Christopher Nolan’s long-awaited mythological epic The Odyssey made a grand stop in Mumbai ahead of its worldwide release, with the filmmaker joined by producer Emma Thomas and actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland for a packed press conference. While the conversation covered everything from adapting Homer’s timeless classic to shooting entirely in IMAX, one sentiment echoed throughout the event, the team’s admiration for Indian audiences and cinema culture.
Addressing why India was chosen as one of the key destinations on the film’s global promotional tour, Nolan revealed that the decision had been years in the making. “I’ve never been anywhere in the world with an appreciation of what movies can be and what they should be for audiences. To me, it seemed crazy that we wouldn’t be bringing our films here to premiere them,” he said.
The filmmaker also recalled that he had originally planned to visit India during the release of Tenet, but the pandemic derailed those plans. “We actually intended to come with Tenet because we filmed here in Mumbai, but because of the pandemic we weren’t able to. So finally we’re actually able to. It’s a thrill. We’ve wanted to do this for years.”
Nolan also spoke about cinema’s ability to transcend borders, calling films “a universal language” and adding that stories with universal themes have the power to bring audiences together regardless of culture.
Producer Emma Thomas echoed that sentiment while praising India’s theatrical culture. At a time when Hollywood continues debating the future of cinemas, she believes India offers a reassuring answer. “India is clearly a market that loves cinema,” she said. “India is showing us that actually the future is in theatres.”
Thomas described The Odyssey in three words, “Epic. Experiential. Human.” While acknowledging the film’s enormous scale, she stressed that its emotional core remains deeply personal. “As big as the movie is… ultimately we’re all just human. We care about home, whether that’s a place or a relationship.”
She also reflected on the mammoth production, calling it unlike anything she and Nolan had attempted before. “The thing that was really unique about The Odyssey was the scale of it. Every time you’d finish one massive sequence, you’d realise that next week you had to do another one.”
For Matt Damon, who essays the legendary Greek king Odysseus, the film became one of the defining experiences of his career. “Having the benefit of those 35 years behind me and then having the opportunity to play a role like this… it felt like my one chance to make a David Lean movie,” he said.
The Oscar winner also shared what he believes remains the timeless lesson of Odysseus. “You will live with the consequences of your choices, so choose carefully.”
Reflecting on revisiting the classic in his fifties, Damon admitted the character resonated with him differently than it might have earlier in life. “He’s flawed, he doesn’t make the right choice, he very much has to live with what he’s done.”
The actor couldn’t resist praising the film’s staggering production scale either, recalling a battle sequence where thousands of performers, burning sets and practical effects surrounded him. “This is really big. This is as big as it gets.”
Tom Holland, meanwhile, perhaps offered the most vivid description of stepping onto Nolan’s set for the very first time. “I remember walking over the brow of a sand dune in Morocco, and it felt more like I had gone back in time than I had walked onto a film set.”
“The scale of what we were doing was so overwhelming… I remember pinching myself and telling myself to drink this all in because this is unlike anything that has ever been done before and probably ever again.” Despite the spectacle, Holland insisted audiences shouldn’t expect visual grandeur at the expense of emotion.
“The scope and the scale doesn’t come at the behest of the emotion. You’ll see things you’ve never seen before, but you’ll also feel the heartache.” The actor also described the project as “a love letter to cinema” and reflected on the privilege of working under Nolan’s demanding vision. “Pressure is a privilege, and on this movie it really was.”
With Nolan promising an entirely IMAX-shot cinematic experience, Damon speaking about the moral complexity of Odysseus, Holland marvelling at the film’s unprecedented scale, and Emma Thomas celebrating India’s enduring love for theatres, the Mumbai event underlined why The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious cinematic spectacles of the year.
Also Read: Photos: Christopher Nolan Says It’s a Thrill to Be in India As The Odyssey Premieres in Mumbai
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