The directors who turned a tax audit into a multiversal masterpiece are finally back, but the road to their next project has been anything but linear. After months of speculation, the Matt Damon The Daniels movie collaboration is officially in motion. The Oscar-winning duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert—collectively known as The Daniels—have reportedly tapped Damon to lead their secret $150 million sci-fi epic at Universal Pictures. This news comes on the heels of a high-profile casting shakeup that saw Ryan Gosling exit the project, leaving fans wondering what exactly is happening behind the scenes of Hollywood’s most anticipated "event film."
The Casting Shakeup: Why Matt Damon is Replacing Ryan Gosling
For a few months, the industry was buzzing about Ryan Gosling joining the Everything Everywhere All at Once directors new film. It seemed like a match made in internet-culture heaven. However, the Ryan Gosling Daniels movie exit became official after a classic case of "creative differences" collided with a ticking clock.
Reports suggest that Gosling was initially circling the role of a father to one of the film’s teenage protagonists. While the role is substantial, it is technically a supporting part. Gosling reportedly wanted the script adjusted to expand his character’s presence, but The Daniels were facing a rigid production timeline. Because the film secured a California tax credit worth approximately $20.8 million, production must begin in Los Angeles by late summer or early fall to keep the funding. Rewriting the script to accommodate a lead-actor pivot simply wasn't an option.
In a move that feels like a massive win for Universal Pictures, the studio pivoted to Matt Damon. Damon is currently the studio’s "golden boy," recently finishing a grueling six-month shoot for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, where he plays Odysseus alongside an ensemble including Anne Hathaway and Zendaya. While Damon originally planned to take a break to spend time with family, the script for The Daniels' project was apparently too good to pass up.
Matt Damon vs. Ryan Gosling: A Shift in Tone?
The switch from Gosling to Damon suggests a subtle shift in the film's energy. Gosling brings a certain "Kenergy"—a mix of deadpan humor and intense leading-man charisma. Damon, however, excels at playing the grounded, everyman father figure who is suddenly thrust into extraordinary circumstances (think The Martian or Interstellar). This fits perfectly with The Daniels' penchant for putting normal people in absolutely absurd situations.
What is The Daniels' next movie about?
The Daniels' next movie is an untitled $150 million sci-fi action-comedy starring Matt Damon. The plot involves global warming, time travel, and a potential superhero angle, featuring two timelines set in the 1980s and the present day. It focuses on teenage protagonists navigating environmental collapse through a genre-bending lens.
Plot Leaks: Time Travel, Global Warming, and the Superhero Angle
While the project is being developed under the Playgrounds banner with producer Jonathan Wang, some fascinating details regarding The Daniels next movie plot have started to leak. Unlike the infinite chaos of the multiverse in their previous work, this film seems to be narrowing its focus to two specific points in time.
- The 1980s Timeline: A significant portion of the film is set in the 80s, focusing on a group of teenagers. The Daniels have reportedly been casting these teen roles since 2024.
- The Present Day: The story mirrors the 80s events in the modern era, likely dealing with the consequences of actions taken decades prior.
- The Climate Change Connection: The film is expected to be one of the major sci-fi movies about climate change 2027. It reportedly uses time travel as a mechanic to explore the trajectory of global warming.
The "superhero angle" is perhaps the most intriguing part. Given how The Daniels subverted the "chosen one" trope in EEAAO, don't expect a traditional Marvel-style caped crusader. Instead, we’re likely looking at a deconstruction of what it means to have power in a world that is literally burning. This thematic depth aligns with Daniel Kwan’s recent work on The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist, which explored the intersection of technology, fear, and hope for the future.
A $150 Million Gamble: The Budget Breakdown
One of the most staggering aspects of this project is the scale. To put it in perspective, Everything Everywhere All at Once was made for a modest $14 million. This new venture has a total budget of $150 million.
This is a massive leap for the duo, placing them in the same "blank check" territory as directors like Christopher Nolan or Jordan Peele. According to records from the California Film Commission, the production has an exact qualified spending amount of $106 million within the state. The $20.8 million California tax credit is a major reason why the Los Angeles production is being fast-tracked for this summer.
Universal’s Sara Scott and Jacqueline Garell are overseeing the development, ensuring that the film hits the "event film" status the studio is craving for its Universal Pictures 2027 release schedule.
The Production Timeline and Release Date Shift
If you were looking for this movie on the 2026 calendar, you’ll need to update your notes. The film was originally slated for June 12, 2026. However, Universal has officially moved the release date to November 19, 2027.
This delay isn't necessarily a bad sign; it’s a strategic move. A November release suggests Universal views this as a major awards contender and a holiday blockbuster. It also gives The Daniels more time to handle the complex VFX that a Matt Damon sci-fi time travel epic will inevitably require. While it’s unconfirmed if the same VFX team from EEAAO (which was famously a small group of friends) will return, the increased budget suggests a much larger scale of world-building.
Key Milestones in The Daniels Filmography Timeline
- 2014: "Turn Down for What" music video (The world meets their chaotic style).
- 2016: Swiss Army Man (The "farting corpse" movie that proved they had heart).
- 2022: Everything Everywhere All at Once (The Oscar sweep).
- 2024: The Matt Damon Universal Pictures contract and project announcement.
- 2027: The untitled $150M sci-fi epic.
Key Takeaways
- Matt Damon is in talks to star, replacing Ryan Gosling who left due to script and scheduling conflicts.
- The film is a $150 million sci-fi epic backed by Universal Pictures.
- The plot features time travel, global warming, and a 1980s timeline.
- Production is set for Los Angeles this summer to capitalize on a $20.8 million tax credit.
- The official release date is November 19, 2027.
The Future of "The Daniels" Cinematic Universe
Look, the wild part about this isn't just the budget—it's the trust. Universal is betting $150 million on a duo whose last movie featured hot dog fingers and a raccoon chef. By bringing in Matt Damon, they’ve secured a bankable star who can anchor the "weirdness" for a global audience.
With Damon finishing up The Odyssey and moving straight into this, he’s essentially becoming the face of Universal’s high-concept slate for the next three years. As for who will play his son or the other teenage leads? Those names are likely already locked in, waiting for the Damon deal to close before the big reveal. One thing is certain: in the hands of The Daniels, this won't be your standard "save the planet" movie. It’s going to be something much more human, much stranger, and—hopefully—just as meaningful as their trip through the multiverse.
