Robert Pattinson has shared an amusing anecdote from the set of The Odyssey, where he initially mistook co-star Matt Damon's intense vocal preparation for a sign of mental distress.
Pattinson, who portrays Antinous in the upcoming film, recounted the incident during a recent interview. He explained that Damon, who plays Odysseus, was in a trailer adjacent to his and emitting loud, sustained vocalizations. Unaware of Damon's method acting, Pattinson believed his co-star was experiencing a severe personal crisis or had a "really bad toilet experience."
"He's such a nice guy, and I thought he was on the phone, and I'm like, 'He's a complete psycho.' Like, he's just screaming and screaming and screaming," Pattinson said, adding with a laugh, "I thought he was having a really bad toilet experience."
The actor later learned that Damon's vocal exercises were a deliberate attempt to alter his voice for the role, aiming to sound older and more weathered. This practice, also audible to actor Tom Holland, involved Damon significantly straining his voice.
"He was blowing his voice out just to sound older, and I was just like… seeing him on the mast, I'm like, 'You're really taking years off your life doing this,'" Pattinson recalled, commenting on the intensity of Damon's commitment.
The Odyssey is set to premiere on July 17, with early preview showings available starting July 16. The film has already garnered attention, with IGN awarding it an 8/10 in its review, describing it as a compelling adaptation of Homer's epic that blends horror, existential angst, and humor.