The Odyssey Gets New Runtime Update From Christopher Nolan
The runtime of the upcoming film The Odyssey has received a brand-new update from director Christopher Nolan. Based on the eponymous ancient Greek epic attributed to Homer, The Odyssey follows Matt Damon’s Odysseus, the Ithacan king and hero of the Trojan War, as he undertakes a perilous journey to return home. The film is highly anticipated as Nolan’s previous movie, Oppenheimer, won seven Oscars, including the Best Picture and Best Director awards.
Christopher Nolan confirms that The Odyssey has a shorter runtime than Oppenheimer
Nolan revealed during a new interview with The Associated Press that The Odyssey will be shorter than Oppenheimer, which has a three-hour runtime. This makes sense given that the 70mm IMAX film projectors are generally limited to three hours or 180 minutes. “It’s an epic film, as the subject matter demands,” Nolan explained. “But it is shorter.”
This comes after producer Emma Thomas said that The Odyssey will wrap up its storyline in under three hours.
Speaking to the above-mentioned news agency, Nolan admitted that “There’s a massive amount of pressure.” He added, “Anyone taking on The Odyssey is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere, and that comes with a huge responsibility.”
According to Nolan, his experience of making the Dark Knight trilogy ultimately helped him navigate these expectations. “What I learned from that experience is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story, a beloved set of characters, is they want a strong and sincere interpretation,” the popular director said. “They want to know that a filmmaker has gone to the mat for it. I really tried to make the best film possible.”
Nolan has developed The Odyssey from a script he penned himself. Its ensemble cast also includes Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, and Charlize Theron as Calypso. The movie is scheduled to debut in US theaters on July 17, 2026.
Source: Comingsoon.net