Ben AffleckandMatt Damon’s next film through their production company Artists Equity,The Instigators, is guaranteed to be a wild ride. Damon will be teaming up withCasey Affleckfor a heist flick following a bunch of thieves who employ the assistance of one of their therapists after a job has gone awry. Rap darling,Jack Harlow, is among the big namessigning up for the grifting romp.
With Apple Original Films riding a wave of success with the Best Picture-winning film,CODA, under their belt, it’s clear that the company’s savvy production choices will lead to another hit on their hands. Starring some of the best in the business, so far, it seems like this film has the potential to hit it out of the park.
If you’re excited to see Matt Damon back in another heist movie, or just flat-out intrigued by the premise, scroll down to learn more about the film.
Editor’s Note: This piece was updated on June 17, 2025.
7When Will ‘The Instigators’ Come Out?
The Instigatorswill be released on June 18, 2025. The heist-comedy joins an exciting slate of titles from Apple TV+ releasing this summer, includingFancy DancestarringLily Gladstone,Presumed InnocentstarringJake Gyllenhaal,Lady in the LakestarringNatalie Portman, andBad MonkeystarringVince Vaughn.
6Where Will ‘The Instigators’ be Released?
Since Apple Original Films is behindThe Instigators, the film will be available to stream exclusively on Apple TV+. While some of their recent films received exclusive theatrical releases first, such asMartin Scorsese’sKillers of The Flower MoonandRidley Scott’sNapoleon, other movies were sent directly to the streamer and had shortened theatrical windows, which seems to be the case withThe Instigators.
Apple has greatly expanded its original film output, investing in a myriad of productions written, directed, and produced by some of Hollywood’s greatest creative minds, like Matt Damon and Casey Affleck among others.
Apple Original Films' slate for the remainder of 2024 is stacked and is set to make a splash. Some of the films includeFly Me to the MoonstarringScarlett JohanssonandChanning Tatum, andWolfsstarringGeorge ClooneyandBrad Pitt.
Other films by Apple Original Films include the Best Picture winnerCODA,SpiritedstarringWill FerrellandRyan Reynolds,EmancipationstarringWill Smith,ArgyllestarringBryce Dallas Howard, andThe Family PlanstarringMark Wahlberg.
5Is There a Trailer for ‘The Instigators’?
Apple TV released the official trailer forThe Instigatorson June 20, 2025. The trailer gives us our first real good look at the plot as the characters played by Matt Damon and Casey Affleck form an unlikely alliance with each other.
4Who’s In The Cast of ‘The Instigators’?
The Instigatorsboasts quite a star-studded cast. Matt Damon and Casey Affleck spearhead the film, playing Rory and Cobby, the pair of thieves whose robbery goes awry. This isn’t the first time the two have worked together, they previously starred inChasing Amy,Good Will Hunting, theOcean’strilogy,Gerry,Interstellar, andwere last seen inChristopher Nolan’sOppenheimer. Damon also producedManchester by the Sea, which won Affleck the Oscar for Best Actor in 2017.
Academy Award nomineeHong Chaustars as Dr. Donna Rivera, the therapist of Damon’s Rory. This marks the second time Chau has starred opposite Damon, the first being inDownsizing. Chau has also appeared in the seriesWatchmenandHomecoming. Chau has been dominating the screen as of late. She was a major scene-stealer in the satirical comedyThe Menu, and received her first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress inThe Whale, and had a role in the acclaimed dramaShowing Up. She will next be seen having multiple roles inYorgos Lanthimos' anthology filmKinds of Kindness.
After his leading role in theWhite Men Can’t Jumpreboot,The Instigatorswill serve as Grammy-nominated, Kentucky rapperJack Harlow’s second Hollywood film. Harlow will be playing a character named Scalvo, who joins Rory and Cobby on their heist.
After his award-winning role on the Apple TV+ seriesBlack Bird,Paul Walter Hauserwill be reuniting with the tech giant and will be playing the role of Booch inThe Instigators.He earned the Game Changer Award from the Hollywood Critics Association for his powerful performance as the titular character inClint Eastwood’s highly lauded film,Richard Jewell. He has also starred in notable films from the likes ofBlackKklansman,I, Tonya,Da 5 Bloods, andCruella.
Michael Stuhlbargis also on the cast list as Mr. Besegai. A veteran character actor, Stuhlbarg has appeared in numerous films and series includingA Serious Man,Your Honor,Call Me By Your Name,Men in Black 3,Steve Jobs,Hugo,The Post,The Shape of Water, theDoctor Strangefilms, andBones & All. He received 2 Emmy Nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, for his roles inThe Looming TowerandDopesick.
The rest of the cast includesAlfred Molina(Spider-Man 2) as Mr. Besegai,Ving Rhames(theMission: Impossiblefranchise) as Frank Toomey, andToby Jones(Captain America: The First Avenger) as Alan Flynn.Ron Perlman(Hellboy) also stars in the movie in a currently undisclosed role.
3What’s The Plot of The Instigators?
When a botched robbery goes wrong, causing two thieves to go on the run, they turn to one of their therapists for help and drag them along into their mess. Not a lot more about the plot has been revealed besides the film’s synopsis. Time will tell what kind of hijinks and adventures ensue for the thieves. Plenty of factors can lead a robbery to go south. Whether it’s ego or genuine human error, things can go sideways fast.
The official plot synopsis forThe Instigatorsreads:
Rory (Matt Damon) and Cobby (Casey Affleck) are reluctant partners: a desperate father and an ex-con thrown together to rob a corrupt politician’s ill-gained earnings. But when the heist goes wrong, the two find themselves engulfed in a whirlwind of chaos, pursued not only by police but also by backward bureaucrats and vengeful crime bosses. Completely out of their depth, they convince Rory’s therapist (Hong Chau) to join their riotous getaway through the city, where they must put aside their differences and work together to evade capture — or worse.
The most intriguing element of the plot is the therapist’s role in the film and the infinite amount of jokes that can be made off of the dynamic between a therapist and their criminal patient. In 1999’sAnalyze This, dynamic duoBilly CrystalandRobert De Niromined the relationship between a therapist and a mob boss into comedy gold. WhileThe Instigatorshas been notably marketed as a thriller, perhaps production will take a page out ofAnalyze This' book and add some quick-witted levity for audiences.
2Who Is Making The Instigators?
Apple’s in-house production company will be footing the bill forThe Instigators' production, guaranteeing a slick quality to the cinematography.The film will be directed byDoug Liman, known for his work onSwingers,Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Jumper, andEdge of Tomorrow. Liman last directed Damon inThe Bourne Identityin 2002, launching the action-adventure series into the stratosphere. Most recently Liman directed theJake Gyllenhaal-led remake ofRoad Housewhich premiered on Prime Video this past March.
The script was co-written byChuck MacLeanand Casey Affleck.Jeff RobinovandJohn Grahamserve as producers on the movie. Matt Damon co-produces with partner in crimeBen Affleckunder their production company Artists Equity for distribution by Apple TV+.The Instigatorswas announced as one of the first projects on slate for Artists Equity, Affleck, and Damon’s new production company. Through Studio 8, Jeff Robinov and John Graham will also produce along withKevin Walshvia his production company, The Walsh Company.
