Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is finally making its way home, and the epic adventure is bringing more than 90 minutes of behind-the-scenes bonus features along for the journey. Universal Pictures has announced that the movie will be available on digital platforms and on 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray November 17, giving fans a chance to revisit Nolan’s take on Homer’s legendary Greek epic in the comfort of their own home. This is a real ‘man cave’ kind of centerpiece that is a must-have this holiday season.
The home release will include an extensive collection of special features personally overseen by Nolan. Through behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with the filmmaker and his cast and crew, the material explores how the production brought its enormous sets, elaborate action sequences and mythological world to life.
Among the featurettes is “Plotting a Course,” which examines Nolan’s approach to adapting Homer’s centuries-old story for the screen. “The Widest Window” looks at the filmmaker’s long-held ambition to make the movie, while “On Location” follows the cast and crew as they traveled around the world to capture the film’s landscapes.
Other segments focus on the production’s most ambitious sequences. “The Horse” explores the design of the Trojan Horse, while “The Fall of Troy” takes viewers inside the expansive Moroccan set built to depict the legendary city. “Ithaca” looks at the creation of Odysseus’ home, the place he spends his long journey trying to reach.
The collection also gets into the technical work behind the spectacle. “Battle Ready” follows Matt Damon, Tom Holland and the stunt team as they worked on the film’s action, while “Apparent Magic” explores the visual and special effects. “The Sea People” covers the ships and storm effects used to bring Odysseus’ dangerous voyage across the water to life.
Music fans will get a look at composer Ludwig Göransson’s work on the score in “The Score,” while “Bringing It Home” examines the editing and sound design that completed the film in post-production.
Physical editions will have a few additional extras. These include “The Journey of Film on The Odyssey,” in which content creator Reece Feldman asks Nolan to explain what happens to a movie after filming wraps, an IMAX-exclusive prologue, trailers and the “When I’m Home” music video by James Blake, Travis Scott and Göransson. Universal notes that these extras are only available on physical formats.
Based on Homer’s Odyssey, the film stars Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, whose journey home after the Trojan War brings him face-to-face with dangerous creatures and forces beyond his control. The ensemble also includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and Samantha Morton.
Nolan’s latest epic was shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, making its home-video presentation particularly worth a look for anyone hoping to appreciate the scale of the production outside a theater. The 4K Ultra HD edition also offers HDR color and contrast.
There is one important distinction for anyone waiting to watch at home: November 17 is the date for digital purchase and rental, as well as the physical release. The film will arrive on subscription streaming services later, with Universal promising digital retailers will have it months before that happens.
The Odyssey arrives on digital platforms, 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray November 17.
