Christopher Nolan has pulled off an epic feat in adapting Homer's Odyssey for the big screen. The director has reportedly used over 2 million feet of film to bring the ancient Greek epic to life, a staggering amount that will undoubtedly make for a visually stunning cinematic experience.
In an exclusive interview with Empire magazine, Nolan revealed that he and his team spent four months on location, capturing the brutal realities of Odysseus's perilous journey across the unforgiving seas. By shooting on the real waves in real places, they were able to immerse themselves in the harsh conditions faced by the characters, resulting in a raw and unfiltered cinematic experience.
Nolan opted for the large-scale Imax format, which uses significantly more film than standard 35mm cameras. This means that his team shot over 100 hours of raw footage, an impressive feat considering some recent films only managed to capture half as much material. For context, Mad Max: Fury Road and Gone Girl reportedly clocked in at around 480 and 500 hours of raw footage respectively.
According to Nolan, he chose The Odyssey project due to a perceived gap in cinematic culture that needed filling. Having previously been attached to direct the epic Trojan, which was later abandoned, Nolan saw an opportunity to tackle another Homeric classic with greater credibility and resources.
In his interview, Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus, gushed about working with Nolan, calling it "the best experience of my career." The film, which also features Tom Holland as Odysseus's son Telemachus, is set to hit theaters in July 2026.
In an exclusive interview with Empire magazine, Nolan revealed that he and his team spent four months on location, capturing the brutal realities of Odysseus's perilous journey across the unforgiving seas. By shooting on the real waves in real places, they were able to immerse themselves in the harsh conditions faced by the characters, resulting in a raw and unfiltered cinematic experience.
Nolan opted for the large-scale Imax format, which uses significantly more film than standard 35mm cameras. This means that his team shot over 100 hours of raw footage, an impressive feat considering some recent films only managed to capture half as much material. For context, Mad Max: Fury Road and Gone Girl reportedly clocked in at around 480 and 500 hours of raw footage respectively.
According to Nolan, he chose The Odyssey project due to a perceived gap in cinematic culture that needed filling. Having previously been attached to direct the epic Trojan, which was later abandoned, Nolan saw an opportunity to tackle another Homeric classic with greater credibility and resources.
In his interview, Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus, gushed about working with Nolan, calling it "the best experience of my career." The film, which also features Tom Holland as Odysseus's son Telemachus, is set to hit theaters in July 2026.
just read that Christopher Nolan pulled off an insane feat adapting Homer's Odyssey for the big screen - 2 million feet of film?! 
that's like, a whole lotta celluloid! i'm intrigued by how he and his team immersed themselves in the harsh conditions of Odysseus's journey. using real waves and locations must've added to the raw and unfiltered feel of the movie. i'm also curious about the Imax format - 100 hours of raw footage? that's a crazy amount of material to work with! 
. I mean, you can tell he's not just phoning it in – the fact that they spent months on location and shot over 100 hours of raw footage speaks to his dedication to getting it right. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see Matt Damon as Odysseus? 
. I'm hyped for this film, can't wait to see how Nolan brings The Odyssey to life on the big screen. July 2026, here we come! 
. Shooting on location must've been brutal, but Nolan's team did an amazing job capturing the harsh conditions and raw emotions 
. The Imax format is going to be mind-blowing, and 100 hours of raw footage? That's dedication! 
I'm stoked Matt Damon had such a great experience working with Nolan, it'll definitely shine through on screen 
. July 2026 can't come soon enough for me 
. July 2026 can't come soon enough 
Bring on the epic battles and sea monster encounters 
Anyway, can't wait to see Matt Damon as Odysseus, and Tom Holland as Telemachus too! Maybe Nolan's just trying to prove a point about epic storytelling... 
. seems kinda excessive but at the same time, if it's gonna make for an epic visual experience, maybe it's worth it?