Even Hollywood royalty gets stage fright. Zendaya recently revealed that her boyfriend, Tom Holland, made a special visit to the set of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey just to calm her nerves before her first day of filming. The Euphoria star, who plays the goddess Athena in the epic adaptation, admitted she was overwhelmed stepping into Nolan's world—until Holland showed up on his day off.
“I was so nervous,” Zendaya told Collider. “You read a script and start wondering how it’ll look, but then you’re immersed in this tactile, detailed world. Still, there’s anxiety that comes with working with people you’ve admired forever.” Holland, who plays Telemachus in the film, provided the emotional support she needed to dive into the role.
John Leguizamo, who portrays the loyal servant Eumaeus, echoed Zendaya’s awe. He described filming on a cliff 900 feet above sea level with a real castle and a 360-degree view of the Mediterranean. “You’re like, ‘Is this real life?’” he said. “Nolan is the only director who could pull off something this massive.”
The film boasts a star-studded cast: Matt Damon as King Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Queen Penelope, Charlize Theron as the nymph Calypso, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus. Nolan’s signature practical effects and IMAX cameras bring Homer’s ancient epic to life in a way that demands the big screen. Leguizamo insisted, “That’s the only way to see it.”
One of the most talked-about aspects of the production is Nolan’s innovative IMAX mirror system, which allows actors to see each other during dialogue scenes despite the massive cameras. Leguizamo joked that his character’s sight impairment spared him from the challenge, but Zendaya noted the intensity of performing with the bulky equipment. Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway previously revealed the mirror trick that helped them connect emotionally during close-ups.
Zendaya also shared how she juggled filming The Odyssey back-to-back with Euphoria Season 3. “I was grateful I had a night shoot the day before,” she said. “It kept me from freaking out until I was actually on set.” The transition between the gritty HBO drama and Nolan’s mythological epic was jarring but rewarding.
For fans eager to dive deeper into Nolan’s filmography, his use of IMAX lenses in The Dark Knight paved the way for this ambitious project. And if you’re looking for more epic adventures, these 10 films will get you in the mood.
With The Odyssey already breaking IMAX ticket sales records, it’s clear that Nolan’s vision has struck a chord. Zendaya summed it up best: “There’s no one else who could do this.”
