Matt Damon says Ben Affleck has been running him since high school

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s friendship and working partnership really goes back to high school.

During a Q&A after a New York screening of their latest project, “Air,” the duo joked about working together for nearly 40 years.

Affleck, who directs and stars in the film with Damon, joked, “Not the first time I’ve worn it,” according to IndieWire.

Damon laughed, saying, “It seems like his first time directing me. I mean, we did high school plays where he was like, ‘Man, I think you should do it like that. “”

“He’s been leading me for about 40 years,” he added.

‘GOOD WILL HUNTING’ 25TH ANNIVERSARY: HOW BEN AFFLECK, MATT DAMON WENT FROM ‘DRAMA GEEKS’ TO MOVIE STARS

Their new film, “Air,” tells the story of Nike signing NBA legend Michael Jordan to a sneaker deal that would change the company and popular culture. The film also stars Jason Bateman and Viola Davis as Jordan’s mother.

Although they joked about working together, Damon said it was the next logical step.

“Honestly, it was kind of a natural progression,” Damon said. “We’ve written a bunch of movies and produced and acted together for so many years and decades, so it didn’t feel any different to work that way.”

Affleck added: “We’ve been asked this question many times, I keep thinking, ‘Should it have been different?’ Because it was the exact same thing. And what was really wonderful is that I love and trust Matt so much, and it was so nice to work together, it was kind of like a feeling of , I want other actors to feel (that too) Like “Come on, it’s alright, I love actors, I love you, you’re fine, everyone, take whatever time you want, do whatever you have to do and be respected,’ and to project that energy.”

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon have known each other since their high school days in Boston. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd.)

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

Affleck and Damon met growing up in Boston and graduated from the same high school (Damon in 1992, Affleck in 1994).

They first appeared together on ‘School Ties’ in 1992 before their big breakup on ‘Good Will Hunting’ five years later. Damon and Affleck not only starred in the film together, but they also wrote the screenplay that won them the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay at the 70th Academy Awards.

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won Best Original Screenplay for ‘Good Will Hunting’ at the 1998 Oscars. (TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images)

Affleck recently shared the significance of his friendship with Damon in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

“I guess the reason it works is because I trust him and love him, and I know he’s a person of integrity,” he said. “In this business, failure is hard, and success is confusing and can throw you off course. Having that friendship as a touchstone over the years was really meaningful.”

He also revealed that they were advised not to work together after “Good Will Hunting”.

“One of the things we thought about when we did ‘The Last Duel’ that made us want to do this business together was the fact that we wish we’d continued to work together over the years,” Affleck said. at the point of sale. “We fell prey to this idea that, ‘Well, if you don’t individualize your careers and do your own things, people will always associate you together. It will be limiting. “”

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon attend the red carpet for ‘The Last Duel’ during the 78th Venice International Film Festival in 2021. (Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The couple recently co-founded a new production company, Artists Equity, which produces “Air.”

“Air” will hit theaters on April 5 before streaming on Amazon Prime.