One of the most acclaimed directors of the 21st century will be heading to Ancient Greece next year with Universal Pictures’The Odyssey,the next big project fromChristopher Nolan.Plot details — beyond the fact that it will be based onHomer’slegendary poem of the same name — remain slim. However, a stunt performer on the project has recently shed a little bit of light on what filming is like for the high-profile outing, which stars a slew of A-listers led byMatt Damon.
Stunt performerJames Newmanspoke of his time on the film during a recent episode of the Action for Everyone podcast. “They found locations, and Nolan would go like, ‘Okay, this cave, has anyone ever filmed here before?’ And the local guy is like, ‘No.’ [Nolan] is like, ‘Okay, great, we’re going to film here.’ This like untouched place.He wants to be the first person there to do it, he wants to feel like no one has ever touched ground here.And every location is a hike. There’s a castle, I think it’s Odysseus' home, but it’s up on a hill, and it’s like a two-kilometer hike to get up there.” Newman alsospoke of the high-intensity action set pieces:
“They’re never going to make a movie like this again.I think it’s going to be an epic of all epics.It’s going to be Nolan at his best. No holds barred. He definitely fights a battle that a lot of people aren’t fighting. The coordinator came to us with scout pictures of locations, and it’s just all over Europe because Odysseus' journey is crazy, it’s like 10 years long.”
‘The Odyssey’ Tells Homer’s Epic Story
Following up on his massive box office and Oscar-winning success ofOppenheimer, it sounds like Nolan is going all out to make his next Greek epic as strong as possible. The film will star Damon as the aforementioned Odysseus, the Ancient Greek king of Ithaca, who journeys on a years-long voyage to be reunited with his wife Penelopeafter the Trojan War. Along the way, Homer’s poem sees Odysseus encounter war, gods, and mythical beasts on his quest to get home.
While it is unclear how much of the tale Nolan’s film will adapt, the set pieces are in good hands with the cast. Beyond Damon,The Odysseywill starTom Holland, Zendaya,Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson,Charlize Theron, John Leguizamo, Jon Bernthal,and more, marking one of the biggest Hollywood ensembles in years. Nolan is once again taking the reins and is directingThe Odysseyfrom a screenplay he adapted himself. He will also produce the film alongside his wife,Emma Thomas,for their Syncopy banner.
The Odysseyis in theaters on August 18, 2025. Nolan’s previous film,Oppenheimer,is streaming now.
The Odyssey
Source:Action for Everyone podcast
