In an electrifying interview with Empire, Christopher Nolan revealed the staggering scope of his latest project, The Odyssey. The acclaimed director, known for his meticulous craftsmanship and obsession with realism, confirmed that he used over two million feet of film — an almost unimaginable amount in today’s digital era — to bring the epic Greek saga to life with a weight and authenticity audiences have never experienced before.

🎥 FINDING A GAP IN CINEMA

Nolan explained that this ambitious undertaking stems from a long-standing gap in cinematic storytelling:

“As a filmmaker, you’re always looking for gaps in cinematic culture — things that haven’t been done before. I grew up with classic mythological films, especially Ray Harryhausen’s work, but I had never seen these stories handled with the scale, credibility, and impact that a big-budget IMAX production can bring.”

The Odyssey isn’t just a retelling of an ancient myth; it’s Nolan’s bold attempt to translate the grandeur and peril of Odysseus’s journey into a tangible, visceral cinematic experience.

🌊 ON THE OPEN SEA: “VAST, TERRIFYING, AND BEAUTIFUL”

Much of the film was shot on the open ocean, an environment as unforgiving as the challenges Odysseus himself faced. Nolan described the experience:

“The sea is vast, terrifying, beautiful, and ever-changing. We wanted the audience to feel the sheer difficulty of those journeys and the leap of faith it took to navigate an uncharted, unmapped world.”

Shooting in real conditions was central to Nolan’s vision, adding a physicality to the story that CGI simply cannot replicate.

“By embracing the physical reality of the world in filmmaking, the world pushes back at you,” Nolan said.
“And that resistance shapes the story in ways that are impossible to fake.”

🎞️ THE NOLAN DIFFERENCE: CINEMA WITH WEIGHT

The use of over two million feet of 65mm and IMAX film wasn’t merely a technical showcase. For Nolan, it was a necessity to give myth the gravity it deserves.

In an era dominated by green screens and digital trickery, The Odyssey stands as a testament to what true filmmaking can achieve — a reminder that cinema still has uncharted territories, and Nolan is the navigator daring enough to explore them.

“Every wave, every gust of wind, every physical challenge becomes part of the storytelling. You feel it, the audience feels it — it’s alive.”

The Odyssey promises to redefine epic filmmaking, pushing boundaries both technically and narratively — only Nolan could make the myth feel this real.