Ben Affleck and Matt Damon Reveal Prank They Pulled on Studios Over 'Good Will Hunting' Script

The longtime friends and co-stars admit they added a graphic gay sex scene to their Oscar-winning screenplay to see who was actually reading it.

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:47am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

In a new interview, Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have revealed that they added a graphic gay sex scene between the main characters to their 'Good Will Hunting' screenplay as a test to see which studios were actually reading the script thoroughly before providing feedback. The pair, who co-wrote and starred in the 1997 film, say they were frustrated that production companies were not fully engaging with their script, so they decided to insert the explicit scene to see who would catch it. Only one studio, led by Harvey Weinstein, noticed the added content, confirming they had read the script in full.

Why it matters

This anecdote provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at the creative process and business negotiations involved in getting an independent film like 'Good Will Hunting' made in the 1990s. Affleck and Damon's unconventional tactic highlights the challenges young, unknown writers faced in getting studios to take their work seriously, even after achieving critical acclaim.

The details

According to Affleck and Damon, they originally wrote 'thousands of pages' for the 'Good Will Hunting' screenplay, which they worked on while 'unemployed, broke guys.' After relocating to Los Angeles, they decided to revisit Matt's original 40-page script for a drama class project at Harvard. The pair then started sharing the script with production companies, with the caveat that they would star as the lead characters. However, when one company, Castle Rock Entertainment, asked them to rework part of the script, Affleck and Damon became frustrated. In response, they added an explicit gay sex scene between the main characters and sent the revised script to every major Hollywood studio to see who would notice the change. Only Harvey Weinstein, then at Miramax, picked up on the added content and reached out to the writers about it.

  • In 1998, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for 'Good Will Hunting'.
  • In 2013, Affleck and Damon discussed the prank in an interview with Boston magazine.
  • In 2026, Affleck reflected on the tactic during an appearance on the 'All The Smoke' podcast.

The players

Ben Affleck

An American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter who co-wrote and starred in the 1997 film 'Good Will Hunting' alongside his longtime friend and collaborator, Matt Damon.

Matt Damon

An American actor, film producer, and screenwriter who co-wrote and starred in the 1997 film 'Good Will Hunting' with Ben Affleck, his childhood friend and creative partner.

Harvey Weinstein

An American former film producer and convicted sex offender who was the co-founder of Miramax, the production company that distributed 'Good Will Hunting' in 1997.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We were so frustrated that Castle Rock wasn't reading the script, so we felt like we had to develop this test. We started writing in screen direction like: '[Therapist] Sean talks to Will and unloads his conscience.' And then: 'Will takes a moment and then gives Sean a soulful look and leans in and starts blowing him.'”

— Ben Affleck (Boston magazine)

“They weren't reading the script closely anymore. It was literally probably a full paragraph about what these two characters were doing to each other.”

— Matt Damon (Boston magazine)

“It was actually a scene where the therapist gave Will a blowjob. We put, like, one sentence: 'And then he starts blowing him,' and only one or two actually gave back the note, and was like: 'Maybe maybe cut that part out.'”

— Ben Affleck (All The Smoke podcast)

The takeaway

Affleck and Damon's unconventional tactic to test whether studios were fully engaging with their 'Good Will Hunting' script highlights the creative lengths young, unknown writers had to go to in order to get their work taken seriously in the 1990s film industry. This anecdote provides a rare glimpse into the challenges faced by independent filmmakers trying to break through, even after achieving critical acclaim.