Christopher Nolan Celebrates Tom Holland’s Remarkable Talent and Highlights the Timelessness of The Odyssey’s Source Material
British director Christopher Nolan recently likened the ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey, attributed to Homer, to a superhero story of its time. Appearing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Nolan stated that Homer’s narrative, which details Odysseus’s perilous return home following the Trojan War, was akin to the “Marvel of its day.”
Nolan’s remarks came after Colbert highlighted the superhero connections within the cast of The Odyssey, which includes Spider-Man actor Tom Holland, Batman star Robert Pattinson, and Catwoman Anne Hathaway.
“Even comic book culture, whether you’re talking about Marvel or D.C. or all the rest, a lot of it comes pretty directly from the Homeric Epics,” Nolan explained. “The thing about Homer is, nobody knows if that was a person. Homer, in a way, is the sort of George Lucas of his time.”
He further emphasized, “Homer is the Marvel of its day. It’s very direct, this desire for us to feel or believe gods could walk amongst us, and I think the modern comic book is kind of our expression of that.”
Nolan noted that aspects of Homer’s work resonate throughout his own films, including The Dark Knight and Interstellar. “They all come from The Odyssey, so you get to kind of revisit that and look at it in its original form,” he remarked.
He revealed that the adaptation has been crafted in a “non-linear way,” alluding to the fact that the original poem begins midway through the story. During the interview, Nolan unveiled the latest trailer for The Odyssey, offering an in-depth preview of the film, set to be released on July 17.
Holland portrays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus (played by Matt Damon). “He’s amazing,” Nolan said of Holland. “I’ve not worked with him before, but I would love to work with him again. I mean, he’s just an incredible talent. He’s so, so great.”
The cast also includes prominent actors such as Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Elliott Page, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, and Corey Hawkins.
The story of The Odyssey features Odysseus battling mythical creatures, including Polyphemus the Cyclops, Sirens, the nymph Calypso, and the witch goddess Circe, as he navigates treacherous seas on his journey back to his homeland. Meanwhile, his wife Penelope unravels a wedding tapestry each night, keeping hopes alive for Odysseus’s return against the advances of suitors who have taken over their home. Their son, Telemachus, also plays a crucial role in preserving Odysseus’s legacy as they contend with divine beings like Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus.
