Why Does It Have to Be the Theater? Nolan's Answer in Seoul

"The Most Personal Yet Communal Space"

Nolan, Damon, and Theron Discuss "Odyssey" at Press Conference

Behind the Spectacle: Filming That Felt Like Shooting Seven Movies

Director Christopher Nolan visited Korea for the first time, bringing his new film "Odyssey." His strong conviction about the value of theaters as a medium remained unchanged. As the film is already rewriting box office records in North America and global markets, there was heightened interest in his philosophy and behind-the-scenes stories.

At the press conference for the film "Odyssey" held on the 3rd at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, actress Charlize Theron (from left), director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and actor Matt Damon posed for photos. Photo by Yonhap News

On the morning of August 3, a press conference for "Odyssey" was held at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and actors Matt Damon and Charlize Theron attended the event.

This visit marks Director Nolan’s first time in Korea. He had planned a visit for the release of "Tenet," but it was canceled due to COVID-19. "It's always felt special knowing that audiences in countries I haven’t visited cherish my films," he said, adding that meeting Korean fans who loved "Interstellar" had been a personal wish. He also expressed a clear conviction about theaters, emphasizing that only cinemas offer both a personal and collective experience. He explained that he made "Odyssey" intending to invite audiences on Odysseus’s journey.

The film depicts the ten-year journey of the hero Odysseus (Matt Damon), who led the Greeks to victory in the Trojan War, as he tries to return home to Ithaca, where his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) awaits. The story explores the kingdom shaken by the absence of its king, his son Telemachus (Tom Holland), storms and monsters, and obstacles from the gods, showing the wounds of war and the human desire to return to family. It is based on Homer’s epic poem, "The Odyssey."

Technically, the film garnered attention for being the first in film history to be shot entirely on IMAX film cameras. The large-scale location shoots in Norway, Iceland, and parts of the Mediterranean provided overwhelming scale, with actors such as Zendaya and Robert Pattinson also contributing to the production.

Still cut of the movie 'Odyssey'.

Having invested an unprecedented scale of resources, the film is also seeing strong box office results. Less than a month after its North American release on July 17, global revenues surpassed USD 900 million, and the film set a new opening record for director Nolan by earning USD 264.06 million across 69 countries during its global debut. Critics' responses have been enthusiastic as well, with a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, a 97% audience popcorn score, an 89 score on Metacritic, and an A on CinemaScore.

Behind the film's dazzling box office success was an intensely focused set. Damon recalled, "The moment I received the director’s call, I was certain it would be the greatest experience of my career," adding, "Hundreds of people worked together every day—it felt as though we were shooting seven films at once." Theron, who played Calypso, met Director Nolan for the first time through this project. She remarked, "It was an honor just to be part of it," and described the set as "both incredibly warm and surprisingly well-organized." Thomas explained, "This was a project Director Nolan had been nurturing for more than 20 years," outlining how his work style connects the experience of each previous film to the next.

Their schedule in Seoul also drew interest. After arriving in Korea on August 1, Director Nolan tried salt bread in Ikseon-dong and took a walk along the Han River. He commented briefly, "Seoul is a beautiful and vibrant city." On the same day, Damon appeared in a Kiwoom Heroes uniform at the SSG Landers vs. Kiwoom Heroes game at Gocheok Sky Dome, drawing attention. Returning to Korea for the first time in ten years since "Jason Bourne" in 2016, he remarked, "I was amazed by the completely different cheer culture and the passion of the fans compared to the US."

At the press conference for the movie "Odyssey" held on the 3rd at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, director Christopher Nolan is answering questions. Photo by Yonhap News

Theron, who visited Korea a few months ago with her daughter, expressed how much she enjoyed the energy she felt from the moment she landed at the airport this time as well. She even uploaded a video of her visit on social media using BLACKPINK’s "Boombayah" as background music. Thomas, who wore a norigae accessory, said it was a gift from the film's distributor and laughed that it matched "Odyssey" well.

"Odyssey" will be released in Korea on August 5. Until the very end, Director Nolan recommended watching the film in theaters. He said, "There are many platforms for watching movies today, but the theater is the most personal yet communal space where you can share the same story at the same time. I hope audiences experience this journey together with many others in theaters."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.