Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is the inaugural film filmed completely in IMAX.

      As a longstanding champion of IMAX for nearly two decades, Christopher Nolan is set to make cinematic history with his upcoming film, The Odyssey, which will be the first film ever shot entirely in IMAX using new technology created by the company to realize Nolan’s vision.

      Nolan's journey with IMAX began when he tried it for a single scene in The Prestige, followed by extensive use in the 2008 hit The Dark Knight. With each subsequent project, he has consistently sought to expand the capabilities of IMAX, whether by filming in the format more extensively or employing innovative techniques like attaching cameras to planes for Dunkirk and using rotating hallways for Inception.

      At Cannes, IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond disclosed that the idea for fully shooting The Odyssey in IMAX originated from Nolan. “Chris called me and said, ‘If you can find a solution to the challenges, I will create [Odyssey] completely in IMAX.’ And that’s exactly what we are accomplishing,” he noted. “He compelled us to rethink aspects of our business, including our film recorders and cameras.”

      IMAX cameras are notoriously heavy and noisy. The new cameras developed for The Odyssey are said to be 30% quieter than their predecessors and significantly lighter, featuring improved film scanning and processing techniques for their 70mm film, which will aid in quicker turnaround for dailies for Nolan and future filmmakers.

      The Odyssey narrates the Greek tragedy epic by Homer, focusing on the legendary hero Odysseus during the ten years following the Trojan War. After angering the sea god Poseidon, Odysseus is cast across the sea and confronts various iconic figures and creatures from Greek mythology in his journey home. True to Nolan’s signature style, the film boasts an impressive cast featuring Matt Damon as Odysseus.

      Christopher Nolan's upcoming film, The Odyssey, is a mythic action epic filmed globally using cutting-edge IMAX technology. This film presents Homer’s classic tale on IMAX screens for the first time, premiering in theaters on July 17, 2026.

      The cast of The Odyssey includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Hamish Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Mia Goth, Corey Hawkins, Nick Tarabay, Jimmy Gonzales, Maurice Compte, Michael Vlamis, and Iddo Goldberg.

      The Odyssey is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026.

      Ricky Church – Follow me on Bluesky for additional movie updates and discussions.