Nearly 25 years after portraying the iconic Tom Ripley in the 1999 adaptation The Talented Mr. Ripley, Matt Damon admitted he had ‘trouble’ watching newer versions.

The 2023 film Saltburn was heavily inspired by Patricia Highsmith’s 1955 novel, as was the Netflix series Ripley starring Andrew Scott as the title character.

While promoting his new Apple TV Plus film The Instigators, the 53-year-old actor was asked about these new adaptations of the beloved character in an interview with IndieWire.

When asked if he would ever return to the character, he said, ‘I don’t know,’ while clarifying why the new projects are hard for him to watch.

Nearly 25 years after portraying the iconic Tom Ripley in the 1999 adaptation The Talented Mr. Ripley, Matt Damon admitted he had ‘trouble’ watching newer versions

The actor – who recently opened up about his 43-year bond with childhood friend Matt Damon – admitted that these new projects weren’t easy for him to watch

‘You know, I associate the one that we did so much with Anthony Minghella, who’s passed away now, that I don’t know,’ he said of the director, who passed away at just 54 in 2008

‘I even had trouble watching the new one, as beautiful as it was and as great as everybody was,’ he added, referring to the Netflix series. 

‘It was hard at first for me to sink back into it just because I have so many great memories, but they’re all wrapped up in these personal feelings about the experience,’ he added.

Damon’s film – which also served as the breakout role for Jude Law that helped launched his career stateside – was both a critical and commercial success.

The film took in $81.2 million domestic and $138 million worldwide from just a $40 million budget.

It also earned five Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor (Jude Law), Best Director (Minghella), Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score. 

During The Instigators premiere in New York, Damon opened up about his bond with both Ben and Casey Affleck to The Hollywood Reporter.

‘I think just 43 years into this friendship, it’s just the joy of doing what we love, but being able to do it together. It just doesn’t get any better than that,’ he said.

‘You know, I associate the one that we did so much with Anthony Minghella (center), who’s passed away now, that I don’t know,’ he said of the director, who passed away at just 54 in 2008

‘It was hard at first for me to sink back into it just because I have so many great memories, but they’re all wrapped up in these personal feelings about the experience,’ he added

Damon’s film – which also served as the breakout role for Jude Law that helped launched his career stateside – was both a critical and commercial success

‘I feel really lucky to be able to still be making movies at this level with the kind of people that I get to work with,’ Damon added

‘I feel really lucky to be able to still be making movies at this level with the kind of people that I get to work with,’ Damon added.

‘But when some of them are the people that have been my closest and dearest friends for over four decades, it’s a really special thing,’ he clarified.

Damon explained that he took comfort from filming the Apple TV+ project in the ‘familiar’ surroundings of Boston, the city in which he and the Affleck siblings grew up.

‘The sensibility there, the sense of humour is something that just comes naturally to us. And it’s just a really comfortable place, it feels like going home every time,’ he said.