Matt Damon Says Passing on "Ted" Is a Career Regret: "I Talked Myself Out of It"

Matt Damon is opening up about the role that got away. In a new GQ Men of the Year cover story, the actor revealed he turned down the lead in Seth MacFarlane’s 2012 comedy“Ted,”a part that ultimately went to Mark Wahlberg. Damon said reading the script was the hardest he’s ever laughed, but he second-guessed himself and reasoned that the talking teddy bear was the real star of the movie.“I overthought it, and I talked myself out of it,”he said.

The regret isn’t just about the box office. Damon shared that filming in Boston would have meant six months in his hometown near his father, who died in 2017. The personal angle gives the story extra weight, even though Damon insists Wahlberg was the right actor for the job. The proof is in the numbers:“Ted”grossed over $549 million worldwide and launched sequels and a TV series.

In the same interview, Damon also revealed that his wife, Luciana Barroso, survived a brain aneurysm two years ago. It all adds up to a candid look at how even Hollywood’s biggest names second-guess their choices. So what role do you think was perfectly cast, and which one do you wish had gone to someone else? Sound off in the comments.