TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is one of the most anticipated films of 2026, bringing Homer’s nearly 3,000-year-old Greek epic to the big screen with an ambitious combination of ancient mythology and cutting-edge filmmaking technology.
The film has generated global attention not only because of Nolan’s reputation as a filmmaker, but also because of its massive production scale, practical effects, star-studded cast, and debates surrounding its interpretation of Homer’s legendary poem.
Here are some facts about The Odyssey that have made the film one of the biggest cinematic talking points of the year, compiled from Vogue Adria and Britannica.
1. The Odyssey Is the First Film Shot Entirely With IMAX Cameras
Christopher Nolan has used IMAX cameras in several of his previous films, including The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, Tenet, and Oppenheimer. However, The Odyssey marks the first feature-length narrative film shot entirely using IMAX film cameras.
The technology allows audiences to experience larger landscapes, oceans, and action sequences with greater detail. The production reportedly used more than 600 kilometers of film stock during 91 days of shooting.
Because traditional IMAX cameras are large, heavy, and extremely loud, a new lighter and quieter version was developed to make dialogue scenes possible.
2. Nolan Had Been Planning The Odyssey for More Than 20 Years
Nolan’s fascination with Homer’s epic dates back decades. In the early 2000s, he was involved in discussions to direct Troy, a film based on Homer’s Iliad, but eventually left the project.
The idea of adapting a major Homeric story remained with him as he created films about dreams, space, war, and history. After the success of Oppenheimer, which earned nearly US$1 billion worldwide and won seven Academy Awards, Nolan gained the opportunity to develop the ambitious project.
3. The Film Uses Nolan’s Signature Nonlinear Storytelling
Although Homer’s Odyssey already begins in the middle of Odysseus’s journey, Nolan further adapts the story structure in his own style.
The film begins years after the Trojan War, when Odysseus is still missing and his kingdom faces uncertainty. Events from the past are gradually revealed through memories and different perspectives.
The approach reflects Nolan’s preference for complex timelines, previously seen in films such as Memento, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer.
4. The Cast Joined One of Hollywood’s Biggest Ensembles
The Odyssey features an impressive lineup of actors, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, and Charlize Theron as Calypso.
The film also stars Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, and rapper Travis Scott, who plays a bard.
Nolan previously joked that it might be easier to list the famous actors who do not appear in the film because of the size of the cast.
5. The Trojan Horse Was Built at Full Scale
One of the most iconic elements of the Trojan War was recreated physically for Nolan’s adaptation.
The production built a life-size Trojan Horse rather than relying entirely on digital effects. In Nolan’s version, the horse arrives from the sea and is transported by the Trojans, offering a different interpretation of the famous deception.
The decision reflects Nolan’s long-standing preference for practical effects and real environments.
6. Real Ships and Soldiers Were Used During Production
Nolan wanted the ancient world of The Odyssey to feel tangible, which meant bringing real ships, costumes, locations, and large groups of extras to the set.
Actors described arriving at filming locations and seeing environments that looked like historical reconstructions rather than traditional movie sets.
While visual effects were used, they were mainly intended to enhance real elements instead of replacing them.
7. The Viking Ship Choice Sparked Historical Debate
One of the most discussed choices in the film was the use of the Draken Harald Hårfagre, a modern wooden ship inspired by Viking vessels.
Some viewers questioned the decision because Viking ships appeared thousands of years after the era associated with the Trojan War. However, the ship was selected because it was built using traditional methods and could sail on real waters.
The vessel allowed actors and crew to experience conditions similar to those faced by ancient sailors.
8. Nolan Built a Giant Cyclops Instead of Relying Only on CGI
The Cyclops Polyphemus is among the most famous monsters in Homer’s epic.
For the film, the production reportedly created an approximately 18-meter-tall model of the Cyclops inside a real cave. The practical construction was part of Nolan’s effort to give mythical creatures a physical presence.
9. The Odyssey Was Filmed Across Six Countries
The production travelled across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States to recreate Odysseus’s legendary journey.
Ancient settlements, islands, caves, beaches, and rugged landscapes were transformed into locations from Homer’s world. Morocco’s Aït Benhaddou, which previously appeared in films such as Gladiator and Lawrence of Arabia, was used to represent Troy.
10. The Film Has Already Faced Casting and Accuracy Controversies
Before its release, The Odyssey became the subject of debate over casting choices, dialogue, accents, and historical accuracy.
Some critics questioned the absence of Greek actors in major roles, while others debated the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as Sinon. Viewers also discussed the use of modern-sounding language and American accents in a story set in ancient Greece.
However, supporters argue that Homer’s epic has always evolved through different interpretations. Nolan’s challenge is not only recreating the ancient world, but making a story written thousands of years ago resonate with modern audiences.
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