nacion/Getty; Monica Schipper/Getty

Casey Affleckwent to some funny lengths to getMatt Damonto star inThe Instigators.

“I went through Lucy,” he shared, in reference toDamon’s wife Luciana. “Who’s way more agreeable and has got better taste than Matt does.”

“It’s true, it’s true,” Damon, 53, added.

Affleck continued to say that he had sent the script to Damon but didn’t “hear anything for a couple of weeks,” which is what encouraged him to get in touch with his spouse.

“And then I hit Lucy up and she was like, ‘I read it. It’s great. I think Matt should do it.’ I said, ‘How do we get it done?’ She was like, ‘I’ll work on him,’ and that was it,” the actor said.

Damon and his wife have been married for nearly two decades andshare three daughters: Isabella, 18, Gia, 15, and Stella, 13. The actor is also a stepdad to Luciana’s daughter Alexia, 25.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Later in the interview, Damon reflected on what ultimately got him to accept the role. “I just love the world and the characters,” he said, noting that he also had conversations with Affleck and the director Doug Liman about the movie. “This was a very specific tone and we really wanted the movie to be fun, and fast and not overstay its welcome. So, kind of, the alchemy of all that. It felt like something I didn’t want to pass up,” he added.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

source: people.com