Director Christopher Nolan reportedly presented a trio of classic films to the cast and crew of his highly anticipated adaptation of Homer's epic poem, The Odyssey, before filming commenced. Nolan, known for his meticulous approach to filmmaking, frequently uses such screenings to provide thematic and aesthetic inspiration for his projects, a practice he continued for his latest endeavour.
The films chosen by Nolan for this preparatory viewing were Andrei Tarkovsky's 1966 historical drama Andrei Rublev, Akira Kurosawa's 1985 feudal epic Ran, and Martin Scorsese's controversial 1988 biblical drama The Last Temptation of Christ. Speaking to The Independent, Nolan explained that he looks for “textures that might inspire us,” acknowledging that these influences are typically “pretty indirect.” He particularly praised Ran as “such an incredible film,” highlighting its masterful use of “landscape and wind” as a key takeaway for The Odyssey's visual language.
Nolan also cited The Last Temptation of Christ as essential viewing, describing it as “a fresh and accessible window into history.” This selection suggests a focus on grounding the mythical narrative of The Odyssey with a sense of historical gravitas and human experience. The director emphasised that the purpose of these screenings is not to copy specifics, but rather to gain “a generalised inspiration of what the texture of a film can be.”
The acclaimed director also credited the unexpected global success of his 2023 film, Oppenheimer, with affording him the creative freedom and resources to realise The Odyssey on the grand scale he envisioned. Nolan stated that the triumph of Oppenheimer provided “an opportunity” to undertake a project that might otherwise have been unfeasible, directly enabling the ambition and scope of his Homeric adaptation.
The Odyssey, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Tom Holland as Telemachus, marks a significant cinematic milestone. It is the first feature film to be shot entirely using IMAX film cameras, a feat made possible by Nolan's collaboration with film presentation pioneer David Keighley to develop lighter, quieter equipment. This innovation addresses a long-standing challenge with IMAX cameras, which previously limited their use in dialogue-heavy scenes due to operational noise, allowing Nolan to fully immerse audiences in the epic journey.