United Kingdom, June 7 -- Kevin Smith passed on the opportunity to direct Good Will Hunting.

The 54-year-old director played a crucial role in getting the film made and helping launch Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's careers, but said when it came to getting behind the camera on the project that made them stars neither he or they wanted it.

He told People about them offering him the chance to direct the Oscar-winning film: "Oh my God, no. If I were to direct this, I would just turn around to Ben and Matt the whole time and say, 'Is this what you saw when you wrote it?'"

The filmmaker spoke to People while reflecting on the 25th anniversary of Dogma, his 1999 movie that also starred Ben, now 52, and Matt, 54.

Kevin met the pair in the mid-...