Beloved in Korea, Christopher Nolan Finally Arrives With 'Odyssey' Stars Matt Damon, Charlize Theron and Emma Thomas

Christopher Nolan visited South Korea for the first time on Aug. 3, appearing at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul with producer Emma Thomas and actors Matt Damon and Charlize Theron ahead of the Aug. 5 release of 〈Odyssey〉. Adapted from Homer's epic 「Odyssey」, the film follows King Odysseus (Matt Damon) returning home after the Trojan War. Shot on location around the world and led by a high-profile cast, 〈Odyssey〉 has drawn strong anticipation in Korea. In Seoul, its key figures spoke about how they remember making the film.

“Film and the theater: a personal and collective experience”

Nolan began by discussing his thoughts on film and movie theaters. Because 〈Odyssey〉 was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film, Nolan said the movie is best experienced in theaters. Nolan said, "What film—and the theaters that show film—provide is an experience of sharing a story with other viewers. You may watch through the camera as if from a first-person perspective, but you still have a collective experience. Sharing psychological insight and experiencing it with other audience members—the personal-and-collective quality—is something unique to film and the theater." Producer Emma Thomas echoed that view, saying, "Film and the theater are collective experiences in which people connect and form bonds," and added, "Because the theme of 〈Odyssey〉 is connection and bonding, we hope many viewers see it and relate to it."

“Everyone wanted to be on set” and “an intimacy like an indie film” on set

What is it like on the set of Christopher Nolan, a director actors around the world want to work with? Matt Damon, collaborating with Nolan for the third time after 〈Interstellar〉 and 〈Oppenheimer〉, recalled that it was "everything I hoped for." Even working with a large crew, he said, "It was the first time I was certain that every person on set was there because they wanted to be there," reflecting the staff's passion and pride. He added that this was the first production to shoot the entire film on IMAX 70mm film, and that working with people who devote their lives to the project was a real joy. Charlize Theron, who met Nolan for the first time on this film, said, "Nolan is always consistent," and recalled that she joined late in the shoot and was nervous, but Matt explained things clearly so she could catch up. She praised the director for creating an intimate atmosphere, saying the set felt warm and almost like an independent film. Theron, who did not expect such a mood on a production of this scale, shared an anecdote: "There was a scene where Matt and I crossed the sea with only a small crew present. At one point a helicopter began filming us, and Matt kept walking—at exactly that moment the filming helicopter appeared. I was amazed at how methodically the team worked." Emma Thomas shared a similar story, saying, "After the final shot the director popped champagne, but none of the crew wanted to leave the set." Matt Damon, who was there too, said, "It was already past midnight, but everyone stayed," noting the tight bonds on the 〈Odyssey〉 set.

“I want to hear ‘Perfect’” “‘Not bad’ isn’t a bad thing either”

A lighthearted exchange between Nolan and Damon also came up. In a recent interview Matt Damon said he had never been told "Perfect" by Nolan. When asked about it, Damon said, "I'm an optimistic person, so I believe that someday I'll hear 'Perfect,'" prompting laughter. He added that they joked about Zendaya and Tom Holland having heard it, while they hadn't. Theron quickly quipped, drawing laughs, saying, "Maybe Nolan's direction was so good that Matt didn't realize he hadn't been told 'Perfect.' That's just Matt Damon's personal take," drawing laughs from the room. Nolan responded to both answers by saying, "Charlize's answer was 'perfect' but Damon's answer was 'not bad,'" and added, "To me, a Brit, 'not bad' is also a compliment—even if Damon, as an American, doesn't realize it." When asked whether they would accept Nolan's offer for a next project, Damon said without hesitation that he would, joking that even if making this film felt like shooting seven movies at once, he'd say yes even if it were twelve. Theron likewise replied cheerfully, "I didn't change my phone number, so please call me," underscoring their confidence in Nolan.