Zendaya recounted the emotional moment her husband, Tom Holland, revealed she had secured a role in Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated film, "The Odyssey." The actress, who stars alongside Holland in the $250 million epic, described the experience as "so special."
Holland was initially informed of his casting as Telemachus and had begun discussions with director Nolan. During an appearance on "The Tonight Show," Zendaya explained that Holland received the call from Nolan, filling her with excitement for him. "I was so excited for him. I mean he's the best and he deserves this," she said. "And I was just so excited, and obviously I'm his biggest fan but I'm also a Chris Nolan fan."
Intrigued, Zendaya admitted to "a little peeky peek" at the script while Holland was in another meeting. Upon his return, she eagerly asked for details. Holland then instructed her to reread the script, "but with Athena in mind." This clue led Zendaya to realize she too had a role, prompting an emotional reaction. "And I was like, 'yo stop it right now.' And I was just like, yeah I freaked out. I was so grateful that he got to be the one to tell me. It was so special," she recalled.
"The Odyssey," an adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic, features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. Despite initial fan and critic discussions surrounding some casting choices, the film has garnered widespread critical acclaim.
As of its release, "The Odyssey" boasts a near-perfect score of 99% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on nearly 60 reviews. Critics have praised Nolan's ambitious vision and the film's cinematic scale. Many lauded the performances of the ensemble cast, with some highlighting the contributions of the female actors.
However, some reviews offered mixed opinions on specific casting decisions. Tom Holland's portrayal of Telemachus drew varied responses, with some critics questioning his suitability for the role while others commended his performance as his strongest to date. Samantha Morton's performance as Circe has also received significant praise, with one producer noting Nolan's reaction to a pivotal scene as reminiscent of Heath Ledger's performance in "The Dark Knight."
Nolan's 13th feature film is his most expensive to date and was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras. The film has been described as a "glorious cinematic experience" and a "triumph both of story-telling and movie-making," with some critics calling it the best film of the year so far. "The Odyssey" is now in cinemas.