Hold onto your popcorn—Christopher Nolan’s next big swing, The Odyssey, is set to make movie history as the first feature film shot 100% on IMAX film cameras. Announced at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, this mythic action epic, starring Matt Damon as the wily Odysseus, promises to bring Homer’s ancient saga to life with jaw-dropping visuals unlike anything we’ve seen before. With a star-packed cast, a $250 million budget, and a July 17, 2026, release date, Nolan’s latest is already shaping up to be a cinematic beast. Here’s why this IMAX milestone has fans buzzing and what to expect from this epic adventure.
A Game-Changing IMAX Gamble
Nolan’s been the king of IMAX for years, using its massive 70mm film format to blow minds in films like The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, which raked in over $100 million from IMAX screenings alone. But The Odyssey takes it to a whole new level. According to Variety, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond revealed at Cannes that Nolan challenged the company a year ago to make a full-length feature shot entirely on IMAX film cameras possible. “Chris called me up and said, ‘If you can figure out how to solve the problems, I will make it 100 percent in IMAX,’” Gelfond said. “And that’s what we’re doing.”
Unlike digital IMAX used in flicks like Avengers: Endgame, Nolan’s sticking with analog IMAX 70mm film, prized for its crystal-clear detail and immersive 1.43:1 aspect ratio. For the first time, there’ll be no switching between formats—no letterboxed shots, just a constant, wall-to-wall IMAX experience on 70mm and GT laser screens. Fans are already losing it, with some calling it a “cinematic revolution” for its promise to plunge you straight into Odysseus’s world, from stormy seas to battles with gods.
Homer’s Epic Gets the Nolan Treatment
The Odyssey, based on Homer’s legendary poem, follows Odysseus, the cunning King of Ithaca, on his 10-year trek home after the Trojan War, dodging monsters, sirens, and divine tantrums. Nolan, who penned the screenplay and produces with his wife Emma Thomas, is crafting a “propulsive, modern” spin with an “out of this world twist,” per Universal’s distribution chief Jim Orr at CinemaCon. While details on how closely it’ll stick to the original are under wraps, the studio’s hyping it as a “mythic action epic” shot across stunning locations like Sicily’s Favignana island, Morocco, and the UK.
The cast is straight-up ridiculous: Matt Damon leads as a bearded, battle-worn Odysseus, with first-look photos showing him in rugged linen pants. He’s joined by Tom Holland, Zendaya (possibly as Athena), Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, and Samantha Morton. John Leguizamo spilled to MSNBC that Nolan runs the massive set like an indie film, keeping it tight and actor-focused despite the $250 million price tag. With Oscar-winning cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema behind the lens, expect visuals that’ll make your jaw hit the floor.
Tackling IMAX’s Technical Hurdles
Shooting a whole movie on IMAX film cameras is no small feat—those things are loud, heavy, and a logistical headache. Traditional IMAX 70mm cameras, like the MSM 9802 Nolan’s used before, are clunky beasts that make dialogue recording tricky and aren’t exactly built for hauling across Sicily’s rocky shores. But IMAX stepped up, rolling out next-gen cameras that are 30% quieter, lighter with carbon fiber bodies, and tricked out with better stability and exposure control. These upgrades, teased last year, let Nolan capture everything—intimate chats, epic battles, shipwrecks—in full IMAX glory without compromise.
This isn’t just tech nerd stuff; it’s a love letter to theaters. Nolan’s been vocal about saving the big-screen experience, and The Odyssey doubles down, designed to make you feel like you’re sailing with Odysseus. The constant 1.43:1 frame means no jarring aspect ratio shifts, just pure, immersive chaos from start to finish. As one fan put it, “This is gonna be an unprecedented cinematic event.”
Why It’s a Big Deal
Nolan’s not just making a movie; he’s pushing what movies can be. Oppenheimer proved he can blend brainy storytelling with box-office muscle, and The Odyssey feels like his boldest bet yet. The IMAX-first approach isn’t just a flex—it’s a way to bring Homer’s 3,000-year-old story to life in a way that feels fresh and larger-than-life. Universal’s calling it a “once-in-a-generation” epic, and with Nolan’s track record, it’s hard to argue. The guy’s got a knack for turning crazy ideas into must-see events.
Fans are already hyped, with buzz about the “staggering all-star cast” and Nolan’s indie-style directing making waves. The fact that he’s shooting in real-world spots like Sicily’s “goat island”—a nod to Homer’s Cyclops scene—adds authenticity to the spectacle. Plus, with a teaser reportedly dropping before Jurassic World: Rebirth on July 2, 2025, the excitement’s only building.
What’s Next?
The Odyssey is deep in production, with filming running through June 2025 and a global theatrical release set for July 17, 2026. It’s poised to dominate IMAX screens, with no other 2025 film using IMAX film cameras—Ryan Coogler’s Sinners was the last, and Nolan’s got the format locked for 2026. Want to prep? Brush up on Homer’s epic or rewatch Nolan’s Dunkirk for a taste of his large-format magic. Got thoughts on Nolan’s IMAX gamble or who Zendaya might play? Drop ‘em in the comments!
Source: Variety
