Matt Damon once lost the role of Charlie Simms in the 1992 film Scent of a Woman to Chris O’Donnell, whom the article portrays as his early-career rival. The setback mattered because the film became a major showcase for O’Donnell and earned Al Pacino an Academy Award, while Damon was still struggling to establish himself.

Several actors from School Ties, including Damon, Ben Affleck, Brendan Fraser and O’Donnell, auditioned for the part, reportedly creating tension on set. Although Scent of a Woman was a significant success, Damon ultimately built the more enduring career, later suggesting his resentment towards O’Donnell through an unsuccessful attempt to replace him as Robin in Batman Forever.