Robert Pattinson Wanted a Long Wig in ‘The Odyssey,’ and Christopher Nolan Said No

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has been a huge hit this year. Its global box office has reached $1.8 billion, the highest gross of Nolan’s career. Now the studio is starting its awards push and giving fans a closer look at how the epic was made.

Part of that push is a new making-of film. Called ‘Behind the Scenes of ‘The Odyssey,” it runs 75 minutes and premiered Tuesday night at the Spielberg Theater on the Universal Studios lot. Matt Damon moderated an hour-long conversation with 12 department heads, and Nolan introduced the screening.

One of the funniest stories from the documentary involves Robert Pattinson and his hair. Pattinson plays Antinous, and he asked head of hair Gloria Casny for a long wig for the character. He called her on the first day of fittings while she was standing right next to Nolan and producer Emma Thomas.

The idea didn’t get far. “I didn’t even know how he got my number,” Casny recalled, as reported by Variety. “The answer was no.” The film was her first time working with Nolan. Pattinson wasn’t the only actor who tried to change his look. Tom Holland asked costume designer Ellen Mirojnick to shorten his skirt so he would look taller, and Nolan noticed within seconds.

The documentary shows a lot of things Nolan won’t allow. Thomas, his producing partner and wife, says there are 2 versions of the director: one who asks for the impossible during prep, and one who becomes “incredibly pragmatic” once filming starts.

Christopher Nolan’s mythic action epic comes to life. Watch #TheOdyssey: The Making of an Epic now streaming on Peacock, and experience The Odyssey in theaters July 17. https://t.co/gnNiC6Zssy
— Peacock (@peacock) July 14, 2026

Another story shows the first version at work. During a sequence filmed in Scotland, the sea tore the transom and hull off a boat, and the marine coordinator said it couldn’t be fixed by the next day. Damon remembered Nolan answering, “I don’t accept that.” The boat was floating and filming the following day again.

Antinous still got a distinctive look without the long hair. Mirojnick gave each main character a clear visual identity, and Antinous wears a leopard pelt. Penelope wears bright colors, and Telemachus’s armor gets lighter as he grows up.

Nolan has also been enthusiastic about Pattinson’s take on the villainous suitor. Speaking to the Associated Press, he compared the actor’s performance to Alan Rickman’s work as a villain. Pattinson plays one of the story’s main antagonists and the most prominent of the men pursuing Anne Hathaway’s Penelope while Odysseus is away.

The story has reached social media, and the reaction has been mixed. Some fans joked that Pattinson’s request sounded like his wig from ‘The King,’ while others said they wished Nolan had gone along with it. Several said the actor was the best part of the movie.

The final trailer for The Odyssey has been officially released. https://t.co/83EBouAZ6M
— Beyond Reporter (@Beyondreporter1) July 1, 2026

The 40-year-old star has had a strong year at the movies, and Antinous is one of the roles that has drawn the most praise. The rejected wig is now part of the film’s story. The documentary has plenty of other anecdotes. The Trojan Horse was stuck in customs in Morocco when Nolan moved the start date up by 2 days, and the tide later knocked it over. The fall of Troy was built practically on a 2.5-acre set.

Damon also says he never re-recorded a single line, because Nolan avoids ADR. The Cyclops was first tested by moving a single eye on actor Bill Irwin’s face under a desk lamp.

The full 75-minute cut was a one-time presentation, but fans will get some of it at home. A shorter version will come with the digital home release on November 17, though Universal hasn’t said which parts will be included.