From Baseball to Salt Bread to Olive Young: Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron in Korea for ‘Odyssey’

With an August 5 release looming, director Christopher Nolan, producer Emma Thomas and lead actors Matt Damon and Charlize Theron appeared at a Seoul press conference on August 3 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno as part of their Korea visit to promote 〈Odyssey〉. Based on Homer’s epic 「the Odyssey」, 〈Odyssey〉 follows King Odysseus (Matt Damon) on his journey home after the Trojan War. Christopher Nolan, a director beloved in Korea, and his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas are visiting Korea for the first time. Matt Damon previously visited Korea in 2016 ahead of the release of 〈Jason Bourne〉, returning to the country for the first time in 10 years. Charlize Theron surprised fans earlier this year when she was spotted sightseeing in Seoul. The principal cast of 〈Odyssey〉—each with different memories, expectations and experiences of Korea—shared their impressions and memories of the country.

Matt Damon: “Korean baseball fans have incredible energy”

Unlike a typical promotional visit, the principals of 〈Odyssey〉 arrived in Korea with a little extra free time and took the chance to explore. On August 1, Matt Damon was spotted watching the SSG Landers vs. Kiwoom Heroes game at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, prompting curiosity about what brought him there. Damon said, "Coincidentally, I have a friend who works as a baseball agent, and one of the players he represents plays for the Kiwoom Heroes, so I ended up watching that game. When I arrived at the airport he contacted me and said I could go see it," explaining why he went to Gocheok. He added, "I’d heard a lot about how good Korean baseball is and wanted to see it. Fans of the two teams cheer separately, which you don’t see in the U.S., so that cheering was fascinating. I thought the energy and the fans were amazing," describing his surprise at the KBO crowd’s enthusiasm. Charlize Theron recalled, "I visited Korea privately a few months ago. I walked around all day with my ten-year-old daughter," and added, "I once told a friend that the energy changes as soon as you arrive in Korea. Seoul is rich in culture. You can feel it from the airport. It’s similar yet different. That’s why I’m happy to be here." When a host said, "You look radiant today," she replied, "I got a skincare treatment after I arrived. If I’m glowing, it’s thanks to Korea."

Why Christopher Nolan Ended Up at Olive Young

Emma Thomas amused the room by saying she and her husband, Christopher Nolan, stopped by Olive Young. Nolan began, "We had some time (we arrived early), so we toured Seoul and walked along the Han River. It was really beautiful but very hot," then added, "So we went indoors and I ate salt bread," reflecting on their time in Korea. Producer and wife Emma Thomas explained, "My son's girlfriend is Korean American. She told us what we should do. We tried to do as much as she suggested as possible, including the salt bread," and added, "We went to Olive Young too. Chris found it tiring, but I had fun," bringing a smile to Nolan. Nolan said, "I wanted to come since 〈Interstellar〉. I heard Korean audiences really liked that film and that it played in theaters for a long time," and continued, "Making a movie and learning that people in another part of the world like it is an amazing thing, so I definitely wanted to come. I intended to come during 〈Tenet〉 (2020), but I couldn't come because of the COVID pandemic," explaining why the visit took time. Theron added, "It would be wonderful to stay in Korea and travel for about two weeks," expressing her affection for the country.

“I hope Korean audiences take it as an entertaining adventure”

Christopher Nolan’s films have traditionally enjoyed strong support from Korean audiences and solid box-office results. Nolan said, "I made 〈Odyssey〉 as an invitation for audiences to join Odysseus on his journey," and expressed the hope that, "audiences in the theater will experience that journey together." He added, "Whether audiences know the story or not, I made the film so Korean viewers could easily engage with it. I hope they take it as an entertaining adventure." Emma Thomas explained, "Movies bring people together. 〈Odyssey〉 is a universal story about human emotion and what matters most to people."