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How Christopher Nolan turned Homer’s The Odyssey into an IMAX epic

From CNA · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • Director Christopher Nolan adapted Homer's "The Odyssey" into an IMAX epic, marking the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX film cameras.
  • The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, who describes it as the biggest film of his career in scale and ambition.
  • Nolan aimed to make the ancient myth feel immediate to modern audiences by blending practical sets, real-world locations, and new IMAX technology.

Director Christopher Nolan has transformed Homer's ancient epic, "The Odyssey," into a large-format action film designed for the IMAX experience. This ambitious project is notable as the first feature film ever shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, pushing cinematic technology forward. Nolan, known for films like "Oppenheimer" and "The Dark Knight" trilogy, sought to make the nearly 2,800-year-old story resonate with contemporary viewers.

"The Odyssey is an incredible work that’s extremely important to the history of the world and development of culture, but it has never been adapted as a modern blockbuster," Nolan stated. "I was energised by the challenge of creating the mythic world of ancient Greece and excited about telling its story, with all its rich themes, in a way I’d never seen."

The Odyssey is an incredible work that’s extremely important to the history of the world and development of culture, but it has never been adapted as a modern blockbuster. I was energised by the challenge of creating the mythic world of ancient Greece and excited about telling its story, with all its rich themes, in a way I’d never seen.

— Christopher NolanExplaining his motivation for adapting Homer's 'The Odyssey' into a modern blockbuster.

Matt Damon takes on the role of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca striving to return home after the Trojan War. Damon described the part as requiring imagination, wisdom, and weariness, calling the film the "biggest movie" he has ever done in terms of scale and ambition. The ensemble cast also features Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Odysseus's wife, and Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus. Other notable cast members include Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, and John Leguizamo, portraying various characters from the myth.

The production emphasized practical filmmaking, utilizing real-world locations across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States. Over 91 shooting days spanning six months, the crew built multiple 11-meter-tall Trojan Horses for different scenes, underscoring the film's commitment to tangible scale and visual impact.

the biggest movie

— Matt DamonDescribing his role as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' in terms of scale and ambition.
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Originally published by CNA. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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