MUMBAI — Before launching his highly anticipated Greek mythic epic to the world, filmmaker Christopher Nolan decided to take a quick detour for some local tea and bun maska.
On July 10, 2026, ahead of the global theatrical release of The Odyssey, Nolan—alongside producer Emma Thomas and lead actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland—touched down in Mumbai, making India a premier stop on their international promotional tour. The visit culminated in a star-studded, red-carpet fan screening at the IMAX theatre in Lower Parel, marking the film’s very first public screening anywhere in the world.
From the Gateway of India to a Local Chai Stop
The high-profile Hollywood delegation kicked off their Mumbai visit like true locals. Striking a pose in front of the iconic Gateway of India, the team paused the pre-premiere chaos to share a viral moment over traditional Indian chai.
Photos shared by Universal Pictures showed Nolan, Damon, and Holland gathered at a local cafe enjoying tea and desserts, proving that even when you are handling a $250 million blockbuster budget, a proper tea break comes first.
The Ultimate IMAX Experience
The centerpiece of the visit was the Friday night fan screening, a major milestone for both Nolan and the Indian cinematic community. The Odyssey is a technical marvel, standing out as the first narrative feature film in cinema history to be shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film cameras.
Addressing a packed, ecstatic crowd after the screening, Nolan expressed his long-held desire to bring a premiere to the country:
“This is not the first time I’ve been in Mumbai, but it is the first time I’ve had a chance to launch a film here. So you are amongst the first audiences in the world to see this film. Indian audiences are some of the most enthusiastic and knowledgeable cinematic audiences in the world.”
Nolan then playfully turned to the crowd, asking, “Just a quick, who was better, Matt or Tom? They are both fantastic.”
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The Stars Align for Homer’s Epic
The Odyssey, which runs a sweeping 2 hours and 52 minutes, adapts Homer’s classic ancient Greek poem. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, the wily king of Ithaca navigating a perilous, 10-year voyage home filled with mythical beasts and vengeful gods following the Trojan War. Tom Holland steps into the shoes of his son, Telemachus.
The actors were visibly moved by the electrifying energy of the Indian crowd.
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Matt Damon noted the significance of the Mumbai screening, sharing that while they had previously held a small screening for friends and family, this was the first time they stood before a live, public audience. “It means the world to the team that viewers liked it,” Damon remarked.
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Tom Holland praised the unparalleled vibrancy of the local theater-goers. “No one brings energy to a cinema hall like audiences in India,” Holland said, before jokingly adding, “I cannot wait for this movie to be a sequel.”
What to Expect from Nolan’s Ultimate Gamble
Universal Pictures’ decision to make Mumbai an official promotional stop alongside London, Paris, and New York highlights India’s rapidly expanding footprint in the global box office, particularly for premium IMAX formats. In India, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) passed the film with an “A” certificate (restricted to viewers 18 and older) completely uncut.
| The Odyssey: Fast Facts | |
| Director | Christopher Nolan |
| Lead Cast | Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o |
| Runtime | 172 minutes, 33 seconds |
| Budget | $250 Million |
| Technical Milestone | Shot 100% on IMAX 70mm film |
| Global Release Date | July 17, 2026 |
With production demands that required building 35-foot-tall wooden horses, navigating massive ships on the open sea, and exposing a star-studded ensemble to the elements across Italy, Iceland, and Morocco, The Odyssey promises to be an absolute visual juggernaut. If the booming applause from Mumbai’s Lower Parel IMAX is any indicator, Christopher Nolan’s voyage is poised to conquer the global box office.
