Jimmy Kimmel has reignited interest in his ongoing fake feud with Matt Damon during the latest episode of his late-night talk show. In his recent monologue, the comedian humorously criticized the casting of the actor as Odysseus in The Odyssey by Christopher Nolan.
Jimmy Kimmel continues his fake feud with Matt Damon
On a recent episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the seasoned TV host made jokes about the upcoming film starring the Bourne Ultimatum actor.
Toward the conclusion of his monologue, Jimmy Kimmel jested that if fans were upset about Christopher Nolan’s casting decisions for The Odyssey, they should direct their anger at Matt Damon, whom he humorously labeled as a “loser” for the lead role of Odysseus.
Earlier, Kimmel addressed Elon Musk’s dissatisfaction with Nolan’s casting choices for the action-adventure film, particularly regarding Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. He noted that Musk was not alone in his criticism, as Rob Finnerty from Newsmax also dedicated an entire news segment to express his concerns.
Additionally, Kimmel made light of Finnerty’s assertion that Nolan was “rewriting history” through his casting. He pointed out that Helen was not a real person since Homer’s epic is a mythical poem.
Kimmel further joked that if fans were displeased with Nyong’o’s casting, they would likely be outraged about who Nolan chose as Odysseus’ “sidekick.” He then showcased a comically edited clip featuring his own sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, clad in armor and inserted into the film. A subsequent segment showed the Mexican comedian encountering the Cyclops Polyphemus and exclaiming, “Holy s—, it’s the Chupacabra.”
The Odyssey is set to premiere on July 17, 2026. In addition to directing, Christopher Nolan wrote the screenplay and co-produced it with his wife and producing partner, Emma Thomas, through Syncopy. Universal Pictures co-produced and will handle its theatrical distribution.
Besides Matt Damon and Lupita Nyong’o—who also portrays Clytemnestra—the film features Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson. Other cast members include Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Himesh Patel, Will Yun Lee, Elliot Page, and Mia Goth.
