Matt Damon Claims Christopher Nolan Bans Chairs on Set

Matt Damon has become the latest individual to comment on director Christopher Nolan's alleged ban on chairs on film sets. During an appearance on the YouTube series Royal Court with Anne Hathaway this week, Damon asserted, "Thou shall not sit down. There are no chairs on set." This statement echoes a previous discussion that arose in 2020 regarding Nolan's set practices.

At that time, Anne Hathaway, who has collaborated with Nolan on three films including "The Odyssey," mentioned in a Variety conversation that the director does not permit chairs on his sets. She explained that Nolan's reasoning was that if chairs are available, people will sit, and if they are sitting, they are not working. This comment led to a significant social media reaction, with many raising concerns about accessibility and health, while others presented photographic evidence suggesting the ban primarily targeted director's chairs near monitors, not all seating for cast and crew.

Nolan's representatives issued a statement at the time to clarify Hathaway's remarks. They stated that Nolan "chooses not to use his but has never banned chairs from the set. Cast and crew can sit wherever and whenever they need and frequently do." The clarification indicated that Hathaway's comment likely referred to specific director's chairs around the video monitor rather than a complete prohibition of all seating.

Despite the previous clarification, Damon's recent assertion suggests the narrative about Nolan's chair policy persists. Hathaway, when questioned about the topic during the same interview, reportedly remained silent. Other reported "commandments" of a Christopher Nolan set include a requirement for hard work and the availability of food, though the timing and nature of lunch breaks were also mentioned.