Christopher Nolan has responded to actor Matt Damon's recent remarks suggesting that The Odyssey could be among the last large-scale original films of its kind, saying he does not share such a pessimistic outlook on the future of cinema.
During an interview with The Telegraph ahead of the release of The Odyssey, Nolan was asked about Damon's comments that making the film reminded him of an earlier era of filmmaking. Damon had said working on the ambitious production felt nostalgic because it resembled the kind of films that were being made when he began his career. He also expressed concern that studios may no longer be willing to invest in similarly mounted, non-franchise projects in the future.
While acknowledging the sentiment behind Damon's statement, Nolan said there was a "defeatist aspect" to looking at the industry that way. According to the filmmaker, it has indeed been a long time since a production of The Odyssey's scale, featuring extensive location shoots, large ensembles and practical filmmaking, has been attempted. However, he maintained that cinema continues to evolve rather than decline.
"I think cinema is vital and essential and continues to transform itself," Nolan said, pointing to emerging filmmakers who are reshaping the medium with fresh ideas. He cited Gen Z directors Curry Barker, whose Obsession recently drew attention, and Kane Parsons, the filmmaker behind Backrooms, as examples of young voices finding audiences with original work.
Nolan also dismissed the notion that younger viewers no longer have the patience for ambitious storytelling. Referring to Backrooms, he noted that parts of the film are as enigmatic as the work of filmmaker David Lynch, yet younger audiences have embraced it enthusiastically. He added that this is one of the reasons he never believed claims that modern viewers lack the attention span for a three-hour Greek epic.
The filmmaker also weighed in on the growing use of artificial intelligence in Hollywood. He said he has been surprised by how quickly younger audiences have rejected AI-generated content, adding that his own children are able to recognise what he called "AI slop" almost instantly. While he believes AI may have uses in certain areas, Nolan suggested that filmmaking is moving towards more tactile and authentic forms of storytelling rather than relying on artificial imagery.
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, The Odyssey also features Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, Jon Bernthal, Travis Scott and Charlize Theron. The film is set to release in theatres on July 17.