Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey is already making waves for its sheer scale, and the latest production details reveal just how massive the project truly is. During the filmmaker’s recent CBS' 60 Minutes interview, it was revealed that the movie used more than 2 million feet of IMAX film, roughly equivalent to about 1/10th of Earth’s radius.

The staggering number perfectly reflects Nolan’s larger-than-life approach to filmmaking. With a 91-day global shoot spanning countries like Greece, Iceland, Morocco, Italy, and Scotland, The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious productions of the director’s career. And fittingly, Nolan says the story demanded nothing less.

Christopher Nolan described The Odyssey as the most challenging production he has ever undertaken. The film became the first feature-length project shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film cameras, requiring newly developed technology and a demanding international shoot across land and sea. Nolan recently discussed the production of 2 million feet of IMAX film.

“It needed to be the biggest film that we had done. It needed to be challenging to all of us because that's the nature of the story,” he said in the 60 Minutes interview.

The scale of the production extended beyond its locations and technology. Nolan and cinematographer Hoyt van Hoytema reportedly used lighter IMAX cameras to make full-length shooting possible, while still maintaining the immersive visual quality the filmmaker is known for. The production also leaned heavily on practical effects and real-world environments rather than CGI-heavy filmmaking.

Christopher Nolan’s dedication to traditional filmmaking methods continued into post-production as well. The director physically edits massive strips of IMAX film by hand at one of the last remaining specialized film labs, reinforcing his long-standing commitment to large-format cinema.

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That devotion to Homer’s legendary story has also renewed interest in previous screen adaptations of The Odyssey.

Before Christopher Nolan’s version arrives in theaters, many fans are revisiting the acclaimed 1997 adaptation of The Odyssey, which is currently streaming on Prime Video. The two-part fantasy adventure miniseries originally aired on NBC and earned widespread praise for bringing Homer’s ancient Greek epic to television audiences. Led by Armand Assante as Odysseus, the series follows the hero’s dangerous ten-year journey home after the Trojan War. Greta Scacchi stars as Penelope, while Isabella Rossellini portrays Athena. The cast also includes Bernadette Peters as Circe and Eric Roberts as Eurymachus.

The production filmed extensively in Malta and Turkey to capture the Mediterranean atmosphere central to the story. It also became known for its impressive creature effects from Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, particularly in scenes involving the Cyclops and other mythological threats. More importantly, the miniseries balanced large-scale fantasy spectacle with the emotional core of Homer’s story, loyalty, family, survival, and perseverance. Those same themes are expected to play a major role in Nolan’s upcoming adaptation as well.

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is already redefining blockbuster filmmaking through its unprecedented scale and technical ambition. From using over 2 million feet of IMAX film to shooting across multiple continents, the project reflects Nolan’s belief in immersive theatrical storytelling.

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Will Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey become the most ambitious mythological epic ever made? Let us know in the comments!