Christopher Nolan's adaptation of Homer's classic epic, "The Odyssey," has premiered, showcasing significant technical achievements. The film holds the distinction of being the first feature ever shot entirely with IMAX film cameras from start to finish.
To facilitate this, a new IMAX camera system was developed to address the issue of camera noise during dialogue scenes. Nolan challenged IMAX engineers to create a soundproof housing, nicknamed "the blimp," which significantly reduced the cameras' noise. This upgraded system, known as the Keighley camera, enabled the entire movie to be filmed in IMAX. These modified cameras, encased in their housings, weighed nearly 300 pounds, requiring a team of six crew members to operate. The bulkiness of the cameras also necessitated the invention of a mirror system to allow actors to maintain eye contact during dialogue.
The production utilized over 2.1 million feet of film. The set depicting Troy spanned more than 110,000 square feet and accommodated over 2,000 extras. It featured more than 60 structures, including a Temple of Athena, hand-built stone staircases, working city gates, and 15 mature olive trees.
Nolan's interpretation of the Trojan Horse differed from traditional depictions. Designed as an offering to Poseidon that had washed ashore and become partially buried, the Trojans had to pull the enormous structure into the city themselves. Multiple 35-foot-tall Trojan Horses were constructed, with one on the beaches of Morocco enduring extensive filming, leading the crew to joke it had "nine lives."
Composer Ludwig Göransson developed the film's score using reconstructed ancient Greek instruments, including a lyre. Odysseus' musical theme was partly inspired by the sound of a lyre string being plucked, a subtle reference to the hero's weapon.
Filming presented considerable physical challenges for the cast and crew. Actor Matt Damon described daily shoots as the hardest he had experienced on other films, citing conditions like freezing rain on Iceland's black sand beaches. The production team and cast hiked for three weeks daily up a mountain to reach Odysseus' palace, situated at a 15th-century castle over 1,000 feet above sea level on Italy's Favignana island, as access roads were not permitted.
Anne Hathaway trained with an expert in Northern California to learn ancient-style weaving for her role as Penelope, aiming for authenticity. Her costumes subtly evolved throughout the film, mirroring Penelope's emotional journey. Damon agreed to star in the film before knowing the plot, famously responding with a simple "Okay, sure" when asked if he wanted to hear the pitch, which consisted of just two words: "The Odyssey."
Tom Holland, cast as Telemachus, informed Zendaya of Nolan's interest in her for a role, a moment she described as feeling like "winning the lottery." During filming, Nolan occasionally reminded Holland to temper his athleticism, as Telemachus was still learning to be a warrior.
The costume department created approximately 5,300 costumes with a team of over 500 individuals working across multiple countries. They focused on researching Bronze Age clothing and aging armor and fabrics to withstand the detail captured by IMAX cameras. Nolan's directive for hair and makeup was to avoid wigs, leading principal actors to grow their own hair and beards for authenticity.
Practical effects were used for the Laestrygonians, achieved through large sets, wirework, and forced perspective. The Cyclops cave scenes were filmed in Nestor's Cave in Greece, a location with prehistoric human use and mythological connections. The journey into the underworld was shot in Iceland during the "midnight sun" period, utilizing the desolate landscape and extended daylight to evoke the land of the dead.
Argus, Odysseus's dog, was portrayed by a Portuguese Podengo, an ancient breed. The film is dedicated to David Keighley, IMAX's late Chief Quality Officer, who contributed to the development of the quieter IMAX camera used in the production and passed away shortly after its completion in August 2025.