Matt Damon was offered role in 'Elysium' after rapper Eminem passed (Video)

Matt Damon wasn’t the first choice for his role in Elysium, in fact he was even asked after rapper Eminem turned it down. Director Neill Blomkamp told the story of casting the film in a new piece, revealing Slim Shady had been approached first.

Blomkamp told Wired the first person he approached was Ninja from the South African band Die Antwoord, and then Eminem. Damon filled the role when both had passed on it.

Damon has since been asked how he feels about that, and he basically said that it’s the nature of the business.

He told MTV News "I don't even think [Eminem] was my competition. I think Neill went to him, so there was no competition. He got the offer, but that's probably 75 percent of the things that I do — somebody else got the offer before — that's kind of the nature of the business. I think you end up getting the part you're supposed to get.

“The right actor gets the part, ultimately. In terms of me, I never asked Neill. I just found out about Eminem because I read it somewhere,” he added.

He went on to say it’s much less dramatic than people would think. "I think Neill called him, and he passed, and then Neill called me," he said. "It's not like they bring us all in for the cattle call: 'Goddamn it, Clooney's here! I knew it.' It's the kind of thing like — before I was married — asking your girlfriend about ex-boyfriends. You don't want to know, and it doesn't affect your relationship. You just get the parts you get."

image: Wikimedia Commons