> At a Glance
> – Matt Damon revealed he slimmed to 167 lbs for The Odyssey after director Christopher Nolan asked for “lean but strong.”
> – The 55-year-old actor typically weighs 185-200 lbs and hasn’t been this light since high school.
> – He went gluten-free, hired a trainer, and built his entire daily routine around the physical prep.
> – Why it matters: Fans get a first look at how far Damon went to embody Homer’s epic hero ahead of the film’s July 17 release.
Matt Damon shared the extreme fitness regimen behind his transformation into Odysseus during a Jan. 7 appearance on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce.
The Weight-Loss Plan
Damon told the hosts that Nolan’s vision required a stripped-down physique. “He wanted me lean but strong,” the actor explained, noting the directive meant dropping roughly 20-30 lbs from his usual range.
- Adopted a strict gluten-free diet
- Hired a trainer capable of “basically anything”
- Structured every day around workouts and meals
Life at 167 Pounds
Filming at 167 lbs, Damon said he hadn’t hit that number since his teenage years. The disciplined approach mirrored the way NFL players build their season, he told the Kelce brothers.
> “It feels almost like a season … you get really routinized and build your day around all that stuff.”
Even after wrapping, Damon remains gluten-free. “I found a gluten-free beer,” he joked, adding he can no longer tell if it tastes good because it’s been so long since he’s had the real thing.
Epic Scale and Cast
Universal Pictures released a teaser last month showcasing mythic action shot across global locations with brand-new IMAX film tech. The movie opens July 17 and costars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and more.
Key Takeaways
- Damon lost 18-33 lbs for the role through diet and training
- His prep resembled an athlete’s in-season regimen
- The Odyssey lands in theaters July 17 with a star-packed ensemble
- The actor still sticks to a gluten-free lifestyle post-production
Expect a noticeably lighter, battle-ready Odysseus when Damon returns to the big screen this summer.
