Christopher Nolan Shares That ‘The Odyssey’ Is Shorter Than ‘Oppenheimer’ But Remains an Epic Film
Despite utilizing over two million feet of film, writer and director Christopher Nolan is set to deliver a film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey with a runtime of less than three hours. The two-time Oscar winner recently disclosed that this upcoming project, shooting in IMAX starting July 17, will have a shorter duration than his previous film, Oppenheimer, which had a runtime of 180 minutes.
“It’s an epic film, as the subject matter demands,” Nolan explained in an interview with the Associated Press. “But it is shorter.”
He acknowledged the immense expectations surrounding the adaptation of such a revered text, stating, “There’s a massive amount of pressure. Anyone taking on The Odyssey is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere, and that comes with a huge responsibility. What I learned from [making The Dark Knight trilogy] is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story and a cherished set of characters is a strong and sincere interpretation. They want to know that a filmmaker has gone to the mat for it. I really tried to make the best film possible.”
In November, Nolan revealed that he “shot over two million feet of film” during a 91-day production, much of which took place at sea to authentically depict the grandeur of Homer’s ancient epic.
“It’s pretty primal! I’ve been out on it for the last four months,” he told Empire. “We got the cast who play the crew of Odysseus’ ship out there on the real waves, in the real places. And yeah, it’s vast and terrifying and wonderful and benevolent, as the conditions shift. We really wanted to capture how hard those journeys would have been for people and the leap of faith that was being made in an unmapped, uncharted world.”
Adapted from one of the earliest stories in human history, The Odyssey follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he navigates a decade-long journey filled with incredible trials and mythical encounters on his way home to his wife, Penelope, following the Trojan War.
The film also boasts a star-studded cast, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Mia Goth, and many others.
