Exclusive First Look: Doug Liman’s ‘The Instigators’ Starring Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, and Hong Chau

The first look at Doug Liman’s ‘The Instigators,’ starring Matt Damon, Casey Affleck, and Hong Chau, has been revealed by Entertainment Weekly. The film is a heist thriller that follows a father who joins an ex-con to pull off a robbery of the ill-gotten earnings of a corrupt politician.

Directed by Liman and written by Chuck Maclean and Casey Affleck, the film is produced by Damon and Ben Affleck under their production company Artists Equity. Distributed by Apple TV+ under Apple Original Films.

What is the plot of ‘The Instigators’?

In the film, Damon plays Rory, a desperate father who reluctantly unites with Cobby (Affleck), an ex-con, to pull off a robbery of the ill-gotten earnings of a corrupt politician. When the heist inevitably goes sideways, the unlikely pair find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by the police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Along the way, they somehow convince Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway.

The film also stars Paul Walter Hauser, Michael Stuhlbarg, Ving Rhames, Alfred Molina, Ron Perlman, and Jack Harlow.

In an interview with EW, Affleck revealed that ‘The Instigators’ draws inspiration from some of his favorite films. “The inspiration for this was definitely Midnight Run and Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” says the actor, adding that he had always “wanted to do a buddy action comedy.”

Damon said, “I absolutely love working with Doug. I can’t believe it took us 20 years to find something else to do together. Doug is one of the most creatively tenacious people I’ve ever met. He just won’t stop until the movie is as good as it can be, and that is the best possible thing you can feel from a director. I trust him completely.”

When will The Instigators be released in select theaters?

‘The Instigators’ will hit select theaters on August 2, 2024.

When will The Instigators be available for streaming globally?

‘The Instigators’ will be available for streaming globally on Apple TV+ starting from August 9, 2024.