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Christopher Nolan's long-awaited adaptation of The Odyssey has finally arrived in cinemas, bringing to an end one of the most debated and closely scrutinized productions of the year. From debates over the casting and costumes to arguments about modern dialects and the removal of certain scenes from Homer's epic story, almost every creative decision has sparked heated discussion online, before audiences even had a chance to see the finished product.
Nolan has weathered these storms, and the bottom line is that The Odyssey has received glowing reviews and brought in over $257 million worldwide in its opening weekend. While the film itself has emerged largely unscathed, Nolan has admitted the production experience has left him physically exhausted, indicating that it might be some time before his next project hits cinemas.
Speaking to Today, the Oscar-winning filmmaker suggested that we are looking at a break of "at least" three years before he directs another feature. Now, this might not actually be as big a gap as it sounds. Ever since Memento, Nolan has typically taken between two and three years between directing projects. What has caught fans' attention isn't the timeframe itself but his emphasis on "oh, at least" that is potentially cause for concern. It suggests that The Odyssey was a real ordeal of fire for the director, even by his exacting standards:
"I definitely hit the limits of my own stamina and everybody's stamina, I think. I mean it's 'The Odyssey,' of course it should be difficult... We're not doing the job right making a film of 'The Odyssey' if it doesn't seem difficult."
While it might be disheartening to hear that there will be a hiatus between projects, fans can at least take solace in the knowledge that Nolan already knows what genre he wants to tackle next, indicating his interest in directing a horror movie, provided he finds the right premise:
"I'd love to do a horror movie, but it's all about the idea. It's all about, is there a story that really compels you, and I've never found that for me other than in other ways."
Horror wouldn't be entirely unexplored territory for Nolan, though. He may have never directed an overt horror before, but there are elements of psychological dread and disturbing imagery in Memento, The Prestige, Oppenheimer and even Batman Begins. The Hollywood Reporter even hailed one scene in The Odyssey as being "a first... a fleshed-out horror sequence from Christopher Nolan". Still, a full-blooded horror film would be a genuine first for the director.
Whether Nolan follows up The Odyssey with a horror movie or something else altogether, it will no doubt be subject to the same scrutiny that accompanied this production. If it is indeed going to be several years before his next film, it's at least gratifying to know that he is already actively thinking about where his next creative challenge might lie.
