Moviegoers will get an early taste of Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic this weekend, but seeing it requires a trip to a very specific type of theater. A nearly six-minute prologue for The Odyssey will be shown exclusively before films playing on IMAX 70mm screens. The special preview starts on Friday, December 12, and marks the first significant look at Nolan’s largest-scale project to date.
This prologue is not a typical trailer. With a runtime of almost six minutes, it functions as an opening chapter to the film itself. It will initially play only in front of two movies having special re-releases in the IMAX 70mm format: “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another”.
For those who miss that first weekend, a shorter version of the film’s official trailer will begin playing on December 19. That preview will run ahead of all showings of “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” the new sequel from James Cameron. However, the exclusive six-minute prologue will continue to be shown only before IMAX screenings of “Avatar 3”.
Where and When to Watch the Exclusive Footage
The release of this prologue follows a specific schedule tied to other major films. Getting to see it depends entirely on the format of the movie you buy a ticket for.
The prologue’s first showing is tied to the IMAX 70mm re-releases of two acclaimed films. Starting December 12, the nearly six-minute preview will play before all screenings of Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” that are presented in the IMAX 70mm format. This exclusive run is scheduled for one week.
On December 19, the wider marketing campaign begins. A shorter, standard-length trailer for The Odyssey will then play before all screenings of “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” regardless of format. However, the special six-minute prologue will not disappear. It will continue to be shown, but only before IMAX screenings of “Avatar: Fire and Ash”. This strategy means the longest, most detailed preview remains an exclusive experience for IMAX audiences.
This approach mirrors the successful strategy for Nolan’s last film. For “Oppenheimer,” an extended prologue was also attached to IMAX 70mm screenings, which helped drive significant interest and sold-out shows for that premium format.
What the Six-Minute Prologue Will Show
While the full prologue has not been released online, details from an early press screening describe a thrilling and action-packed sequence. The footage serves as a direct introduction to the story’s world.
The segment reportedly opens with a character asking, “You hear the story of the horse?” before launching into a flashback to the final hours of the Trojan War. Audiences will see the famous Trojan Horse being dragged toward the city gates, followed by a night-time battle as Odysseus fights to open the gates and end the long conflict. The description calls it a “mini roller-coaster ride” that presents one of history’s most famous military triumphs.
It begins with a question: ‘You hear the story of the horse?’ Cue a thundering action set-piece, flashing us back to the walls of Troy. The visuals are visceral, the audio an adrenaline-rush.
The prologue ends with a brief, striking shot of a Cyclops, teasing the mythological creatures Odysseus will face on his long journey home. This footage is designed to be more than a simple preview; it is crafted as a complete, immersive piece of the film meant to be seen on the largest possible screen.
Why It’s Only Playing in IMAX 70mm Theaters
The decision to restrict the prologue to IMAX 70mm screens is a direct reflection of how the movie itself was made. The Odyssey is the first feature film ever shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Nolan and his cinematographer, Hoyte van Hoytema, used newly developed IMAX 70mm film cameras for the entire production. Showing the first footage in its native format is a statement of intent about the cinematic experience Nolan is creating.
Nolan has long been a strong supporter of the theatrical experience, especially the IMAX format. The massive success of “Oppenheimer” in IMAX proved his point. IMAX screenings contributed roughly 20% of that film’s global box office, an exceptionally high number that showed audiences will seek out the best possible way to see a film. For The Odyssey, the format is not just an option; it is central to the film’s identity.
The studio’s commitment to this vision is clear. Tickets for the film’s IMAX 70mm showings in July 2026 went on sale nearly a year in advance and sold tens of thousands of seats across just 22 locations. This exclusive prologue release continues that strategy, making the IMAX theater itself a key part of the film’s story.
Inside the Making of The Odyssey
The film is an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem. It follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, played by Matt Damon, on his long, dangerous voyage home after the decade-long Trojan War. The story is filled with mythological beasts, divine interference, and epic challenges.
Tom Holland plays Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, who remains in Ithaca awaiting his father’s return. The cast features one of the most impressive ensembles of Nolan’s career. It includes Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, and John Leguizamo.
Nolan has spoken about the unique challenge of filming at sea, where much of the story takes place. He wanted to capture the true scale and terror of an ancient voyage.
“I’ve been out on it for the last four months… We really wanted to capture how hard those journeys would have been for people. And the leap of faith that was being made in an unmapped, uncharted world,” Nolan said.
Matt Damon has praised the project, calling the character of Odysseus brilliantly complex. “The genius of the character, the cleverness, the inventiveness of him, that was a huge part of what interested me. He’s not just a soldier. He’s an amazing strategist, a very wily person,” Damon explained. Tom Holland also shared his excitement, calling the script “the best script I’ve ever read” and describing Nolan as a collaborative director.
The film has a reported budget of $250 million and wrapped its principal photography in August after a seven-month shoot. It is currently in post-production and is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026. A one-minute teaser for the film played in theaters earlier in 2025, attached to movies like “Jurassic World Rebirth,” but it was never officially released online.
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