Kevin Smith, the director known for cult hits like Clerks and Chasing Amy, recently opened up about a pivotal moment in Hollywood history: his decision to decline the opportunity to direct the Oscar-winning film Good Will Hunting. Though he played a crucial role in getting the film made and launching the careers of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, Smith insisted he was never the right fit to helm the project.
Smith, 54, reflected on the 25th anniversary of his 1999 movie Dogma, which also starred Affleck and Damon, sharing insights into the behind-the-scenes journey of Good Will Hunting. The story begins in the mid-1990s, when Smith first met the two then up-and-coming actors and writers. After Affleck and Damon sold their screenplay for Good Will Hunting, the script was initially picked up by Castle Rock Entertainment. However, Castle Rock planned to produce the film without the original stars, a move Smith helped derail by setting up a meeting with Harvey Weinstein’s Miramax, where the project ultimately found its home.
"The first question that was asked by Ben and Matt, and the Miramax folks was, 'Do you wanna direct it?'" Smith recalled in an interview with People magazine. "I think they all asked that with clenched assholes hoping that I would say no." True to form, Smith declined, joking, "Oh my God, no. If I were to direct this, I would just turn around to Ben and Matt the whole time and say, ‘Is this what you saw when you wrote it?’" He recognized that directing a film so intimately tied to Affleck and Damon's own writing would require a different approach than his own.
Smith even suggested that Affleck and Damon themselves should be allowed to direct the film, but he was quickly told, "the lunatics would not be running that particular asylum," and thus Miramax began searching for an established director. The search attracted interest from as many as 20 top filmmakers, including Michael Mann, Mel Gibson, and Steven Soderbergh, all of whom eventually passed. Gus Van Sant, known for his work on films like Milk and Promised Land, was ultimately selected to direct Good Will Hunting. Smith noted that Van Sant's connection to Casey Affleck, who starred in the 1995 film To Die For, helped secure the job.
The 1997 film became a critical and commercial triumph, grossing nearly $226 million worldwide against a modest $10 million budget. It earned nine Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director for Van Sant. Ben Affleck and Matt Damon won for Best Original Screenplay, and Robin Williams took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Smith described the script as "one of the best things I’ve ever read," underscoring the film’s powerful storytelling and emotional depth. The success of Good Will Hunting, coupled with Affleck’s earlier collaboration with Smith on Chasing Amy, gave Smith the momentum—or as he put it, the "juice"—to finally get Dogma into production. He had handed Affleck the scripts for both films years earlier, cautioning that Dogma would need "movie stars" to secure the necessary budget.
On the first day of shooting Dogma, Smith recalled a memorable moment with Affleck and Damon, who had by then been nominated for Academy Awards. "Right before the first take, we’re about to roll for the first time and the boys have been nominated for Academy Awards," Smith said. "I look at Ben, and Ben looks me dead in the eyes, and he goes, ‘Guess who became a movie star just to do your stupid movie.’ And I was like, ‘Well done, my friend. Well done.’"
Despite turning down Good Will Hunting, Smith continued to build a successful directing career with films such as Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, the Clerks sequels, and Red State. Dogma remains his most controversial film to date, but he has since reconsidered its place in his oeuvre and is currently writing a sequel filled with callbacks to the original.
Interestingly, Smith’s name still appears in the opening credits of Good Will Hunting as an executive producer—a credit he earned by personally delivering the script to Miramax. His involvement behind the scenes was instrumental, even if he never took the director’s chair.
The story of Good Will Hunting is not just about a gifted janitor at MIT who needs help finding direction in his life; it’s also a tale of friendship, trust, and knowing when to step aside. Smith’s decision to say no to directing allowed Affleck and Damon to shine both in front of and behind the camera, ultimately shaping the film into the beloved classic it is today.
For fans eager to revisit the film, Good Will Hunting is currently streaming on HBO Max and Apple TV+. Meanwhile, Dogma has been remastered in 4K and is enjoying a theatrical re-release, reminding audiences of Smith’s unique voice in the landscape of independent cinema.
Looking back, it’s clear that sometimes the best way to support a project is not to take the reins but to help others find their own. Kevin Smith’s story with Good Will Hunting is a testament to that wisdom, proving that success often comes from knowing when to step back and let the right people lead.
