John Leguizamo Negotiates Role in Daniels’ Untitled Film Starring Matt Damon

Deadline reports that John Leguizamo, whose recent performance in *The Odyssey* has drawn strong critical praise, is in negotiations to join Matt Damon in an untitled film being written and directed by the Daniels—filmmaking duo Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert. The project remains under wraps, but sources indicate that Leguizamo’s “scene-stealing” turn in *The Odyssey* helped secure the final major role for the upcoming picture, which is slated to begin shooting later this year.

Deadline Hollywood

The Daniels will helm the film through their production company Playgrounds, which holds an overall deal with Universal Pictures. Playgrounds co-producer Jonathan Wang will also serve as producer, alongside the Daniels. Executive Vice President of Production Development Sara Scott and Director of Production Development Jacqueline Garell are set to oversee the project for Universal. Playgrounds’ recent output includes *The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist*, released by Focus Features in March.

Deadline Hollywood

In addition to Leguizamo and Damon, the announced ensemble features Sandra Oh, Sean Kaufman, Michael Gandolfini, and Charles Melton. The film’s production schedule anticipates principal photography to commence later this year, aligning with Universal’s broader slate of releases. Leguizamo’s representation—UTA, Mosaic, and Jackoway Austen Terman—has confirmed his involvement in the negotiations.

Deadline Hollywood

The move follows Leguizamo’s recent work on Universal’s upcoming *Exorcist* starring Scarlett Johansson and his upcoming role in *Bullet Catch*. Joining a high-profile collaboration with Damon and the Daniels could extend the momentum generated by *The Odyssey*, reinforcing Leguizamo’s presence in major studio projects and strengthening Universal’s lineup of star-driven films for the coming year.

Deadline Hollywood