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Matt Damon has revealed new details about the intense and unconventional experience of filming Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey, a project that has already made film history. The movie being the first ever to be shot entirely using Imax film cameras, is a technical gamble that pushed both cast and crew into uncharted territory.
Speaking recently on the New Heights podcast, Damon explained that working with Imax cameras required a complete adjustment in performance style, particularly during dialogue scenes. According to the Oscar winning actor, the cameras are not only massive but extremely loud. He compared the sound to having a blender or a Cuisinart directly in front of his face when the camera was close. This constant noise meant that traditional approaches to filming dialogue simply would not work.
Damon noted that there had never really been intimate dialogue scenes filmed this way before. Under normal circumstances, actors rely on subtle vocal delivery and quiet sets. On The Odyssey, that was impossible. To solve the problem, the production team engineered an elaborate system around the cameras. They built a large housing that helped contain the sound and used a complex arrangement of mirrors so that actors could maintain natural eye lines while still speaking clearly to one another. Damon emphasized the enormous amount of effort that went into solving these issues, crediting Nolan’s determination to make the all Imax approach succeed.
This determination was echoed by Imax CEO Rich Gelfond, who previously shared how Nolan approached him nearly a year before filming began. Nolan made it clear that he wanted to shoot the entire film on Imax, even though Gelfond initially told him it could not be done. There were numerous technical obstacles, from camera noise to size limitations and practical shooting constraints. Nolan responded by challenging Imax to find solutions, promising that if they did, he would commit fully to the format. In the end, those challenges were met, resulting in a groundbreaking achievement for both Nolan and Imax.
The Odyssey adapts Homer’s ancient epic poem, one of the earliest surviving stories in human history. The film follows Odysseus, played by Damon, as he endures a decade long journey filled with trials, mythical creatures and divine interference after the Trojan War, all in his attempt to return home to his wife Penelope.
Set to premiere on July 17, 2026, the film will debut in Imax theaters, where Nolan’s preference for large format filmmaking is expected to shine. The cast is notably expansive, featuring Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Mia Goth and others.
While the story itself is ancient, the filmmaking behind The Odyssey is anything but. Through innovative engineering, relentless problem solving and a commitment to pushing cinematic boundaries, Nolan and his collaborators have created a production that not only reimagines a classic tale but also reshapes what is possible in modern filmmaking.
