Christopher Nolan Says This Actor Was The Greatest Casting Choice in ‘The Odyssey’
Christopher Nolan shared new details about his upcoming movie The Odyssey during a special 70mm IMAX screening of Interstellar at AMC Citywalk in Los Angeles in early February 2026.
The director joined actor Timothée Chalamet for a live Q&A, where the conversation quickly turned to the scale of Nolan’s next project and the challenges behind making it.
Chalamet asked Nolan how his past films helped him prepare for something as massive as The Odyssey. Nolan explained that the experience of making movies like Interstellar and Inception helped him build the skills needed to handle such a huge production.
He made it clear that the new film pushed him to his limits. He said, “Well, I think it prepared me adequately because I got through it, but only just. It was a very hard film to make, but hard in the right way.” He added that the difficulty was not about creative conflict but about the size of the story and the scale of the production.
Nolan also spoke about the technical ambition behind the movie. He confirmed that The Odyssey will be the first film he has made entirely for the full 1.43:1 IMAX frame. He explained that he has worked with IMAX cameras before, but this is the first time he has been able to fill the screen for the entire film. The director said the process was demanding, but he felt ready because of the team he has built over the years, including cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and longtime producing partner Emma Thomas.
One of the biggest highlights of the discussion was Nolan’s praise for Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus in the film. The director said Damon was essential to the production and described him as a true partner on set. Nolan said, “Casting Matt Damon… the issue would have been unthinkable without him. He sort of placed his life experience and career and his incredible attitude, as well as the skill as an actor, to just pull everybody along and be such a partner. Vital casting decision, one of my best casting decisions.” This marks Nolan’s third time working with Damon.
The Odyssey has a large ensemble cast. Alongside Damon, the film stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson. The production reportedly had a budget of around $250 million and filmed on location in Greece, Italy, and Western Sahara. Early reactions to preview footage have been very positive. Jonathan Nolan recently described the movie as a “tremendous achievement,” while others have compared it to a classic epic in the style of David Lean.
A film by Christopher Nolan shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. Watch The Odyssey trailer and experience the film in theaters 7 17 26. pic.twitter.com/Lqap9dFI09
— The Odyssey Movie (@odysseymovie) December 22, 2025
The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 17. With its massive scale, big cast, and full IMAX presentation, it is already shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
Nolan’s passion for large-scale filmmaking is clear, and it sounds like this project could be one of his biggest risks yet. Shooting a full movie in IMAX and tackling such a famous story is a bold move. What do you think about Nolan choosing Matt Damon as the key star of The Odyssey? Share your thoughts in the comments.