Matt Damon reveals Christopher Nolan improvised 'The Odyssey’s iconic Trojan Horse scene

Matt Damon has revealed that even director Christopher Nolan did not know exactly how he would film The Odyssey’s famous Trojan Horse sequence until the cast and crew were inside the massive wooden structure.

Speaking about the ambitious production, Damon said the pivotal scene came together organically, with Nolan relying on collaboration rather than a detailed plan.

Recalling the days leading up to filming, the actor remembered asking Nolan how he intended to shoot the sequence.

“I said, ‘Chris, how are you going to do the horse?’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, I don’t know,’” Damon shared, explaining that the conversation took place just days before cameras rolled on the scene.

In Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, Damon stars as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king who embarks on a decades-long journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War.

The film also features Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus.

Rather than meticulously storyboarding the scene, Damon said Nolan brought the cast, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, the IMAX camera and himself inside the giant Trojan Horse to work out the logistics together.

“We were together as a crew for the entire film and we just jammed in there and figured it out,” Damon said, praising the creative energy that came from making the sequence feel as authentic as possible.

The Oscar-winning actor said the collaborative approach reflected Nolan’s filmmaking style, allowing moments to develop naturally instead of being overplanned.

Damon also recalled one of the toughest moments during production, when co-star Jon Bernthal, who portrays Menelaus, endured freezing conditions while filming the Trojan Horse sequence in Morocco during winter.

According to Damon, Bernthal was half-submerged in icy water and shivering so intensely that he struggled to deliver his dialogue.

Even when Nolan checked on him, the actor urged the crew to continue filming instead of stopping.

Damon said Bernthal’s determination set the tone for the entire cast, describing it as an example of the dedication everyone brought to the production.

Actor John Leguizamo, who plays Odysseus’ loyal companion Eumaeus, was equally impressed by Nolan’s hands-on leadership.

He recalled arriving on set expecting to meet the director, only to discover Nolan inside the Trojan Horse alongside the actors, cinematographer and IMAX camera.

Leguizamo said the moment demonstrated that Nolan would never ask his cast to do anything he was unwilling to do himself.

The Odyssey, filmed entirely using IMAX cameras, arrives in theaters on July 17.