Matt Damon has spoken about the demanding physical transformation he underwent for his role in Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic "The Odyssey," saying the process "just kind of took over my life" over a six-month period. The 55-year-old actor appears noticeably changed on screen, having built up his physique to portray a legendary Greek figure in Nolan's retelling of Homer's classic tale, underlining the extreme lengths major stars go to for high-profile blockbuster roles.

The film boasts a starry ensemble cast including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson and Charlize Theron, and is being released by Universal Pictures. Details of Damon's exact regimen were not fully outlined in the available report, but he described the six-month preparation as gruelling, reflecting the scale of Nolan's ambitious production and the physical demands placed on its leading man.