Why Christopher Nolan said The Odyssey would be the hardest film its stars ever made
The director reveals the lengths to which the cast and crew went to make good on creating his epic version of ‘the ultimate adventure story’
Christopher Nolan has never been afraid to dream a little bigger. It is almost a calling.
With every film, he has pushed himself and the medium further – playing with form, storytelling, visuals and audience expectations to create lasting cinematic spectacles. A student of Hollywood history, the Oscar-winner is always looking to fill gaps in cinematic culture and show audiences something they have not seen before.
The goal was to make something accessible and realistic, which meant going to far-flung locations, using real ships on real seas, and taking audiences into the cave with the Cyclops, inside the Trojan Horse and to the bleak expanse of Hades. It is also the first feature to be shot entirely on IMAX film.
“We all know the title, we all know what it means, we know what it promises and hopefully for the audience coming to see the film, they’ll feel we made good on that promise because that’s the fun of The Odyssey,” Nolan says.
“It’s the ultimate adventure story.”