Skinhead Matt Damon morphs into a thug

CEBU, Philippines - You could be forgiven for crossing the road if he walked past you.

As Matt Damon has transformed from A-list elite to prison thug for his latest role in upcoming film Elysium.

The Bourne trilogy star was seen sporting a jumpsuit with a number ID on it and a fake neck tattoo while shooting scenes in Vancouver, Canada.

The 41-year-old takes centre stage in the latest offering from Neill Blomkamp, who also wrote and directed intelligent sci-fi film District 9.

Set in the future, Elysium follows life on another planet and will combine 'sociopolitical ideas and action'.

Legendary Silence Of The Lambs actress Jodie Foster will join Damon onscreen, along with Prison Break star William Fichtner.

Very little is know about the film, although Sony Pictures obviously saw potential in the project, offering a generous production offer.

In January, independent studio Media Rights Capital met with major companies to present Elysium, with Sony making the most attractive offer and production budget of $125 million.

Damon is no stranger to altering his appearance when it comes to his job.

The Good Will Hunting hunk drastically lost weight for his roles in The Talented Mr Ripley and Courage Under Fire, before beefing up again for his iconic part as Jason Bourne.

At the time he said: 'It's just really hard work... I've lost tremendous amounts of weight in my life and there's just no secret. I did it before the days of getting a nutritionist and chef, you just got to run 13 miles a day with six and a half in the morning and six and a half at night.

'You can never take a day off and, for four months, you eat nothing but chicken and egg whites and broccoli and no butter anywhere.

'If you go out to eat you have to have a conversation with the waiter and say, "I'm gonna be your worst nightmare. I'm gonna send the food back if I taste oil on it and I will taste the oil on it." You got to be that guy.'

More recently, the Oscar-winner gained 30 pounds for The Informant, with Damon joking: 'I think I lost my Sexiest Man Alive title.'

In preparation of the Steven Soderbergh film, Damon said: 'I just stopped working out and basically just ate whatever I wanted. I ate a lot of burgers, a lot of beer and basically had a great time.'

The film is due for release in March 2013. (FREEMAN)