Director Christopher Nolan implemented a series of strict rules on the set of his latest film, "The Odyssey," banning items such as UGG boots, cell phones, and even chairs to foster what he described as an "alternate reality" for his cast. Nolan, who himself does not own a smartphone or email address, extended these restrictions to prohibit smoking and water bottles.
Actor Anne Hathaway shared on "Royal Court" that the filmmaker's directives aimed to immerse the actors in the world they were creating. "The funny thing is you can be on set where you've got, you know, a guy holding a microphone. You've got a giant camera, you've got crew everywhere, but something like [UGGs] can actually weirdly take you out of the reality," Nolan explained in an interview on "CBS Mornings." He further elaborated, "You want to stay in the moment. You're in the real world as opposed to the world we're trying to create for the actors. I want to stay in the moment."
Robert Pattinson recounted that the cast was required to hike 45 minutes to base camp while wearing sandals to begin filming, a practice Nolan confirmed. "When [Pattinson] started on the film, we were shooting at the top of a mountain a thousand feet in the air and we hadn't been able to get any kind of road built up or anything," Nolan stated. "But yeah, we're starting with this tremendous hike and then absolutely exhausted you [before starting] your day's work."
"The Odyssey" was filmed across six countries and utilized over two million feet of IMAX 70mm film. Due to the large format, takes were limited to three minutes. The production was a family endeavor, with Nolan's wife, Emma Thomas, serving as producer, and their children also contributing to the art department, costume department, and as production assistants.
The film has achieved significant commercial success, grossing over $282 million globally against its $250 million budget within its first five days of release. On Rotten Tomatoes, "The Odyssey" holds a "certified fresh" rating of 94 percent from critics and a 97 percent audience score. Matt Damon, who plays King Odysseus, noted Nolan's lack of a personal phone, explaining that communication was facilitated through his wife, Emma Thomas, who would text to arrange calls from a general studio line.