{"id":2034115,"date":"2026-07-08T08:59:45","date_gmt":"2026-07-08T05:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2034115"},"modified":"2026-07-08T08:59:45","modified_gmt":"2026-07-08T05:59:45","slug":"christopher-nolan-explains-why-the-odyssey-uses-modern-english-for-dialogue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2034115","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Nolan explains why \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 uses modern English for dialogue"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Christopher-Nolan-Odyssey.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Christopher Nolan explains why \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 uses modern English for dialogue<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Audiences were surprised by the trailer&#8217;s use of American accents and Tom Holland&#8217;s character saying the word &#8220;Dad&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Victoria Luxford<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-08T09:59:45+01:00\">8th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Christopher-Nolan-Odyssey-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"The Odyssey\" title=\"Christopher Nolan Odyssey\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Christopher Nolan at the premiere of &#8216;The Odyssey&#8217;. CREDIT: Tim P. Whitby\/Getty Images for Universal Pictures<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Christopher Nolan has explained why he opted for modern English dialogue for his new epic <em>The Odyssey<\/em>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 could be Christopher Nolan\u2019s biggest blockbuster yet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One of the biggest movies of the year, the film is an adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem by Homer, and stars Matt Damon as a king embarking on a perilous journey home from war. When the trailer arrived for the film, audiences were surprised about the way dialogue was delivered in the film. Most of the actors have American accents, and Tom Holland\u2019s Telemachus refers to Damon\u2019s character, Odysseus, as \u201cDad\u201d instead of \u201cFather\u201d. Traditionally, historical dramas have a more formal dialogue, but in an interview with <em>The Los Angeles Times<\/em>, Nolan explained the deviation was intentional.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>He discussed wanting to find \u201clanguage that has emotional not intellectual meaning to people,\u201d opting for contemporary accents and dialogue over something elevated or theatrical. \u201cI was maybe being na\u00efve, it might bite me on the ass, but I wanted an earthy narrative,\u201d he explained. \u201cTo me it was a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Odyssey | Countdown Trailer (Universal Pictures)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wmYMu2NS35A?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Elsewhere in the interview, he talked about why it was also a \u201cno-brainer\u201d to cast Damon in the lead, having worked with the actor on 2014\u2019s <em>Interstellar<\/em> and 2023\u2019s <em>Oppenheimer<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019d worked with Matt twice before and he has such a great connection to the audience, he draws them in,\u201d he said. \u201cFor this very complex character, you need an actor who disappears into parts, who is very open to the audience. You want the audience to go with him through his mistakes \u2013 and he makes a lot of mistakes. Matt was everyman for <em>The Martian<\/em>, a kind of superhero for the Jason Bourne films, and Odysseus is part everyman, part superhero.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Odyssey<\/em> is released on July 17 and has already earned rave reviews from critics, who have described the film as \u201ca triumph\u201d and \u201ca crowning cinematic achievement\u201d. Damon\u2019s co-star in the film, Tom Holland, recently recalled how a misunderstanding led him to initially think Nolan hated his performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Christopher Nolan<\/li>\n<li>Interstellar<\/li>\n<li>Matt Damon<\/li>\n<li>Oppenheimer<\/li>\n<li>The Odyssey<\/li>\n<li>Tom Holland<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap td_flex_block_1 tdi_93 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdc-no-posts td_flex_block\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_93\">\n<div class=\"td-block-title-wrap\">\n<h4 class=\"td-block-title\"><span class=\"td-pulldown-size\">TRENDING<\/span><\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_93\" class=\"td_block_inner td-mc1-wrap\">\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Trueno\u2019s politically charged rap is putting him on the path to global success<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_module_flex td_module_flex_1 td_module_wrap td-animation-stack\">\n<div class=\"td-module-container td-category-pos-\">\n<div class=\"td-module-meta-info\">\n<h3 class=\"entry-title td-module-title\">Step right up! 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class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Christopher Nolan has explained why he opted for modern English dialogue for his new epic <em>The Odyssey<\/em>.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong> \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 could be Christopher Nolan\u2019s biggest blockbuster yet<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>One of the biggest movies of the year, the film is an adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem by Homer, and stars Matt Damon as a king embarking on a perilous journey home from war. When the trailer arrived for the film, audiences were surprised about the way dialogue was delivered in the film. Most of the actors have American accents, and Tom Holland\u2019s Telemachus refers to Damon\u2019s character, Odysseus, as \u201cDad\u201d instead of \u201cFather\u201d. Traditionally, historical dramas have a more formal dialogue, but in an interview with <em>The Los Angeles Times<\/em>, Nolan explained the deviation was intentional.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>He discussed wanting to find \u201clanguage that has emotional not intellectual meaning to people,\u201d opting for contemporary accents and dialogue over something elevated or theatrical. \u201cI was maybe being na\u00efve, it might bite me on the ass, but I wanted an earthy narrative,\u201d he explained. \u201cTo me it was a no-brainer.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Odyssey | Countdown Trailer (Universal Pictures)\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wmYMu2NS35A?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Elsewhere in the interview, he talked about why it was also a \u201cno-brainer\u201d to cast Damon in the lead, having worked with the actor on 2014\u2019s <em>Interstellar<\/em> and 2023\u2019s <em>Oppenheimer<\/em>. \u201cI\u2019d worked with Matt twice before and he has such a great connection to the audience, he draws them in,\u201d he said. \u201cFor this very complex character, you need an actor who disappears into parts, who is very open to the audience. You want the audience to go with him through his mistakes \u2013 and he makes a lot of mistakes. Matt was everyman for <em>The Martian<\/em>, a kind of superhero for the Jason Bourne films, and Odysseus is part everyman, part superhero.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em>The Odyssey<\/em> is released on July 17 and has already earned rave reviews from critics, who have described the film as \u201ca triumph\u201d and \u201ca crowning cinematic achievement\u201d. Damon\u2019s co-star in the film, Tom Holland, recently recalled how a misunderstanding led him to initially think Nolan hated his performance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/christopher-nolan-explains-why-the-odyssey-uses-modern-english-for-dialogue-3955625&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Christopher-Nolan-Odyssey.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News Christopher Nolan explains why \u2018The Odyssey\u2019 uses modern English for dialogue Audiences were surprised by the trailer&#8217;s use of American accents and Tom Holland&#8217;s character saying the word &#8220;Dad&#8221; By Victoria Luxford 8th July 2026 Christopher Nolan at the premiere of &#8216;The Odyssey&#8217;. CREDIT: Tim P. Whitby\/Getty Images for Universal [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2034115","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034115","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2034115"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2034115\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2034115"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2034115"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2034115"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}