Written by Tom Holland is opening up about The Odyssey and the brief panic he felt after a scene on Christopher Nolan’s set, only to learn later that his worry was misplaced. The actor thought Nolan hated his performance, because he kept on calling “cut”, but the director’s actual reaction turned out to be positive, making the story a funny behind-the-scenes moment from one of 2026’s most anticipated films. He revealed during an interview with Variety:
Working with the Imax cameras for the first time is an experience. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before, and I didn’t know that it only ran for three minutes. So, I remember you would continue cutting, and I was with Jon [Bernthal], like, ‘Why does he keep cutting? Why does he keep doing that?’
Holland thought it was because of his acting that Nolan had to call for, later explaining:
And in my head, I was like, ‘Does he not like what we’re doing? What is happening?’ And then, I remember it was actually [stunt coordinator] George Cottle that was like, ‘No, no, no, there’s only three minutes in the mag.’ I was like, ‘Oh, thank god.’ I thought I was totally shitting the bed in this scene.
Holland has already called the movie one of his proudest achievements, and he has praised Nolan’s scale, practical effects, and the overall experience of being part of the production
Tom Holland Talks About His Time on The Odyssey Set With Nolan
Tom Holland in The Odyssey | Credits: Universal Pictures
Holland’s latest comments give fans a lighter, more personal look at the making of The Odyssey. Instead of feeling like a polished awards-season soundbite, the story makes him sound relatable: an actor who briefly feared he had blown a take before realizing he had read the room wrong. That awkward moment also highlights Nolan’s famously reserved style, which can easily leave actors guessing until he speaks up.
During a GQ interview, he praised Nolan, calling him “ a true master of his craft,” and added:
Working with Chris, getting to know him and Emma [Thomas] was absolutely fantastic. I’ve never seen someone that can work the way that they do, and there is a reason why they’re the best in the business for sure. To get a front row seat to that and to be a part of the process and to collaborate with a true master of his craft and learn from him was the best experience I’ve ever had.
Holland has been consistently enthusiastic about the film for months, describing it as a job of a lifetime and saying he was blown away by the scope of the production. He also praised the atmosphere on set, especially working alongside seasoned stars and watching how the team handled the ambitious shoot. In earlier comments, he said the film felt unlike anything he had seen before, thanks to the scale of the set pieces and Nolan’s practical approach to filmmaking.
Are you excited for the epic to come on IMAX screen? Let us know in the comments below.
The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17, 2026.
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