Summary

• Matt Damon and Casey Affleck star in The Instigators, a heist comedy inspired by Midnight Run and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
• The dynamic duo's plan to rob a corrupt politician takes a hilarious turn, with a thrilling chase ensueing involving the police and mobsters.
• In The Instigators, Hong Chau adds complexity as Rory's therapist, while Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, and Ving Rhames bring unique performances.

Matt Damon and Casey Affleck are once again sharing the screen, this time leaving behind their military roles in Oppenheimer for a daring escapade in the streets of Boston. In their latest film, The Instigators, the pair dive into the world of heist comedies, playing two unlikely partners in crime aiming to rob a corrupt politician.

The inspiration for this was definitely Midnight Run and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

Affleck told Entertainment Weekly, the movie draws inspiration from classic films such as Midnight Run and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. The actor revealed a long-held desire to explore the dynamics of a buddy action comedy. The Apple TV+ original film promises a new take on the heist format by combining humor with high stakes.

In The Instigators, Damon portrays Rory, a father pushed to the brink of desperation, who teams up with Cobby, an ex-convict played by Affleck. Their plan to seize the dirty money of a dishonest political figure quickly unravels, hurling them into a frenetic chase. Pursued by the police, corrupt officials, and revenge-seeking mobsters, their situation grows increasingly dire. Affleck described the film as:

"The Instigators is about two strangers who are hired for a heist. They become frenemies and then become friends while Jack Harlow yells at us, Paul Walter Hauser insults us, Ving Rhames hunts us, and Hong Chau keeps us alive."

Complicating matters further, the duo manages to involve Rory's therapist, played by Hong Chau, in their chaotic escape, adding doses of humor and complexity to their interactions. The dynamic cast is rounded out by notable performances from Jack Harlow, Paul Walter Hauser, Ving Rhames, and others, each adding a unique flavor to the comical drama.

Matt Damon Teases Potential Return in a New Jason Bourne Film

Matt Damon stirred excitement among action movie fans with comments about a potential new installment in the Jason Bourne series. Speaking on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Damon opened up about Edward Berger, the director attached to the next Bourne film, praising his Academy Award-winning work on All Quiet on the Western Front. Damon said:

“There is a great director named Edward Berger. [‘All Quiet on the Western Front’] is a fantastic film, and he’s wonderful and he said he had an idea [for Bourne]. I would love to work with him, so he’s working on it. Look, I’m as anxious as you are to see if this thing [happens] — I hope it’s great and that we can do it.”

Damon, who first appeared as the amnesiac spy in 2002’s The Bourne Identity, has been the face of the franchise that redefined action thrillers with its intense fight sequences and gripping narratives. The series includes hits like The Bourne Supremacy and The Bourne Ultimatum, both of which received critical acclaim for their creative action choreography and tight storyline. However, the most recent film in the saga, 2016’s Jason Bourne, didn’t quite live up to the high standards set by its predecessors.