Universal Pictures and filmmaker Christopher Nolan have completed production on the IMAX epic "The Odyssey," set for release on July 5, 2026.
The film stars Matt Damon in the title role and was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, generating massive box office anticipation.
According to PetaPixel, ticket scalpers have listed seats on eBay for up to $1,500.
The production used over two million feet of 65mm Kodak film, costing roughly $3 million for the film stock alone, within an overall budget reported between $250 million and $300 million.
Cast and Crew on the IMAX Experience
Actor Matt Damon described the scale of the production in a newly released featurette, noting that the project felt like historical filmmaking scaled up for modern premium formats.
"The Odyssey is definitely the biggest movie that I’ve ever done in my career," Damon said.
Damon elaborated on the unique classical atmosphere on set under Nolan's direction.
"It was like making a movie the way you would have made it a hundred years ago. Except for the fact that it’s on IMAX," he added.
Cinematographer Hoyte Van Hoytema explained that the choice to use massive IMAX cameras was essential for capturing the specific visual scope needed for the narrative.
"IMAX is a camera that doesn’t lie," Van Hoytema said. He emphasized that the premium large format remained the primary creative vision throughout development.
Director Christopher Nolan revealed that completing an entire project using these specific cameras fulfilled a long-held career ambition.
"For me, it’s been my long-held dream I’ve been nursing since I was about 16 years old to do an entire film on IMAX," Nolan said.
Nolan noted that historical technical barriers regarding production audio had previously prevented full-length IMAX features. "The thing that was stopping us was always the sound," he said.
Technical Challenges and Cast Reactions
The physical volume of the camera equipment presented an immediate challenge for the actors. "Gosh, it’s loud," said Anne Hathaway.
Co-star Tom Holland noted the specific technical solution introduced by the crew to isolate the camera noise during filming.
"Then they brought the blimp out," Holland said.
Nolan previously told Variety that the custom-built camera housing allowed the crew to capture quiet, intimate performances without audio interference.
"The blimp system is a game-changer," Nolan said.
Actor Robert Pattinson described the imposing physical size of the silenced camera rig during close-up dialogue scenes.
"It feels like you’re shooting a scene with like an SUV," Pattinson said. He expressed surprise at how efficiently the technical crew could maneuver the heavy equipment.
"But even with the size of the camera, you just feel like the machine would move slower, and it just moves faster than if you are shooting on an iPhone," he added.
The cast expressed significant enthusiasm for how audiences would experience the final cinematic presentation. "You’re really going to be immeshed in this world," said Tom Holland.
Actress Zendaya praised the collaborative work of Nolan and Van Hoytema.
"I cannot wait to sit in an IMAX theater and completely be lost in this world that he’s created," Zendaya said.
The production concluded its promotional preview with endorsements from the extended ensemble cast. "This is pure cinema," said Himesh Patel.
