The Odyssey
Overview
After ten years of war and the fall of Troy, Odysseus begins his long journey home to Ithaca, a voyage that stretches on for years as he faces one obstacle after another. He survives the Cyclops Polyphemus, escapes Circe and the Sirens, and turns down Calypso's offer of an easy life in exchange for giving up his return home. Throughout his journey, the gods intervene, with Athena protecting him and Poseidon working against him. Meanwhile, in Ithaca, his wife Penelope fends off suitors while his son Telemachus comes of age. Odysseus is determined to reunite with his family, though reaching them will demand everything he has.
Cast
Matt Damon
Tom Holland
Anne Hathaway
Charlize Theron
Robert Pattinson
Lupita Nyong'o
Zendaya
Fun Facts
- The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. Nolan challenged IMAX to develop a lighter, quieter version of their camera specifically for this production, making every single frame of the film a genuine first in cinema history.
- Damon dropped from his usual 185 to 200 pounds down to just 167 for the role, his lightest since high school. Through intense training and a strict gluten-free diet, he achieved exactly what Nolan asked for lean but strong, the physical look of a man who has survived a decade of war and open sea.
- Damon grew his own full beard for approximately a year before and during production. He confirmed it himself on the New Heights podcast, telling host Jason Kelce he carried it throughout the entire shoot. On a film that consistently chose practical and real over artificial, even the beard was earned.