Ben Affleck’s children were thrilled to visit the set of The Odyssey, directed by Christopher Nolan, while their enthusiasm contrasted with their lack of interest in their father’s own film sets. During a guest appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on January 13, 2024, Affleck shared this sentiment while promoting his latest film, The Rip, alongside longtime friend and co-star Matt Damon.
Affleck, who has three children—Violet, 20, Seraphina, 17, and Samuel, 13—with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, expressed his excitement about taking them to see Nolan’s production. “I’m a huge fan of Chris’,” he said. He recounted how his children often decline to visit him on set, citing school as their primary excuse. “When I tell them we’re doing something on set, they say, ‘No, I got school,’” Affleck explained.
The visit to The Odyssey was a different experience. Affleck noted that his middle child has developed an interest in reading the Iliad and Odyssey, which added to their excitement about the trip. He expressed gratitude for being able to share this moment with his children, stating, “My kids really liked it. It was kinda cool. It was really, really nice. I was deeply grateful to him.”
Damon added that Affleck and his family received a unique experience, as they were the only guests allowed on set during a six-month shooting schedule. The film, which was shot in various locations including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, and Scotland from February to August 2025, required an intense commitment from the cast and crew. “It was such an ambitious project that the amount of work that needed to be done, there was just no time for anything else,” Damon explained.
He emphasized the demanding nature of the project, stating, “I’ve never, ever done a movie that just required every single person to work, to kind of give maximum effort.” Damon, who plays the role of Greek king Odysseus, expressed immense pride in the film and described it as “the pinnacle of my entire career.”
The cast of The Odyssey includes notable actors such as Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. The film is set to be released on July 16, 2025, and Damon expressed his excitement over the adaptation of such a classic literary work.
In another segment, Affleck spoke about the bond he shares with Damon and their collaboration on The Rip. He humorously noted, “I keep relearning things about Matt that I already knew and I forget them.” He praised Damon for his talents as both a father and an actor, adding, “You’re really lucky if you can do this for a living, and you’re exceptionally lucky if you can do it with people you love and care about.”
The two actors have maintained a close friendship throughout their careers, and their latest projects continue to showcase their enduring partnership in the film industry. The Rip is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on January 16, 2024.
