Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey: A Game-Changer for IMAX

Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey, marks a significant milestone in cinematic history as it will be shot entirely using IMAX cameras. This groundbreaking approach is a first for a commercial feature, showcasing Nolan’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of film technology.

Nolan’s Passion for the Big Screen

Known for his love of the big-screen format, Nolan has previously utilized IMAX in films like Dunkirk, Interstellar, the Dark Knight trilogy, and Tenet, as well as extensively in Oppenheimer. However, the challenge of shooting an entire feature with the notoriously large and complex IMAX cameras had previously been deemed impractical.

A New Era of IMAX Filmmaking

That was until now.

Innovations Driven by Success

Following the remarkable success of Oppenheimer, which grossed over $190 million on IMAX screens—accounting for about 20% of its total earnings—Nolan challenged IMAX to enhance their camera technology. He requested improvements to make the cameras lighter and quieter, as well as to address issues with scanning and processing the 70mm film stock, facilitating a smoother daily review process during filming.

Collaboration with IMAX

“Chris called me up and said if you can figure out how to solve the problems, we will make The Odyssey 100% in IMAX. And that’s what we’re doing,” stated IMAX CEO Rich Gelfond during the company’s annual press lunch in Cannes. “He pushed us to rethink our business, including our film recorders and cameras.”

Enhanced IMAX Technology

The new IMAX cameras are reportedly 30% quieter, potentially eliminating those infamous muffled dialogue scenes that have become a hallmark of Nolan’s films. Additionally, they are significantly lighter, and Gelfond mentioned that new film scanning and processing techniques will enable a quicker turnaround for daily footage.

Exclusive Access for Nolan

Currently, these advanced IMAX cameras are reserved exclusively for Nolan. However, once he completes The Odyssey, IMAX plans to make them available for rental to other directors.

Growing Demand for IMAX Filmmaking

The demand for IMAX technology is expected to surge. Gelfond highlighted a “record number” of films set to release in 2025 that have utilized IMAX cameras or were “filmed for IMAX” using IMAX-approved equipment. Notable upcoming titles include Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which premiered in IMAX at Cannes, and Formula One, directed by Joseph Kosinski and starring Brad Pitt.

Future Projects in IMAX

Additionally, Narnia, directed by Greta Gerwig, is set to be filmed for IMAX, although it remains unclear if Gerwig will use IMAX cameras for specific scenes. In a strategic move, Netflix has signed a global deal with IMAX, granting a 28-day exclusive theatrical window for Narnia before its release on the streaming platform.

New Ventures in Documentary Filmmaking

Gelfond also announced the production of Patrouille de France, the first-ever foreign-language IMAX documentary. This co-production between Federation Studios and Imago Production will chronicle a year in the life of the Patrouille de France, the esteemed aerobatics team of the French Air and Space Force, showcasing their selection process, rigorous training, and signature aerial displays. This project follows IMAX’s success with The Blue Angels, a documentary about the U.S. Navy’s flight demonstration squad.

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Persons

Christopher Nolan, Rich Gelfond, Greta Gerwig, Ryan Coogler, Tom Cruise, Joseph Kosinski, Brad Pitt, Paul Crowder

Company Names

Imax, Federation Studios, Imago Production, Amazon MGM Studios, Netflix

Titles

The Odyssey, Oppenheimer, Dunkirk, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, Tenet, Sinners, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Formula One, Narnia, Patrouille de France, The Blue Angels

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