LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Wes Anderson's highly anticipated film 'Asteroid City' is all set to make its debut in theaters on June 16, with a limited run before opening to a wider audience on June 23. As excitement builds around the star-studded film, all eyes are on Scarlett Johansson, one of the esteemed cast members.
The 'Black Widow' actress once shared an unforgettable memory involving her dear friend Matt Damon and his intense fear of snakes. So, keep reading to know what actually happened when the duo was working on a film based around animals.
Matt Damon's reptile phobia
Actors often encounter unexpected hurdles and confront their deepest fears while pursuing their craft in the industry. This was precisely the situation that Hollywood star Damon found himself in while filming the 2011 movie 'We Bought a Zoo'. On the film set, a nerve-wracking incident unfolded, bringing Damon's fear of snakes into the spotlight, surprising everyone, including Johansson, who seemed completely at ease around the slithering reptiles. She confessed that witnessing the 'Bourne' star "cry like a baby and rock back and forth when the snakes were spread all over the set," was the scariest part of the entire filming experience.
Johansson's revelation about Damon's fear of snakes emerged during an interview at the New York premiere of 'We Bought a Zoo'. Renowned for her adaptability and magnetic on-screen presence, 'The Avengers' actress shared her personal encounter with her co-star's extreme aversion to reptiles on the set. While Damon has always harbored a deep-seated terror of reptiles, Johansson has always felt comfortable around them. During the filming of 'We Bought a Zoo', Damon's genuine fear of snakes became evident as he struggled to overcome his phobia.
Scarlett Johansson's revelation about Matt Damon's fear
During an interview, Damon bravely admitted to his dread of these creatures and revealed that it was Johansson and the child stars who encouraged him to face his fear. Recounting the situation at the New York premiere of the film, Johansson playfully revealed, "He was pretty terrified. He was definitely sweating a bit, and maybe the sweat formed in the corner of his eye. I said, 'Matt, these kids are practically juggling the snakes. Hold it together'." Her aim was not to mock Damon's fear of reptiles but to inspire him to conquer his fright, enabling him to deliver a genuine performance. While Damon may have shed a few tears, he triumphed over the crippling fear and learned invaluable life skills from the experience.
Damon's flip-flop Incident
In addition to Damon's encounters with snakes on the film set, he shared yet another terrifying incident during a conversation with Ellen DeGeneres. He recounted the incident of unknowingly stepping on an 8-foot python while heading to the beach to visit fellow actor Chris Hemsworth in Australia. After a moment of fear, Damon quickly jumped away, relieved to see the snake nonchalantly continue on its path. "I jumped off of it in my flip-flops, and it just kind of kept going," he informed, remarking that the snake was so big it "didn't even really notice" what had happened.
