Director Christopher Nolan has revealed that his forthcoming adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey” required more than two million feet of physical film stock, underscoring the massive scale of the production. The project, which completed principal photography earlier this year, was entirely captured using IMAX cameras to bring the ancient epic to life.
Nolan described the extensive filming process, noting that the cast portraying Odysseus’s crew spent months at sea experiencing actual ocean conditions. “We committed to filming in real locations with genuine maritime challenges,” the director explained. “This approach allowed us to authentically convey the immense difficulties these ancient travelers faced navigating uncharted waters.”
The choice to shoot on IMAX film stock significantly contributed to the footage volume, as the format consumes film at nearly four times the rate of standard 35mm cameras. Industry estimates suggest the raw footage amounts to approximately one hundred hours of material, though this remains moderate compared to some contemporary productions that have generated substantially more unused footage.
The filmmaker expressed his motivation for tackling the classical material, noting the absence of large-scale, serious treatments of mythological stories in modern cinema. “I recognized an opportunity to bring substantial production resources to mythological storytelling that typically hasn’t received this level of cinematic treatment,” Nolan stated.
Matt Damon, portraying the legendary hero Odysseus, praised the production as a career highlight. “The practical elements were extraordinary,” the actor remarked, citing the impressive physical sets including the famous Trojan horse.
The ambitious adaptation, featuring Tom Holland as Telemachus, is scheduled to reach theaters in July 2026.
