 Matt Damon (qv) requested just prior to the beginning of  production that the script be revised so that his character would  have a smaller role in the story. Damon had just finished shooting  _Bourne Supremacy, The (2004)_ (qv) and claimed that he was too  exhausted to play a character that had such a major role in the  movie. Director Steven Soderbergh (qv) denied Damons request,  claiming that he felt Damons character was integral to the plot and  that giving Damon less screen time would diminish his characters  impact on the plot.