Christopher Nolan has offered a new hint about the runtime of his upcoming film The Odyssey, suggesting it will be shorter than his previous epic Oppenheimer. The Oscar-winning director, speaking to the Associated Press, acknowledged the immense pressure of adapting Homer's ancient poem. 'Anyone taking on The Odyssey is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere and that comes with a huge responsibility,' he said.
Nolan, known for his Batman trilogy, drew on his experience with beloved franchises. 'What I learned from that experience is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story, a beloved set of characters, is they want a strong and sincere interpretation,' he explained. 'They want to know that a filmmaker has gone to the mat for it. I really tried to make the best film possible.'
Epic scale with a shorter runtime
Despite its grand ambitions, The Odyssey will be shorter than Oppenheimer, which ran over three hours. Nolan confirmed the film is constrained by the three-hour limit for IMAX film projectors. 'It's an epic film, as the subject matter demands,' he said. 'But it is shorter.' The movie, set for release on 17 July, marks the first film shot entirely on IMAX, with tickets for some 70mm showings selling out a year in advance.
The all-star cast includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Tom Holland, alongside battles, gods, and mythical creatures. Following the near-billion-dollar success of Oppenheimer three summers ago, expectations are high.
Summer box office landscape
While The Odyssey is the most anticipated release, the summer season also sees unexpected openers like The Devil Wears Prada 2, directed by David Frankel. The sequel, released on 1 May, explores how characters Miranda Priestly and Andy Sachs navigate a changing world, particularly the decline of magazines. Frankel noted the tight production schedule but expressed optimism about the film's long run.
The film industry continues to adapt to post-pandemic realities, with box office figures down over 20 per cent from pre-Covid levels. However, James Cameron remains hopeful: 'We still have a very robust theatrical industry at a time when it was kind of almost pronounced dead.' The industry is responding with longer exclusive theatrical windows and a focus on premium formats.
Other summer highlights include Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day (12 June), Supergirl (26 June), and Spider-Man: Brand New Day (31 July). A shift towards PG-rated offerings is evident with Toy Story 5 (19 June), Minions & Monsters (1 July), and a live-action Moana (10 July). Horror also remains strong with Evil Dead Burn (10 July) and Insidious: Out of the Further (21 August).
Independent films are also gaining traction, with Olivia Wilde's The Invite (26 June) sparking a bidding war at Sundance. Wilde chose A24 for a theatrical release, including a 35mm print. 'The audience really likes to recognise risk,' she said. 'There's something exciting about that.'
