It’s hard to keep secrets from the internet. We’re a wily bunch who like to dive into the most distant, upcoming films and spoil ourselves silly before the film even hits theaters. It’s with that in mind that it’s all the more surprising that one group of cameos in Thor: Ragnarok managed to go by unreported.

If you were like us in the theater, you were watching the flick, having a good time, when all of a sudden, you may have thought, “Wait a second, is that Matt Damon? Wait, is that Sam Neill?”

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The scene in question was during a stage re-enactment of Thor: The Dark World, where Loki “sacrificed” himself. Taking the respective roles were Luke Hemsworth as Thor, Matt Damon as Loki, and Sam Neill as Odin. But how did the actual casting of these roles come about?

Speaking with Collider, Marvel Studios head Kevin Feige discussed that very subject, saying:

“There was a fun idea of ‘Let’s get Luke Hemsworth to play Thor,’ Taika had worked with Sam Neill in Hunt for the Wilderpeople. He was willing to come in and do Odin. So who could be Loki? Who could be Loki? Who could be Loki? We didn’t have any brilliant ideas. At one point, off handedly, Mr. Hemsworth goes, ‘Well what if I ask my friend Matt?’ I said, ‘Matt who?’ He said, ‘My friend, Matt Damon.’ ‘Okay. Sure. Sure Chris, ask your friend Matt Damon. He’s not doing this. Oh, he’s gonna do it? He’s flying down?’ The next thing I know, Matt Damon is on set in a full Loki costume, full Loki wig. We have pictures that maybe we’ll share some day of Tom Hiddleston in a full Loki outfit standing next to Matt Damon in full Loki outfit. It is very surreal and very amazing. What a testament to, I just met him for the first time, I wasn’t there when he shot this. I just met him for the first time last night. What an awesome thing, for him to come down here for his friend. It was purely based on his friendship with Hemsworth that he came and did this.”

It’s still crazy that that managed to stay a secret for as long as it did. On that matter, Thor: Ragnarok screenwriter recalled to THR:

“It was one of those, ‘Don’t tell your wife. You cannot tell anyone,’ [Marvel Studios exec] Brad [Winderbaum] took me over to the side, and showed me the picture [of Damon] in full costume and I lost my mind.”

How did you react? Did you recognize any of them in the moment? Let us know down below!

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SOURCE: Collider, THR