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Matt Damon Initially Believed ‘Downsizing’ Plot was a Joke

Matt Damon was worried that he was being pranked when he first heard the concept for new movie Downsizing.

The actor is currently promoting the Alexander Payne-directed film, which tells of a couple who undertake a procedure to shrink their bodies so they can start a life in a new community.

While Damon was “desperate” to work with Payne, he couldn’t believe his ears when the Sideways filmmaker pitched him the concept for the story.

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“He came to me with this idea. He said, ‘Norwegian scientists have found a way to shrink humans down to five inches in height (12 cm) and six per cent of the global population decides to do this as a way to offset climate change,'” he recalled during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday night (11Dec17).” And I just looked at him. I just didn’t think he was being serious, it was like a test.”

Though initially unconvinced by the plot, Damon eventually signed on to portray Paul Safranek, a bored office worker who signs up for the “downsizing” program. And the star is thrilled with the final result, which also stars Christoph Waltz, Jason Sudeikis, and Kristen Wiig.

“To me, this movie is a giant satire, it feels like it could have been made in the ’70s and I’m just enormously proud of it and I wouldn’t change a frame,” the 47-year-old smiled.

During the interview, host Stephen also noted that 2017 marks two decades since Damon’s hit movie Good Will Hunting was released. Written and starring Damon and his long-time collaborator Ben Affleck, the actor is adamant he wouldn’t change a thing about the Oscar-winning project.

“We put absolutely everything we had and we were into that script. I’ve never thought about rewriting it,” he added.

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