A lot can happen on a 10-year journey, as chronicled in Homer’s The Odyssey, which puts Christopher Nolan‘s upcoming film adaptation of the literary classic one of his most ambitious projects to date. But it won’t be as lengthy as some may think, with a runtime that’s shorter than Oppenheimer.
“It’s an epic film, as the subject matter demands,” said the filmmaker to Associated Pictures. “But it is shorter.”
While the exact duration was not shared, the feature will not exceed 180 minutes, or three hours, clocked by the 2023 biopic. Even so, it became an instant blockbuster with a whopping US$975 million at the worldwide box office and notched seven awards at the 2024 Oscars. Expectations have hardly abated for The Odyssey, especially after its debut trailer resurfaced age-old debates about “historical accuracy”, and Nolan isn’t shy about it.
“There’s a massive amount of pressure,” he shared. “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, a beloved set of characters, is they want 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.”
The casting is off to a strong start, at least. Alongside Matt Damon as Odysseus, the star-studded ensemble also includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, and more. The film marks Nolan’s first foray into the historical epic genre, and follows the Greek king of Ithaca on his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, where he encounters various mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, sirens, and the nymph Calypso, while attempting to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
The Odyssey arrives in theatres on 17 July.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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