Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ 70mm IMAX Prologue Footage Description

It feels like only yesterday when Christopher Nolan’s next film, an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey was announced. Following Odysseus’ journey through the Trojan War and back home to Ithaca, the story spans an impressive ten years. Now, attached to 70mm IMAX screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash is a 5 minute long prologue that briefs over The Siege of Troy.

Featuring impressive music from Ludwig Görannson and the acting to match, this prologue is more than enough to get audiences butts in seats, and with four Avengers: Doomsday trailers releasing in front of Avatar: Fire and Ash, it is clear both Chris Nolan and Marvel Studios know the power of James Cameron.

What Happens In ‘The Odyssey’ 70mm IMAX Prologue?

The clip opens with Jon Bernthal’s Menelaus, King of Sparta, engaging in conversation with Tom Holland’s Telemachus, son of Matt Damon’s Odysseus. Menelaus asks Telemachus, “Have you heard the story of the Horse?” Telemachus shows that he has. Menelaus then asks, “Have you heard it from the inside?”

This is where the prologue truly begins, with Odysseus, Menelaus, and their armies huddled in a black cavernous space. On the exterior, a large wooden rearing horse emerges from the swirling sea foam. Soldiers breath through straws to avoid drowning. Another army drag the Horse from the sea over the dry arid land to the gates of Troy where a soldier stabs through the horse, checking what is inside. On the third stab, he wounds one of Odysseus’ men, killing him but leaving the soldier satisfied.

The horse is erected within Troy and left guarded as the citizens of Troy are angered at the supposed peace offering from their enemies. At night, Odysseus kicks out the chest panel of the horse, and drops a rope that he and his men descend down and kill the guards. Soon, Odysseus, followed by his men, lurk in the shadows, sneaking around Troy and take out wall guards with bows and arrows. As the people of Troy raise alarm, the men work on unlocking the front gate, the only thing holding Troy together from their enemies, whilst Odyssey picks off Trojans one by one with his bow. Finally, the army bursts through the gate and so begins the fall of Troy.

Amidst the burst of soldiers, one armoured man stands tall. It’s hard to say who this might be, whether that be Agamemnon (possibly played by Benny Safdie) or even Achilles, this figure seems to pose a threat to the Trojans more than others.

Menelaus says to Telemachus, “I think you know the rest,” and a rhythmic montage initiates. A wild storm upon a ship is shown, a group of soldiers emerging from behind a hill in a forest, the animatronic Cyclops is largely shrouded in darkness, more armoured men roaming, and somebody decapitating a Greek statue. The montage ends with the release date, the IMAX logo, and then finally The Odyssey title, which still bears the same font as Oppenheimer.

The Odyssey stars an ensemble cast led by Matt Damon and stars Jon Bernthal, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita N’yongo, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, and Benny Safdie.

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