Filmmaker Christopher Nolan has praised Indian moviegoers as “among the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable cinematic audiences in the world” while launching his latest film, The Odyssey, in Mumbai ahead of its global release on July 17.
This marks the first time Nolan has chosen India to launch one of his films.
Addressing the audience after a special screening at PVR INOX in Lower Parel, Nolan said premiering a project in India had been a long-standing wish.
“For many years, I wanted to come here and launch one of my films and experience it with Indian audiences, who are among the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable audiences in the world,” he said.
Nolan, who is visiting India for the third time, added that every trip to the country had been special.
The filmmaker had earlier visited India in 2019 during the making of Tenet, shooting key sequences during a 10-day schedule. Before that, he came to India in 2011 to film portions of The Dark Knight Rises at Mehrangarh Fort in Jodhpur.
For The Odyssey premiere, Nolan was accompanied by his wife and longtime producing partner Emma Thomas, along with actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland.
Damon told the Mumbai audience that they were among the first members of the public to watch the film, as an earlier screening had largely been attended by family and friends.
“You are the first real audience who have watched the movie. It means the world to us that you liked it,” Damon said.
He added that thousands of people had worked tirelessly to create the film, which was shot entirely in IMAX.
Holland also praised the passion of Indian moviegoers.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart for always welcoming us with open arms, happiness, excitement and love. No one brings energy to a movie theatre the way you do in India,” he said.
Emma Thomas described the response as overwhelming and said the premiere represented the culmination of the filmmaking journey.
India is hosting a two-day premiere of The Odyssey. After Friday’s screening, another special show for Indian film personalities and invited guests is scheduled for Saturday.
The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary king whose difficult decade-long journey home after the Trojan War forms the heart of Homer’s epic.
The cast also includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Samantha Morton.
Shot across several countries, The Odyssey is the first feature film to be filmed entirely using IMAX cameras.
