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[JeTmAn81]

If you haven't seen it you should check out Challengers, she's good in that. Like I said above, I don't really get the outpourings of negativity about her.

Her Chani was different than the book version but that's more of a choice with the script rather than her acting choices. It's also one I can understand becuase in the book Paul's conflict is internal but for the adaptation they externalised it and she becomes one of the pillars of that, with Jessica on the other side.

Her Chani reminds me a bit of Natalie Portman in the Star Wars prequels...she's doing what the director asked for. Doesn't mean she's a bad actor even if the result is stilted. She's certainly convincing in Euphoria, even though I didn't stick with that show.

That said, I don't find her interesting enough to seek out a movie just because she's in it. I think the backlash is mainly due to the perception that she's being forced on audiences.

 

[kruis]

Hollywood has never been limited to professionally trained actors.
It looks for charisma, presence, marketability, physical ability, or a pre-existing fanbase — then gives people a chance.

That just makes it even more puzzling why Zendaya is in so many big movies...

 

[Deerock71]

Incredible. Who's attached?

Christopher Nolan

 

[RedC]

That just makes it even more puzzling why Zendaya is in so many big movies...

She started out as a child model and backup dancer before moving into acting on the Disney Channel, where she became widely known through Shake It Up. Her feature-film breakthrough came when she was cast as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and the two sequels she appeared in both crossed the billion-dollar mark, giving her enormous visibility.

Since then, she's made a successful jump into prestige and high-profile projects like Euphoria, Dune, and Challengers.

She also has a racially ambiguous look that Hollywood tends to cast very broadly—similar to someone like The Rock—where she can believably fit into a wide range of roles and backgrounds. That flexibility definitely doesn't hurt her chances.

My guess as to why she keeps getting cast in major films is pretty simple: audiences generally respond well to her performances, she has a reputation for being professional, and she's built strong working relationships with directors and studios who like bringing her back. Combine that with her broad casting range and huge visibility from the Spider-Man films, and it makes sense she's in such demand.

 

[Fbh]

Who is the Asian auntie?

Obviously one of the friends Odysseus picked up in his travels through china

 

[kruis]

She started out as a child model and backup dancer before moving into acting on the Disney Channel, where she became widely known through Shake It Up. Her feature-film breakthrough came when she was cast as MJ in Spider-Man: Homecoming, and the two sequels she appeared in both crossed the billion-dollar mark, giving her enormous visibility.

Since then, she's made a successful jump into prestige and high-profile projects like Euphoria, Dune, and Challengers.

She also has a racially ambiguous look that Hollywood tends to cast very broadly—similar to someone like The Rock—where she can believably fit into a wide range of roles and backgrounds. That flexibility definitely doesn't hurt her chances.

In other words: her racial ambiguity makes it easy to cast her and the director has a DEI category ticked off. That same factor was an enormous boost for Pedro Pascal's career: Latin actor can play white roles and the media can't complain about an all-white cast with Pascal in it.

 

[DKehoe]

 

[RedC]

In other words: her racial ambiguity makes it easy to cast her and the director has a DEI category ticked off. That same factor was an enormous boost for Pedro Pascal's career: Latin actor can play white roles and the media can't complain about an all-white cast with Pascal in it.

Unless you have any data or evidence that supports this being the case, specifically with her and Pedro Pascal, I will simply assume you are merely filling in this gap with confirmation bias.

 

[IDKFA]

A real world way? So, we're getting a real world version of the story, rather than going all out on the mythology aspects? Some of it could work, for example, Poseidon could be just represented by a massive storm. But I don't know how you can pull off Sirens or Scylla in a real world way?

It's strange because he has gone for fantasy, generic Greek/Roman armour and a non-Greek cast, but wants to keep the mythology aspects grounded?

 

[EviLore]

A real world way? So, we're getting a real world version of the story, rather than going all out on the mythology aspects? Some of it could work, for example, Poseidon could be just represented by a massive storm. But I don't know how you can pull off Sirens or Scylla in a real world way?

It's strange because he has gone for fantasy, generic Greek/Roman armour and a non-Greek cast, but wants to keep the mythology aspects grounded?

We already had this re: The Iliad with Troy, which Nolan was originally set to direct. And Troy was...ok, but quite lacking compared to the proper story. Strangely obsessed with pushing atheism and agnosticism.

Hopefully he just means leaning in on primal forces of the Earth to show the mythological elements, which is fine and in line with the story.

 

[DKehoe]

A real world way? So, we're getting a real world version of the story, rather than going all out on the mythology aspects? Some of it could work, for example, Poseidon could be just represented by a massive storm. But I don't know how you can pull off Sirens or Scylla in a real world way?

It's strange because he has gone for fantasy, generic Greek/Roman armour and a non-Greek cast, but wants to keep the mythology aspects grounded?

I guess it's still up for interpretation but this seems to be confirmation that we're getting the mythological elements rather than a grounded real world version. I had assumed that was the case anyway since it's been confirmed it's going to have The Cyclops in it. I think it's about framing the gods as the way people back then did, that these natural forces are manifestations of the will of the gods. Not that I want to drag the conversation back into being about Zendaya, but we already know that Athena will be physically present. So I don't think the film is shying away from those mythological elements or looking to do a sort of "what could have really happened" version of the story. Damon has also talked about shooting in Iceland for Hades too.

 

[IDKFA]

We already had this re: The Iliad with Troy, which Nolan was originally set to direct. And Troy was...ok, but quite lacking compared to the proper story. Strangely obsessed with pushing atheism and agnosticism.

Troy wasn't a bad film. I saw it as an attempt to show what a real Trojan war would have been like rather than an adaptation of the Iliad. Adapting mythology into a "real-world" is always going to be difficult. Troy works as a grounded war drama but it lost the Iliad's mythical grandeur.

Slightly off topic, but David Gemmell's Troy trilogy of books absolutely nails telling the story of the Trojan War in a realistic, gritty, real-world way. I'd kill for an adaptation of those novels.

Hopefully he just means leaning in on primal forces of the Earth to show the mythological elements, which is fine and in line with the story.

I hope so. Sounds that way. And maybe it's me. Perhaps I'm being too negative as I've always wanted to see a high budget version of this story and the little I've seen so far doesn't fill me with much confidence.

However, this is Nolan we're talking about, and IMO the man hasn't made a bad film yet. Yes, I even loved Tenet. I really should have more faith!

 

[jason10mm]

Im just gonna say it, Troy (Illiad) and the Odyssey without "in the flesh" actual gods doing shit and messing with mortals is a POINTLESS exercise. The gods and their relations with men is the entire focus of these works and to excise them is futile and renders the end result meaningless.

 

[EviLore]

 

[jason10mm]

So I said "Chris, why is this going to be a very hard film?"

And he said "You are going to have to act like Zendaya is sexy. You will have to act your balls off. Thank me for the Oscar later."

 

[DeepEnigma]

I guess it's still up for interpretation but this seems to be confirmation that we're getting the mythological elements rather than a grounded real world version. I had assumed that was the case anyway since it's been confirmed it's going to have The Cyclops in it. I think it's about framing the gods as the way people back then did, that these natural forces are manifestations of the will of the gods. Not that I want to drag the conversation back into being about Zendaya, but we already know that Athena will be physically present. So I don't think the film is shying away from those mythological elements or looking to do a sort of "what could have really happened" version of the story. Damon has also talked about shooting in Iceland for Hades too.

I wonder if they're going to go with a "hell on earth" style grounded psychosis artistically with the set pieces, similar to the Hellblade games.

Rather than a Clash of the Titans/God of War in your face style.

 

[Gp1]

Christopher Nolan Was Hired to Direct ‘Troy’ More Than 20 Years Before ‘The Odyssey’: ‘It Was a World I Was Very Interested to Explore’

Christopher Nolan was hired to direct "Troy" more than two decades before "The Odyssey," but the movie was taken away from him.

variety.com

He got Batman Begins as a consolation prize.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

A real world way? So, we're getting a real world version of the story, rather than going all out on the mythology aspects? Some of it could work, for example, Poseidon could be just represented by a massive storm. But I don't know how you can pull off Sirens or Scylla in a real world way?

It's strange because he has gone for fantasy, generic Greek/Roman armour and a non-Greek cast, but wants to keep the mythology aspects grounded?

To me it reads like the "real world" the film is set in includes actual, visible gods. So, the opposite of your interpretation.

It says: "people are literally seeing gods everywhere; not even the evidence of gods, they're seeing the actions of gods."

So, for example, Zeus could be onscreen in the sky throwing lightning bolts during a storm, etc.

 

[Hudo]

I don't have particularly high expectations of Nolan after Tenet. I just hope the film is a fun popcorn movie.

 

[nkarafo]

Two of the biggest box office stars of their era and all time were a professional bodybuilder and a rapper: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Will Smith.

Arnold had his muscles and young Smith had charisma and was likeable.

What does Zendaya have? She isn't even pretty to look at.

 

[IDKFA]

Arnold had his muscles and young Smith had charisma and was likeable.

What does Zendaya have? She isn't even pretty to look at.

Why do people hate on Zendaya and Tom Holland to such a degree? It's such bizarre NPC behaviour.

She's a talented actress. Is she the greatest of all time? No, but she's good enough to get parts in Nolan and Villeneuve films.

 

[DKehoe]

I wonder if they're going to go with a "hell on earth" style grounded psychosis artistically with the set pieces, similar to the Hellblade games.

Rather than a Clash of the Titans/God of War in your face style.

With them using Iceland I'm guessing it's going to be quite desolate with stark contrasts between the black sand and the cliffs. You can also find those column formations similar to the Giant's Causeway there. So that could give it an otherworldly feeling, even if they are using a real location.

 

[SentientStone]

I am flying to London for the midnight IMAX showing of this.
Nolan peaked with Interstellar for me, but I really hope this lives up to expectations.

 

[SJRB]

Matt Damon just does not understand the level on which Chris Nolan is operating.

 

[EviLore]

Matt Damon just does not understand the level on which Chris Nolan is operating.

Seems that way:

"When I got home, Ben [Affleck] was asking me about it. And I said, 'Every location on this movie would have been the toughest location on any film I've ever done. And every day of shooting would have been the toughest day of shooting on any other movie I've ever done.'"

 

[nkarafo]

Why do people hate on Zendaya and Tom Holland to such a degree? It's such bizarre NPC behaviour.

She's a talented actress. Is she the greatest of all time? No, but she's good enough to get parts in Nolan and Villeneuve films.

I don't care what other people think. She was boring in the Dune movies (the male protag wasn't much better either) and one of the reasons i didn't like them.

I wasn't even aware she was a thing, i just saw the memes after i made my mind about her. I guess in hindsight it's not a coincidence a lot of people share the same opinion.

I don't dislike Holland btw. He is at least likeable.

 

[Trilobit]

I don't care for this kind of materialism in mythological epics. It just dilutes the story for the sake of atheist modern audiences.

 

[Toons]

Someone please explain to me how Zendaya actually became a "thing", then again, it's the same thing with all the wrestlers/rap stars/singers turned "actors"...

Zero talent, charisma black hole

Shes good at what she does. She has no reputation for being hard to work with.

Shes been in the industry for well over a decade, being one of rhe rare being to be a teen star and not turned out a disaster.

Why wouldn't she get roles?

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

Seems that way:

"When I got home, Ben [Affleck] was asking me about it. And I said, 'Every location on this movie would have been the toughest location on any film I've ever done. And every day of shooting would have been the toughest day of shooting on any other movie I've ever done.'"

There's something fascinating about blockbuster film making which I've yet to understand.

It really is an immense technical and sometimes even physical challenge. Some of the productions are mind bogglingly complex, needless to say budgets are insane and the financial risk is tremendous.

It must feel like a monumental achievement to create a successful blockbuster, and in many ways it is. But ultimately it's also just a very flashy form of storytelling, one that rarely makes a lasting impact.

Nothing even remotely as influencial as Homer's original work has come from the cinema. Yet entire industries and countless careers are built upon it. It's rather strange in that respect.

No one will be digging up a film in a thousand years, except as a curious relic of an obscure time in human history, no more valuable than a bronze age cup or shield.

 

[EviLore]

There's something fascinating about blockbuster film making which I've yet to understand.

It really is an immense technical and sometimes even physical challenge. Some of the productions are mind bogglingly complex, needless to say budgets are insane and the financial risk is tremendous.

It must feel like a monumental achievement to create a successful blockbuster, and in many ways it is. But ultimately it's also just a very flashy form of storytelling, one that rarely makes a lasting impact.

Nothing even remotely as influencial as Homer's original work has come from the cinema. Yet entire industries and countless careers are built upon it. It's rather strange in that respect.

No one will be digging up a film in a thousand years, except as a curious relic of an obscure time in human history, no more valuable than a bronze age cup or shield.

No one will care about 99.999% of the books written contemporaneously either 1000 years from now, even if they're successfully preserved. It will all be a curiosity at best, a handful of classics identified like LotR and Hemingway and Orwell, to help understand the world as it was.

Movies are a young medium. The narrative feature as we know it was more or less invented with Birth of a Nation 110 years ago. The modern film with Citizen Kane, the blockbuster with Jaws and Star Wars.

I will still care about the preservation and appreciation of important films throughout the rest of my life, and beyond that, well, that's on future generations to decide, if they can escape the short form video content algorithm long enough to do anything productively.

 

[Roufianos]

Funny that bitch Lugiziamo is always complaining about Latino representation yet has no qualms taking this role.

 

[JeTmAn81]

No one will care about 99.999% of the books written contemporaneously either 1000 years from now, even if they're successfully preserved. It will all be a curiosity at best, a handful of classics identified like LotR and Hemingway and Orwell, to help understand the world as it was.

Movies are a young medium. The narrative feature as we know it was more or less invented with Birth of a Nation 110 years ago. The modern film with Citizen Kane, the blockbuster with Jaws and Star Wars.

I will still care about the preservation and appreciation of important films throughout the rest of my life, and beyond that, well, that's on future generations to decide, if they can escape the short form video content algorithm long enough to do anything productively.

Yeah, movies have barely been around for a century. Probably something will stick around but it's impossible to say what. I feel like the oldest movie that is still regularly watched and adopted by new generations is The Wizard of Oz (1939). People were still watching that even before Wicked and other adaptations started giving it a boost in recent years.

 

[Liopleurodon]

Gotta see Zendaya in usual Athena's clothes - helmet, armor, aegis, spear, shield, and an owl.

Btw, Nolan aside, I would kind of like to see Greek Mythology Cinematic Universe, starting with Titans.

 

[RedC]

Arnold had his muscles and young Smith had charisma and was likeable.

What does Zendaya have? She isn't even pretty to look at.

Let me clarify, I was addressing Giallo Corsa 's complaints that included wrestlers/rap stars/singers turned "actors".

As far as Zendaya, all I know is she somehow found herself in the "in" crowd in Hollywood. Occam's Razor suggests it's highly likely that studios and directors genuinely like working with her. She's professional, reliable, and consistently delivers, which makes her an easy choice for major projects.

She's also built a strong public image — versatile roles, high-profile fashion work, and good press — all of which make her a safe and appealing pick for studios.

She's not necessarily my type, but it would be dishonest of me if I didn't understand why other people find her attractive.

 

[efyu_lemonardo]

No one will care about 99.999% of the books written contemporaneously either 1000 years from now, even if they're successfully preserved. It will all be a curiosity at best, a handful of classics identified like LotR and Hemingway and Orwell, to help understand the world as it was.

Movies are a young medium. The narrative feature as we know it was more or less invented with Birth of a Nation 110 years ago. The modern film with Citizen Kane, the blockbuster with Jaws and Star Wars.

I will still care about the preservation and appreciation of important films throughout the rest of my life, and beyond that, well, that's on future generations to decide, if they can escape the short form video content algorithm long enough to do anything productively.

Maybe it's just me, but when you consider the amount of funds and man hours and skilled labor and years of training that go into producing a blockbuster are comparable to those required to construct physical, tangible monuments like buildings, it feels strange.

Our legacy is increasingly intangible and maybe that's also related to the feeling of decreasing productivity which you lament.

 

[jason10mm]

No one will care about 99.999% of the books written contemporaneously either 1000 years from now, even if they're successfully preserved. It will all be a curiosity at best, a handful of classics identified like LotR and Hemingway and Orwell, to help understand the world as it was.

Movies are a young medium. The narrative feature as we know it was more or less invented with Birth of a Nation 110 years ago. The modern film with Citizen Kane, the blockbuster with Jaws and Star Wars.

I will still care about the preservation and appreciation of important films throughout the rest of my life, and beyond that, well, that's on future generations to decide, if they can escape the short form video content algorithm long enough to do anything productively.

If we had video recordings of the plays of Shakespeare, as he was doing them, much less recordings of the Greek tragedies or others, I can only imagine theor impact versus just the written versions we have now.

I think film/video is wayyyy more impact full about the times they were made, and, if they survive, will give a lot of insight over just written works.

I imagine there will be digital archeologists pulling data off old hard drives and resurrecting long dead codecs.

 

[P:axMagellanic]

Maybe it's just me, but when you consider the amount of funds and man hours and skilled labor and years of training that go into producing a blockbuster are comparable to those required to construct physical, tangible monuments like buildings, it feels strange.

Our legacy is increasingly intangible and maybe that's also related to the feeling of decreasing productivity which you lament.

Barely anything survives of the silent era. And the craftsmanship of that period was like nothing else.

A young industry flexing its biceps.

 

[HRK69]

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Returns to Practical Magic with Massive Animatronics - FilmoFilia

Why go digital when you can build a giant? We break down how Nolan's practical Cyclops and creature FX are set to redefine blockbuster immersion in 2026.

www.filmofilia.com

Christopher Nolan hires Adam Wright for animatronics/stop motion scenes for beasts

This is exciting

 

[mindfreak191]

Barely anything survives of the silent era. And the craftsmanship of that period was like nothing else.

A young industry flexing its biceps.

I used to work for the MET Opera in NYC and they still keep some iconic sets for their most iconic opera's (and they look absolutely jaw dropping in person), and this is stage work we're talking about, those movie sets must've been a sight to behold.

 

[falconhoof]

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Returns to Practical Magic with Massive Animatronics - FilmoFilia

Why go digital when you can build a giant? We break down how Nolan's practical Cyclops and creature FX are set to redefine blockbuster immersion in 2026.

www.filmofilia.com

Christopher Nolan hires Adam Wright for animatronics/stop motion scenes for beasts

This is exciting

Best news I've heard about for this movie so far.

 

[IDKFA]

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Returns to Practical Magic with Massive Animatronics - FilmoFilia

Why go digital when you can build a giant? We break down how Nolan's practical Cyclops and creature FX are set to redefine blockbuster immersion in 2026.

www.filmofilia.com

Christopher Nolan hires Adam Wright for animatronics/stop motion scenes for beasts

This is exciting

Now this is some tasty news.

This is going to be special to watch on IMAX. Thank fuck the last cinema in my town has an IMAX screen!

 

[Tiago Rodrigues]

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Returns to Practical Magic with Massive Animatronics - FilmoFilia

Why go digital when you can build a giant? We break down how Nolan's practical Cyclops and creature FX are set to redefine blockbuster immersion in 2026.

www.filmofilia.com

Christopher Nolan hires Adam Wright for animatronics/stop motion scenes for beasts

This is exciting

Everything i read about this movie sounds great...and then i come here to this topic and everyone is wishing for it to flop for pages in a row, specially during shooting of the movie for some reason.

Anyway, excited!

 

[Days like these...]

Everything i read about this movie sounds great...and then i come here to this topic and everyone is wishing for it to flop for pages in a row, specially during shooting of the movie for some reason.

Anyway, excited!

Did your not read about the cast? Did you not see the costumes?

 

[DKehoe]

This is also being shown before IMAX screenings of the new Avatar film.

 

[jason10mm]

Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Returns to Practical Magic with Massive Animatronics - FilmoFilia

Why go digital when you can build a giant? We break down how Nolan's practical Cyclops and creature FX are set to redefine blockbuster immersion in 2026.

www.filmofilia.com

Christopher Nolan hires Adam Wright for animatronics/stop motion scenes for beasts

This is exciting

 

[Trilobit]

Best news I've heard about for this movie so far.

Imagine getting stuff like the animatronics in Jurassic Park 1. I don't mind the mix of CGI and practical effects, but there needs to be something tangible and something physical for the actors to react to. No matter how good and realistic the computer effects are they can never replace something actually existing irl. My imagination is better at filling in the gaps with practical effects than with CGI.

 

[3liteDragon]

I wonder if they're going to go with a "hell on earth" style grounded psychosis artistically with the set pieces, similar to the Hellblade games.

Rather than a Clash of the Titans/God of War in your face style.

Nolan's all about practical so I'm a little worried on how the fantastical elements are gonna be done but it's best to wait till more footage. Which we should get next week with a bunch of other stuff.

 

[3liteDragon]

 

[EviLore]

Concrete temples?

 

[jason10mm]

Concrete temples?

Too bad every single example of greek architecture was torn down and raised millennia ago......oh wait...

But maybe he is drawing off some other culture to represent...Troy(?) in that image.