The Bulge Identity: As Matt Damon piles on the pounds, is there a new movie role in the pipeline?

 Matt Damon is best known for his role as super honed man of action, Jason Bourne.
Audiences have become accustomed to seeing the almost inhumanly fit actor racing across their screens in the kind of shape most men can only dream of.
But the 40-year-old looked decidedly chunkier as he arrived at the Venice Film Festival earlier today.

What's the beef? Matt Damon looked noticeably chunkier than usual as he arrived at the Venice Film Festival today

Wearing a loose fitting beige jumper, there was definite evidence that the star had gained a little weight in recent weeks.
His newly bald head didn't exactly add to the allure of Matt's overall look.
 Even under the jumper there was a definite hint of some extra bulk- and not the muscular variety.
Matt was posing at the photocall for his new movie Contagion, which also stars Gwyneth Paltrow.

Beige bald and bulky: Could Matt's new look indicate a new film role on the way?

Stark contrast: Matt looked a world away from his honed appearance in The Bourne Ultimatum (right)

His weight gain was all the more obvious in the company of his super-slim co-star.
Contagion, directed by Steven Soderbergh, is an action-thriller about an international team of doctors who band together to deal with the outbreak of a deadly disease.
Although Matt's role in the film is that of the 'everyman' caught in the midst of catastrophe, it didn't require him to drastically alter his appearance.

The Talented Mr Ripply: Matt definitely seemed to have gained a few pounds on his chest, even showing a hint of 'moobs'

Describing the part, Matt told film site Flicks and Bits: 'I play a guy, Mitch Emhoff, who’s been out of work for a while, he’s married and in very short order loses his wife and step-son. His only surviving family member is his daughter.'
'Through the whole film I’m trying to shepherd her through this horrible outbreak and protect her, after having lost a whole bunch myself.'
'It’s extremely terrifying to think of it, as an actor it’s a great part, it’s a really great pandemic movie. I love those movies,' Matt added.

Little and large: Matt's weight gain was all the more obvious next to his super-slim Contagion co-star Gwyneth Paltrow

Matt has more recently been filming We Bought A Zoo alongside Scarlett Johansson.
Based on a true story, the narrative follows a widower (Benjamin Mee, played by Damon) as he struggles to keep a zoo open following the death of his wife.
Over the course of time, he is also able to to reconnect with his bereaved children.

Catching on: Matt has said that Contagion is a 'great pandemic movie