In a revealing new interview with GQ Sports, Tom Holland opened up about what he describes as “the most profound creative experience” of his life while filming Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated historical epic The Odyssey. The Spider-Man star, who plays Telemachus (the son of Matt Damon’s Odysseus), didn’t hold back in praising the project, calling it “the job of a lifetime” and hinting that Nolan has created something that will push cinematic boundaries like never before.
“From the very first day on set, I knew this was different from anything I’d ever done,” Holland shared. “Chris [Nolan] has built a world that feels both mythically grand and intensely human. The scale is staggering—we’re talking massive naval battles, godly interventions, emotional reunions—but what surprised me most was how intimate the character work feels.” The actor specifically highlighted a pivotal scene between his character and Damon’s Odysseus that left the crew “visibly emotional” during filming. “Matt brings this weathered, layered depth to Odysseus that’s going to blow people away. There’s one moment where we just lock eyes, and… well, let’s just say I didn’t need to act the tears.”
Holland also raved about working with Nolan’s signature practical filmmaking approach, which included shooting on open water with full-scale triremes and using minimal CGI. “You’re not acting against a green screen—you’re on a 300-foot ship with real waves crashing over you. When Poseidon’s wrath hits in this movie, you’ll feel it in your bones.” The film marks Hollywood’s first all-IMAX production, with cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema employing revolutionary low-light techniques to capture torchlit scenes that Holland says “look like living Renaissance paintings.”
The star-studded cast—including Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as the goddess Athena, and Robert Pattinson in a mysterious role—created what Holland calls “a masterclass every day.” He recalled Hathaway improvising an entire monologue that Nolan loved so much he rewrote a scene on the spot. “That’s the magic of this set—Chris encourages that level of creative risk.”
With a teaser trailer now playing exclusively in theaters (featuring Holland’s Telemachus weeping as he searches for his lost father), the Odyssey hype is building toward its July 2026 release. As Holland put it: “This isn’t just a movie. It’s why we go to the cinema.”
RJ Tantoco is a writer and researcher with a passion for all things strange, geeky, and genre-bending. Whether it’s horror slashers, offbeat indie gems, or the latest multiverse mind-bender, RJ dives deep. His writing blends fandom with sharp analysis, offering fresh takes on cult favorites and cinematic oddities alike. When he’s not watching movies, he’s probably studying for his masters or deep on an RPG quest.