Two Books Reveal Making of Nolan's 'The Odyssey'
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Insight Editions, Universal Pictures, and Syncopy are releasing two companion books about Nolan's "The Odyssey," with the first available now and the second due in September.
- James Mottham's "Filming the Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan's Modern Epic" spans 280 pages and features interviews with Nolan, the cast, and crew tracing the film from script to screen.
- Tom Holland recalled his first shot — a Steadicam tracking through Menelaus' palace — being disrupted by Imax camera noise, which was eventually muffled by a blimp; Damon called the device a "revelation."
- Casting director John Papsidera explained landing Zendaya as Athena by saying, "She plays a goddess, and she walks through life that way," emphasizing her otherworldly presence over her beauty.
- Zendaya first learned about her role from real-life partner Holland after he was offered Telemachus, calling Nolan's interpretation of Athena "very human and very emotional."
- "The World of the Odyssey," Mottham's second book releasing in September, is an illustrated visual guide featuring character profiles, key locations, and a final chapter on movie magic.
- "The Odyssey" crossed $1 billion in global ticket sales in three weeks, generating $430 million domestically and $58 million internationally, and made history as the first narrative feature shot entirely with Imax cameras.
Why it matters: The two-book release capitalizes on "The Odyssey" crossing $1 billion in global ticket sales and its historic all-Imax achievement, extending the blockbuster's commercial footprint into merchandise — including a Barnes & Noble exclusive cloth-cover edition — while giving fans direct access to Nolan's creative process at the peak of the film's theatrical run.
Ask SkimNews
