Casey Affleck Asks Matt Damon to Direct His Movies 'Every Time I Get a Script,' but He Always Says No

Mar. 15, 2025

Casey AffleckwantsMatt Damonto direct his movies — but his longtime friend always declines.

While Affleck, 48, appeared onSiriusXM’sLiterally with Rob Lowepodcast Thursday, Aug. 8, to promote his new movie with Damon, 53,The Instigators, theAcademy Award-winning actor shared that Damon always turns down his offers to step behind the camera.

“I wish that Matt would direct because he understands movie making so well and he is such a good writer,” Affleck told hostRob Loweduring the appearance. “Every time I get a script, I send it to him to direct, includingInstigators. I sent it to him and I said, ‘Would you direct this?’ And, like as always, he said no.”

Damon and Affleck, who have known each other since their childhood in Boston, have collaborated a number of times since their careers took off with 1997’sGood Will Hunting, which Damon co-wrote with Casey’s older brotherBen Affleck.

Matt Damon (left) and Casey Affleck.John Nacion/Variety via Getty

John Nacion/Variety via Getty

While Damon has never commented on why he does not choose to direct movies himself, Casey shared on Lowe’s podcast that he thinks “it’s partly the time commitment.”

“He likes to work and he wants to go from one to the next. And I think he has, he wants to do a lot of things and he thinks, I don’t wanna be on one thing for 18 months,” Casey said. “Then also — maybe he’s waited so long that he thinks it has to be perfect. He’s never said that, and I don’t mean that as a slight, but I think he’s just like, he has to find something that is perfect.”

Matt Damon (left) and Casey Affleck on Dec. 11, 2016.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Kevin Mazur/WireImage

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 celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

During the podcast appearance, Casey shared that he thinks if Damon should ever direct a movie, he will “make it great” — no matter what he does. “And so, I try to get him to direct things all the time,” he added. “And he says no.”

source: people.com