In Outcome, friendship is the anchor, even when everything else is falling apart. And according to Matt Bomer, that balance of chaos and connection extended well beyond the script.
During a recent conversation with us, Bomer opened up about stepping into the role of Xander, the loyal best friend to Keanu Reeves’ Reef Hawk, a troubled movie star trying to outrun his past. While the film navigates addiction, accountability, and public fallout, Bomer said it was the humor that hooked him from the start.
“I read the script and it was the hardest I’ve laughed out loud… maybe ever,” he said, pointing to the distinct voice of writers Jonah Hill and Ezra Woods. “There was something about the dynamics and the friendship that made sense to me right away.”
A Script Rooted in Real Friendship
That sense of authenticity wasn’t accidental. Hill and Woods based much of the film’s central trio, Reef, Xander, and Kyle, on their own long-standing friendships. For Bomer, that foundation made it easier to step into Xander’s role as both confidant and reality check.
“You could feel their friendship baked into the script,” he explained. “It was about finding those rhythms and how they interact.”
Bomer also spent time observing the real-life relationships that inspired the story, adding another layer to the on-screen bond. The result is a dynamic that feels lived-in rather than performed, a key element in a film that leans heavily on emotional history.
Improv, a God Mic, and Uncontrollable Laughter
While the script provided a strong base, much of Outcome came alive through improvisation. According to Bomer, scenes often began as written, and then quickly veered into unpredictable territory.
“We’d do one take as written, and then Jonah would get on a god mic and start throwing out prompts,” he said. “He’d give us a situation or a line, and we’d have to interpret it in character.”
That approach led to some unforgettable moments, and a few that nearly derailed filming altogether.
“Some of Cameron’s lines… I was laughing so hard I was snotting and crying,” Bomer admitted of working with Cameron Diaz. “I had to take a minute to pull myself together.”
Not every improvised exchange made the final cut, but Bomer pointed to one standout: a credit scene featuring Drew Barrymore that came together in real time.
“That was one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had,” he said. “Jonah was cueing us and prompting us the whole way through.”
Working With Icons, Then Forgetting They’re Icons
Sharing the screen with Reeves and Diaz could be intimidating on paper. But Bomer said their presence on set quickly put him at ease.
“They’re so central to my moviegoing experience as a person,” he said. “But they’re also so kind that you’re able to forget all of that and just be in the scene.”
That grounded energy helped the cast build the kind of easy chemistry the story demands, particularly as Reef leans on Xander and Kyle while confronting the fallout of a blackmail scandal.
The Stage Name That Almost Was
Of course, not every moment was heavy. When asked about Reef Hawk’s bold stage name, Bomer revealed he once considered rebranding himself early in his career.
“I wanted to use my first name and my middle name, my mom’s maiden name,” he said. “But my dad was not having it.”
The alternative? “Matt Staten.”
Thankfully, his father intervened. “He was like, ‘Not good enough for you,’” Bomer recalled with a laugh. “And I was like, you’re right.”
A Story About Facing the Past With Humor
At its core, Outcome follows a man trying to make things right while the clock is ticking. Reeves’ Reef is forced to revisit old relationships and repair damage, with Xander and Kyle by his side.
For Bomer, that mix of reckoning and humor is what makes the film land.
“There’s a lot in it that I understood,” he said. “And a lot that felt way above my pay grade in terms of comedy. I was excited to learn and watch.”
If the on-set stories are any indication, audiences can expect a film that doesn’t shy away from dark territory, but knows exactly when to laugh.
Outcome is now streaming on Apple TV.
