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Director Christopher Nolan, known for the "The Dark Knight" trilogy, "Interstellar," and "Oppenheimer," makes his first visit to Korea for his new film "The Odyssey," attending a press conference at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. / Yonhap

Christopher Nolan, widely regarded as Hollywood's greatest living auteur, formally confirmed the affection for Korea he has held for over a decade.

At a press conference for his new film "The Odyssey" at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the morning of the 3rd, Nolan said he first realized how much Korean audiences loved his films around the time "Interstellar" (2014) came out, recalling that it ran in Korean theaters for a long time and describing it as a strange, wonderful experience to learn that audiences in a country he'd never visited connected with his work. He added that he had hoped to visit during "Tenet" but couldn't due to COVID-19, which is part of why this trip means so much to him.

Joined at the press conference by Matt Damon, who plays the lead role of Odysseus, Charlize Theron, who plays Calypso, and his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas, Nolan stressed the importance of watching films in theaters, saying the greatest thing cinema and movie theaters can offer is the shared experience of a story among an audience watching together, and that to form a true creative impression of a film — the way it was originally intended — it should be seen on the big screen. He added that "The Odyssey" in particular calls for audiences to experience Odysseus's journey live, together, in a theater.

"The Odyssey," opening on the 5th, is based on Homer's epic poem of the same name. It is Nolan's 13th feature film, following "Oppenheimer," which swept seven categories including Best Picture and Best Director at the 96th Academy Awards in 2024. The project took 16 years to bring to the screen, carries a total production budget of $375 million (about 548 billion won), and runs 2 hours and 52 minutes. It is also the first film in cinema history shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film cameras.

Nolan adapted the 3,000-year-old original — the story of Odysseus, king of the island of Ithaca, who leads Troy to defeat and then endures countless hardships on his journey home to his wife and son. The film focuses on the self-reflection and regret experienced by a war hero once so coldly calculating he would deceive even his own allies for victory, as he encounters man-eating giants and sorceresses on his voyage home and loses all his men — giving the blockbuster a more contemplative dimension.

A star-studded, talented cast also elevated the film's stature. Alongside Damon and Theron, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland joined as Odysseus's wife Penelope and son Telemachus, while Robert Pattinson took on a villainous turn as Antinous, who covets both the kingdom of Ithaca and Penelope. Zendaya and Lupita Nyong'o also joined as the goddess Athena and Helen, the Spartan queen whose abduction triggered the Trojan War, with Korean-American actor Will Yun Lee also appearing as one of Odysseus's men.

Some of the film's character portrayals, which diverge from the source material — such as depicting Odysseus, long known for his cunning and guile, as a solemn, taciturn war hero — have drawn mixed reactions. In particular, the casting of Lupita Nyong'o, an actress of color, as the legendarily beautiful Helen sparked a public spat after billionaire Elon Musk publicly criticized Nolan, calling him anti-white and accusing him of insulting the Greeks, prompting "Doctor Strange" director Scott Derrickson to fire back that Musk had clearly stopped reading books in his 20s.

Despite this controversy, the film has been performing strongly at the box office worldwide. According to box office tracking site Box Office Mojo on the 3rd, "The Odyssey" has grossed $911.4 million (about 1.3038 trillion won) since its release on the 17th of last month through the previous day. Backed by strong reviews from both critics and audiences, it is already being widely discussed as a leading contender for major categories at next year's Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor.

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Actress Charlize Theron (from left), director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas, and actor Matt Damon attend a press conference for the film "The Odyssey" at the Four Seasons Hotel Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 3rd. / Yonhap

Damon, making his first trip to Korea in a decade since "Jason Bourne" in 2016, drew laughter by saying he's never once heard Nolan call his acting "perfect" during filming, joking that he hopes to hear it someday. He went on to express pride in the project, calling "The Odyssey" his third collaboration with Nolan after "Interstellar" and "Oppenheimer," and saying he was convinced from the moment he got the offer that it would be the finest work of his acting career — a belief that turned out to be true. Asked why he visited Gocheok Sky Dome with his two daughters to watch a Kiwoom-SSG baseball game on his first day in Korea, on the 1st, Damon said he went at the suggestion of a friend who is Kiwoom's agent, adding that Korea's unique cheering culture was truly something.

Thomas and Theron, who drew attention by both wearing traditional Korean norigae ornaments at their waists on stage, shared their own delight in visiting Korea — Thomas noting that her son's Korean-American girlfriend had recommended things to try in Korea, like salt bread, and Theron saying she hasn't walked quite as much this time as she did when she visited last year with her 10-year-old daughter, adding that Korea is a place where the energy shifts the moment you arrive.

                                                                                                           Cho Seong-jun