The film, an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway. Nolan, known for his commitment to practical effects and large-format film, has gradually expanded his use of IMAX since first employing the technology for select sequences in 2008’s The Dark Knight. His 2023 film Oppenheimer was the first to use black-and-white IMAX 65mm film.
Speaking to Variety, van Hoytema explained the technical challenges faced during Oppenheimer, including the need to re-engineer IMAX cameras to accommodate a newly developed black-and-white film stock. “Black and white film doesn’t exist for 65 millimeters,” he said, highlighting the need to work with Kodak to develop the necessary material and camera modifications to prevent visual artifacts caused by light leakage.
Universal Pictures, the studio behind Oppenheimer, is once again partnering with Nolan for The Odyssey. Jim Orr, the studio’s distribution chief, described the film at CinemaCon as “a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of.”
The Odyssey is scheduled to hit theaters on July 27, 2026, and is expected to set a new benchmark for IMAX filmmaking. With its groundbreaking technical approach and literary inspiration, the film continues Nolan’s legacy of redefining the modern blockbuster.