Christopher Nolan Breaks New Ground With All-IMAX Odyssey Epic
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey sets a new standard as the first major Hollywood film shot entirely on IMAX cameras. Matt Damon and the crew tackled major technical hurdles to capture dialogue scenes, inventing creative solutions to overcome the infamous IMAX camera noise.
Christopher Nolan has never shied away from ambitious filmmaking, but his latest project, The Odyssey, takes things to a whole new level. For the first time in Hollywood history, a feature-length film has been shot exclusively with IMAX cameras, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in modern cinema. Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus in this sweeping swords-and-sandals adventure, recently shared his amazement at the technical feats Nolan and his team pulled off to make this vision a reality.
One of the biggest obstacles was the notorious noise produced by IMAX cameras, often compared to the sound of a kitchen blender. This made recording clear dialogue in close-up scenes nearly impossible. During a recent appearance on the New Heights podcast with Jason and Travis Kelce, Damon described the challenge:
"IMAX cameras are really loud. It sounds like a blender, like a Cuisinart in your face when the camera's close to you. So, there's never been these dialogue [scenes in IMAX]. We couldn't have this conversation with a normal IMAX camera because you wouldn't be able to hear us. They built this giant thing around the IMAX for those dialogue scenes and a system of mirrors, so your eye line would be close to the camera, and you could talk to the other actor. The amount of work that went into figuring out how to do [that], because he wanted to do 100 percent IMAX and he did it!"
Engineering Solutions for IMAX Limitations
IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond recalled how Nolan approached him about a year before production began, determined to shoot the entire film with IMAX cameras. Gelfond initially hesitated, pointing out the lengthy process of reloading film, the challenge of reviewing dailies quickly, and the complications of capturing sound. But Nolan was undeterred.
"If you can figure out how to solve these problems, we will make [Odyssey] 100 percent in IMAX. And that's what we're doing."
True to his word, Nolan and his crew engineered a solution, building a massive enclosure around the camera and using mirrors to maintain the actors ’ eye lines, all while keeping the dialogue crisp and clear.
Nolan’s Relentless Pursuit of Innovation
Nolan’s reputation for pushing the envelope is well-earned. He’s known for his inventive storytelling, commitment to practical effects, and dedication to preserving traditional filmmaking techniques. Audiences have already witnessed his bold approach in films like Dunkirk, with its intense aerial dogfights, Tenet’s jaw-dropping 747 explosion, and the unforgettable nuclear blast in Oppenheimer. Yet, with The Odyssey, Nolan set out to break even more ground, refusing to settle for anything less than a full IMAX experience.
Bringing Homer’s Epic to the Big Screen
The Odyssey adapts Homer’s legendary poem, chronicling Odysseus’s perilous journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces countless dangers, including the wrath of Poseidon, who seeks vengeance after Odysseus blinds his son, the cyclops Polyphemus. This modern, star-studded retelling wrapped filming in August of last year and is set to hit theaters on July 17. IMAX tickets are already available, promising audiences a cinematic experience unlike any before.