Tom Holland on a New Chapter with The Odyssey
British actor Tom Holland describes his role in Christopher Nolan's epic film The Odyssey as the beginning "of a new chapter of my life." Known globally for his portrayal of Spider-Man, Holland expresses that this opportunity is "a real pinch-me moment."
In the film, Holland portrays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, a legendary figure from Greek mythology. Telemachus was very young when his father left for the Trojan wars and only knows him through the heroic tales of his cunning and bravery.
Now 30 years old, Holland remarks,
"the thing that I love the most is that it feels a little bit like the last chance for me to play a boy."This is reflected in his personal life as well, as he is now married, though he refrains from discussing his marriage to US actress Zendaya during the interview.
On screen, Holland delivers a compelling performance as a young man seeking the father he barely remembers, while also protecting his mother, Penelope, from the suitors who have overtaken their home.
Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, the wife of Odysseus and mother to Telemachus.
Zendaya also appears in the film as the goddess Athena, though she and Holland do not share scenes. Holland recounts reading the script with her,
"which I don't know if I was supposed to."When he met Nolan the following day, Nolan asked if he would be comfortable with Zendaya playing Athena. Holland describes the moment of telling Zendaya as
"a very special moment,"with her reaction being a subtle smile followed by them both jumping around the kitchen.
The film features strong performances from the cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, who spends a decade fighting in the Trojan wars and another decade attempting to return home.
Damon shares his experience of being cast, saying Nolan called him with the lead role offer.
"So I just said 'Yes'. And he goes 'Don't you want to hear what it is?' I said 'Sure'. And he said 'It's a two-word pitch. The Odyssey'."
Anne Hathaway delivers another notable performance as Penelope. When asked about what she learned about motherhood from the film, Hathaway, who recently announced her pregnancy, reflects on the differences between ancient and modern parenting.
"Well, it was really interesting to kind of translate what the world that I live in and what my idea of being a loving mother is to 3,000 years ago.
"There's no such thing as gentle parenting in ancient Greece! The stakes were really, really high. And there was sometimes a need for her to scare him [Telemachus] in order to keep him safe. It just made me grateful that I feel like I have more avenues available to me now.
"But I also, you know, I don't know what it is to raise a teenage boy. My kids are still very young, at least they feel young."
Exploring Themes of Masculinity and New Skills
The film also prompted Holland to reflect on masculinity. He explains,
"Maybe what you can learn from this movie about masculinity is that it comes in all shapes and sizes and there is no version of it that's perfect."
For his role, Holland learned swordfighting, an experience he enjoyed. When asked about the practical use of this skill, he jokes that while he does not keep a sword at home, he does have a cricket bat which he can wield in a similar fashion.
Despite his A-list status, Holland remains grounded, stating,
"I just live my life the way my parents raised me,"emphasizing the importance of not taking anything for granted.
This film marks Holland's first collaboration with Nolan, a significant milestone in his career. He shares,
"Before you've worked with him and before you've got that call, you think about it a lot and you yearn for that opportunity and then you get the opportunity and that comes with a lot of pressure."
Christopher Nolan's Vision and Challenges
Nolan's decision to cast Holland aligns with the actor's natural star quality and impressive career trajectory, from his early stage role in Billy Elliot to his success in the Spider-Man franchise and now The Odyssey. Nolan praises Holland as "one of the great actors of his generation," a significant compliment given Nolan's history of working with esteemed actors.
Holland admits feeling daunted by the prospect of working with Nolan but approached it with determination:
"I've got what I wanted and now it's time to show him what I can do."
Nolan himself faced pressure adapting Homer's 2,700-year-old epic, especially following the success of his previous film, Oppenheimer, which won seven Oscars and grossed around a billion dollars worldwide. Nolan describes his coping strategy as focusing on the present project and avoiding distractions. He recounts telling his son, who noticed the absence of Oscar statuettes in his office,
"I'm trying to write a new project and if I've got Oscars sitting on the shelf, think about how daunting that would be."
He adds,
"You can't really think about what's come before."
The Odyssey is already being hailed as a triumph, notable for Nolan's dedication to practical effects, including real ships, seas, and a Trojan horse on an actual beach.
Early reports about the film sparked controversy when Elon Musk criticized casting choices, including Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, sharing a post accusing Nolan of altering characters for diversity or awards considerations. Critics responded by highlighting the mythological origins of Helen, who is described as the daughter of Zeus, born from a swan's egg.
Having viewed the film in an Imax cinema, as Nolan prefers, the author notes the intriguing retelling of Helen's story and the film's visual grandeur.
"The Odyssey"is the first feature film shot entirely on Imax film, which Nolan believes offers the most naturalistic visual experience.
Nolan counters the notion that the film is high art disguised as a superhero movie, stating,
"When you go to Homer, it's a very crowd-pleasing story. It's popcorn stuff. I mean that's the joy of it and that's why it's endured for this long."
His goal is to
"bring something fresh to the audience."He criticizes Hollywood for often forgetting that audiences desire new and original content.
Fresh Perspectives on an Ancient Tale
The Odyssey presents familiar stories passed down through generations but viewed through a new lens. Nolan reimagines the Trojan horse as a vast bronze structure without wheels, filled with men tightly packed inside. This concept had been in Nolan's mind for two decades, stemming from a brief attachment to direct the film Troy for Warner Brothers.
While the film is a spectacular visual experience, it also invites reflection on broader themes such as the horrors of war and moral principles, referred to as the "Law of Zeus" in the movie, which encourages treating others as one would like to be treated.
Damon emphasizes the film's role as a conversation starter rather than a lecture, saying,
"it's more that something like this should be a conversation, that's what a piece of art is there for. It's not for us to say, here's the message, it's not a lecture. It's something to be discussed."
The Odyssey is scheduled for release in cinemas on Friday, 17 July.
