Award-winning director Christopher Nolan takes audiences on an epic adventure with The Odyssey, his latest feature film that opens in Philippine cinemas on 15 July.

Inspired by Homer’s enduring Greek epic, the film was shot across six countries — Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland and the United States — to bring the ancient world to life on an unprecedented scale. The production also features an impressive ensemble cast led by Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron and Zendaya.

As his 13th feature film, Nolan considers The Odyssey his most ambitious project yet.

“The Odyssey is an incredible work that’s extremely important to the history of the world and the development of culture, but it has never been adapted as a modern blockbuster,” Nolan said. “I was energized by the challenge of creating the mythic world of Ancient Greece and excited about telling its story, with all its rich themes, in a way I’d never seen.”

The story follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, whose long and dangerous journey home begins after the Trojan War. As he faces mythical creatures, powerful gods and seemingly impossible trials, his wife Penelope struggles to protect their kingdom from relentless suitors while their son Telemachus continues to believe his father will return.

For Nolan, the influence of The Odyssey reaches far beyond ancient literature.

“Whether it’s the narrative through-line of Odysseus or the singular episodes that make the entirety of the epic, The Odyssey underpins almost all of cinema,” he said. “It’s certainly there in every movie I’ve ever made, to a degree I never before realized. It was a fun thing to discover as I got into the work of adaptation.”

Renowned for his commitment to practical filmmaking, Nolan combines real locations, elaborate production design, live stunt work and cutting-edge visual effects to create an immersive cinematic experience.

“I’m a big fan of film history, particularly the silent era,” Nolan shared. “Part of the appeal of those early spectacles was that they were created practically, with real sets, real locations and large numbers of extras. What has long interested me is combining that tradition with modern visual effects to create the most immersive and powerful experience possible. We are trying to do it all, which seems totally appropriate for what The Odyssey is and needs to be on screen.”

“It was a hard job — as it should be,” he said. “It’s The Odyssey.”