Christopher Nolan applauds Tom Holland’s Talent, calls ‘The Odyssey’ a historical marvel
Holland appears as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus
Christopher Nolan has mentioned that The Odyssey’s original epic poem by the ancient Greek author Homer was the equivalent of a superhero narrative in its era.
While on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the filmmaker from Britain remarked that Homer’s classic tale, depicting the hazardous voyage of Ithaca’s king back home after the Trojan conflict, served as the “Marvel of its day.”
Nolan’s observation came after Colbert pointed out how The Odyssey’s cast includes actors familiar with superhero roles, like Spider-Man’s Tom Holland, Batman’s Robert Pattinson, and Catwoman’s Anne Hathaway.
“Even within comic culture, whether we talk about Marvel or D.C. or others, much of it is derived directly from Homeric Epics,” Nolan elaborated. “The interesting thing about Homer is we don’t really know if he was a single person. Homer, arguably, is the George Lucas of his era.”
The Oppenheimer creator further commented: “Homer’s work truly was the Marvel of its period. It taps into our aspiration to imagine deities living amongst us. Modern comics are, in a sense, our way of expressing that notion.”
Nolan stated that Homer’s influence is apparent in his past projects, such as The Dark Knight and Interstellar.
“These creations draw from The Odyssey, allowing us to revisit and appreciate it in its original structure,” he added.
Nolan shared that the movie is crafted in a “non-linear format,” noting that the initial poem begins midway through the narrative.
During their conversation, Nolan premiered the most recent trailer for The Odyssey, offering an exceptional preview of the film, which debuts on July 17.
Holland appears as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus (Matt Damon). “He’s extraordinary,” Nolan expressed. “I haven’t collaborated with him before, but I’d eagerly do so again. His talent is boundless. He’s truly remarkable.”
The ensemble also stars Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Himesh Patel, Elliott Page, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, and Corey Hawkins.