The Odyssey continues to smash box office records; already it claimed the title for the highest grossing opening weekend for director Christopher Nolan, and has already blown past the $650 million dollar mark at the box office in its first two weeks. Nolan has had a unique staying power with audiences for a while now, but it's clear that even by his own lofty standards, The Odyssey is turning out to be something special that's resonating with people.
Having seen the film, this doesn't feel like a surprise. Beyond the fact that Nolan did a wonderful job adapting a classic tale that has lived in the human cultural consciousness for thousands of years, The Odyssey is also the rare movie that is an absolute feat of cinematic ingenuity in terms of its production. From its location filming across six different countries and the deck of a real Viking longship, to extensive practical effects, sumptuous costuming, and expansive sets, and brilliant performances from its A-list cast, the story of how The Odyssey was filmed is every bit as awe-inspiring as Odysseus' journey itself.
Soon, we'll be able to get an even deeper look into how this groundbreaking film was made. Insight Editions has announced that it will publish a deluxe companion book for The Odyssey, penned by author James Mottram, which will serve as the ultimate behind-the-scenes guide to Nolan's Greek myth saga. Filming The Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan's Modern Epic features never-before-seen photos, a deep dive into the creation of the film from script to production, exclusive interviews with key players including Christopher Nolan, a forward by Matt Damon, and more.
In addition to the beautiful standard edition of the book, Barnes & Noble will also be releasing their own exclusive edition in partnership with Insight Editions. That one has all the bells and whistles of the regular book, but with a striking cover design that's available nowhere else:
What to expect in the new Filming The Odyssey book
While many other movies have published these sorts of behind-the-scenes books, I'm hard-pressed to think of a recent film that deserves it more than The Odyssey. From the interviews we've gotten with Nolan and the cast, it's obvious that the filming of this movie was something special. If you're one of those cinephiles who has been obssessing over the fact that Nolan used practical effects for Circe's transformations and the Cyclops, then obviously, you'll want this book on your radar. Nolan's latest masterpiece already feels destined to become a major part of cinema history, and we can't get enough of learning how it was made.
But what exactly might you find in Mottram's book Filming the Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan's Modern Epic? Check out a preview below:
The Table of Contents gives us a good idea of what's in store. Filming The Odyssey is broken into three parts: "The Odyssey Begins," which details Nolan's work adapting Homer's epic poem, casting the film, and preproduction; "The Shoot," which covers the actual filming of the movie across numerous locations; and "Postproduction," which explores how the film was edited and honed into its final form that we saw in theaters. And of course, there's the aforementioned Foreward from Matt Damon, as well as an epilogue that will no doubt feel like a welcome chaser after flooding your brain with more Odyssey than any one person can handle.
Here's a glimpse of the first part of the book, replete with a breathtaking photo of Odysseus' ship, along with the start of the chapter about adapting Homer's poem for the screen:
Insight Editions has also previewed a few pages with never-before-seen photos from the section about the filming for Ithaca and Iceland, the latter of which was the setting for the Underworld sequence where Odysseus met with the shades of all the men he'd led to their dooms.
Suffice to say, if you can't get enough of The Odyssey or have a loved one who won't stop gushing about the movie, this book is worth considering.
The World of The Odyssey: A Visual Journey
Filming The Odyssey is obviously a book for the obsessed film nerd who likes to see behind the curtain, but Mottram and Insight Editions are also releasing a second book about the film that's designed more for casual viewers. This one is titled The World of The Odyssey: A Visual Journey, and serves as an illustrated companion to the movie that highlights its characters, world, and story, rather than production details.
Just because The World of The Odyssey: A Visual Journey is meant to be more accessible doesn't mean it won't also have plenty of juicy material. It features brand new images and concept art, as well as quotes from the movie's stellar cast and director, character profiles, breakdowns of important narrative moments and items, and more. This one "prioritizes readability and exploration over comprehensive documentation," which means it'll be more fun to show off at parties with a wider crowd.
The best part is that these books are coming sooner rather than later.Filming The Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan's Modern Epic releases on August 25, 2026 with The World of The Odyssey: A Visual Journey following on September 22.
Even hearing about these books has me itching for another rewatch of the movie. Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey is now playing in theaters and IMAX.
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