Tom Holland praises Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ after set experience

Tom Holland has praised Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey, calling it “an absolute masterpiece” and describing the production as unlike anything he has ever experienced.

Speaking in a recent interview with GQ, Holland said he was stunned by Nolan’s signature use of practical, in-camera effects, which gave the film an extraordinary sense of scale without relying heavily on CGI.

“There were certain sequences in the movie where I’m watching it and I’m just sort of thinking like, ‘How on earth has he done that? That has to be CG,’” Holland said.

“And then after the movie asking him, ‘That was definitely CG, right?’ And he’s like, ‘No, no, no, that’s all in camera effects. Very planned, very prepared.’”

Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Holland as Telemachus.

Zendaya also appears as Athena, alongside a star-studded ensemble including Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, and Charlize Theron.

Holland also reflected on Nolan’s commitment to cinematic storytelling, praising his emphasis on theatrical viewing.

“I am a real advocate for theatrical and the cinema and the communal experience of sitting in a dark room and being entertained,” he said. “I think that is something for the next 10 years of my life that I will be very focused on.”

With a reported $250 million budget and a scheduled release date of July 17, 2026, the film is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious projects of Nolan’s career.

Industry observers are already describing the film as a major cultural event, designed to showcase the scale of mythological storytelling while reinforcing the value of the big-screen experience in an increasingly digital entertainment landscape.