Starring E! movie dude Ben Lyons

Is Matt Bourne to Direct?

Mon., Jul. 23, 2007 4:14 PM PDT by Ben Lyons

Jasin Boland/Universal Studios

Matt Damon wants to direct. He has been an active producer with movies, television and new media projects through his company Live Planet. He won an Oscar for writing the screenplay for Lyons Den favorite Good Will Hunting with his buddy, the Other Ben in Hollywood.

This weekend, I hit the Bourne Ultimatum press day and spoke with Damon about his future behind the camera. Seems that after working with guys like Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Steven Soderbergh, Kevin Smith and Paul Greengrass (on Bourne 2 and 3), he feels the time has come to get behind the camera.

Even his Bourne Ultimatum costars agree, including Julia Stiles, who directed a short film which premiered at this year's Tribeca Film Festival. She told me that nine times out of 10, actors never offer direction to their fellow actors. It's seen as disrespectful. Directing should be left to the director. However, she said Matt gave her some of the best direction she had ever received and really helped her get through a scene.

Maybe there's a little peer pressure, too: The Other Ben makes his directorial debut later this year with Gone Baby Gone, starring Ben's brother and Matt's Ocean's costar, Casey Affleck.

What type of project should Damon direct? Something he's starring in? Should he even be in it at all? A sports movie? Let me know what you guys think in the Comments section.

Oh, one more question. How ya like them apples?