Matt Damon speaks on replacing Eminem in 'Elysium'

[RajWatts]

The "Elysium" director first approached Ninja of the South African band Die Antwoord and then Eminem, back when the budget was closer to the more modest $30 million of "District 9" (the final price tag is closer to $100 million). When both of the musicians passed, Blomkamp turned to Damon, who eventually signed on.

The Internet had a field day with that bit of trivia, so when MTV News' Josh Horowitz recently sat down with Damon, he asked how the actor reacted when he found out about his stiff competition. But according to Damon, being a second or, even third, choice isn't that odd of an occurrence.

"I don't even think [Eminem] was my competition. I think Neill went to him, so there was no competition," Damon said. "He got the offer, but that's probably 75 percent of the things that I do — somebody else got the offer before — that's kind of the nature of the business. I think you end up getting the part you're supposed to get. The right actor gets the part, ultimately. In terms of me, I never asked Neill. I just found out about Eminem because I read it somewhere."

When Damon finally did hear about Eminem and the version of the August 9 sci-fi flick that almost was, it didn't faze him because of a lesson he knew from his previous relationships.

"I think Neill called him, and he passed, and then Neill called me," the actor elaborated. "It's not like they bring us all in for the cattle call: 'Goddamn it, Clooney's here! I knew it.' It's the kind of thing like — before I was married — asking your girlfriend about ex-boyfriends. You don't want to know, and it doesn't affect your relationship. You just get the parts you get."

 

[FlyRy]

 

[Jax]

Why would they reject?

 

[kingdarius]

eminem neill was tryna go WAAAAAY out the box

 

[Shogun]

that would have been a train wreck

 

[J.Connor]

Yeah apparently Em had the ball in his court on this one. The director really wanted him for whatever reason. Em insisted that they film the movie in Detroit but the director wasn't havin that so they went with Damon

 

[NatiboyB]

Yeah apparently Em had the ball in his court on this one. The director really wanted him for whatever reason. Em insisted that they film the movie in Detroit but the director wasn't havin that so they went with Damon

Maybe em was trying to bring money back into detroit that is seriously whats up.

 

[Jax]

Em still on them drugs
gots to be

 

[Sugar]

Maybe em was trying to bring money back into detroit that is seriously whats up.

What a noble thing to do if that's true

 

[mastermind]

this movie is awful brehs

 

[Brofato]

this movie is awful brehs

You've been able to see it?

There was a book that came out about 13 years ago with almost the same premise that I loved. I was thinking about adapting it to a screenplay myself so when I saw this trailer I was like well this is familiar. I honestly wouldn't have cast Eminem or Matt Damon lol in this role though.

 

[mastermind]

You've been able to see it?

There was a book that came out about 13 years ago with almost the same premise that I loved. I was thinking about adapting it to a screenplay myself so when I saw this trailer I was like well this is familiar. I honestly wouldn't have cast Eminem or Matt Damon lol in this role though.

saw it tonight.

just didnt work for me even tho the premise is dope

 

[Brofato]

saw it tonight.

just didnt work even tho the premise is dope

Welp, looks like I'd better get to work.

 

[Responsible Allen Iverson]

They could have saved money in Detroit because they wouldn't need to build sets to show a city that is falling apart

 

[Sensitive Blake Griffin]

Maybe em was trying to bring money back into detroit that is seriously whats up.

I'm sure using detroit as a dystopian broken down sci-fi city would do wonders