Damon, Eastwood Re-Team on ‘Hereafter’

Published by Jeff Leins on: September 23rd, 2009

Things must have gone well on Invictus, Clint Eastwood’s Nelson Mandela biopic because the director is re-teaming with actor Matt Damon for his next film.

The project is called Hereafter, an original script written by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon).  The Hollywood Reporter says filming is scheduled for this fall on the “supernatural thriller,” but no additional details are available at this time.

MovieLine begs to differ though, having glanced at Morgan’s script.  The minor spoilers starts by refuting the idea that it’s a thriller.  Two tense pieces set up “a quiet drama,” but this isn’t Jason Bourne-style rooftop jumping.

Damon plays a character named George, a “shy, soft-spoken” factory worker with the ability to see dead people.  This immediately draws comparison to The Sixth Sense, except the audience can’t see his visions.

Simultaneously on the other side of the world, a French journalist recovers from a near-death experience and a 12-year-old British boy shuts down after losing his twin brother.  All three are searching for answers about what happens after this life, thus the title.

It sounds great, especially with these two talents on board.  However, it doesn’t leave room for Eastwood to come out of acting retirement, which is a shame.

On a side note, is Matt Damon in everything now?  He was just cast as Michael Douglas’ lover in the Liberace biopic and may be working with Clooney again on a political drama about a navy lawyer named Charles Swift.