Christopher Nolan's next film, The Odyssey, will mark the first time a major feature is shot entirely on IMAX film cameras.
The director behind modern classics like The Dark Knight, Interstellar and most recently Oppenheimer, is well-acquainted with IMAX 65mm film. However, he has never used the large, noisy and analog IMAX film cameras for an entire production. His previous films have shifting aspect ratios.
The Odyssey, coming in July 2026, will be the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, made possible by a newly developed camera that is said to be 30% quieter – which may help make actors' dialogue intelligible.
The IMAX aspect ratio
Filming everything on 65mm IMAX film allows Nolan and his team to present The Odyssey in the tall 1.43:1 format throughout, without the aspect ratio shifts seen in his previous works, on the giant IMAX theater screens.
Apparently Nolan urged IMAX to develop the new camera following the success of Oppenheimer.
- "Chris called me up and said, 'If you can figure out how to solve the problems, I will make (Odyssey) 100 percent in IMAX.' And that's what we're doing,” said Rich Gelfond, IMAX CEO, at the annual press lunch in Cannes, according to the Hollywood Reporter. "He forced us to rethink that side of our business, our film recorders, our film cameras."
It remains to be seen how The Odyssey will be presented in "Liemax", other theaters, and at home on TVs, but it is likely that a significant portion of the top and bottom of the picture will be cropped.
Also read: Only 30 theaters will screen 'Oppenheimer' as intended by Christopher Nolan
Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame were the first movies shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras – not the large-format analog IMAX film cameras Nolan uses.
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus in Nolan's upcoming film. Photo: Universal
More IMAX films on the way
The new IMAX film cameras are currently reserved for Nolan’s exclusive use. They will be made available to other production houses once filming wraps.
Gelfond added that other new titles such as Sinners, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning and Formula One are being shot partially on IMAX, which will make 2025 a record year for the premium format.
Netflix's Narnia is also set to premiere in IMAX theaters, although it is not yet confirmed whether it will be shot with IMAX cameras.
Theatrical aspect ratios
Source: reddit |
FlatpanelsHD
