Christopher Nolan invites Korean audience to embark on cinematic adventure with 'The Odyssey'

Christopher Nolan Invites Korean Audiences to Join ‘The Odyssey’

SEOUL, Aug. 3 (Yonhap) — Christopher Nolan, the director behind the upcoming epic “The Odyssey,” on Monday invited Korean audiences to join Odysseus on his larger-than-life journey, touting the unique experience that only cinema can offer.

Nolan made the remarks during his first visit to South Korea to promote the film, which follows the perilous homecoming journey of Odysseus (played by Matt Damon), the Greek king of Ithaca, after winning the Trojan War. The star-studded cast also includes Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, and Zendaya.

“What I am really hoping Korean audiences will get from it... I really want them to have a sense of adventure and entertainment and emotional engagement with it,” Nolan told reporters at a press conference, also attended by producer Emma Thomas as well as Damon and Theron.

When asked about the growing number of varying mediums for audiences, Nolan stressed the unique appeal of cinema remains unchanged, saying the film — shot entirely with IMAX film cameras — aimed to maximize the theatrical experience.

“We want the audience to feel that they are on the deck of the ship with him and that they're climbing mountains with him or going into the Cyclops cave with him,” he said. “And a theatrical experience where you are sharing that with other people and you are seeing it on a larger than life screen, that's a really great way to experience that.”

Thomas, who is also Nolan’s wife, underscored the power of cinema to unite people around the world, hoping that audiences from different parts of the world — whether it be South Korea to France — will relate to the ancient tale of Odysseus.

“‘The Odyssey’ is very much a story about a human being and the things that matter to us as human beings,” she said.

Nolan, who has a significant fan base in South Korea with previous works such as “Inception” (2010), “Interstellar” (2014), and “Dunkirk” (2017), voiced excitement about finally visiting the country with his film. He noted that his earlier attempt to visit South Korea for the release of “Tenet” was thwarted by the COVID-19 outbreak.

During the press conference, Damon and Theron expressed excitement about the film’s release in South Korea. Nolan also took a riverside walk in Seoul and tried the local salt bread, according to reports.