[Edaily Starin Choi Hee-jae Reporter] "I’ve wanted to come to Korea for a very long time. I’m truly delighted to be here."

World-renowned director Christopher Nolan, who visited Korea ahead of the release of the film “The Odyssey,” stated at a press conference held on the 3rd at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno-gu, Seoul, “I am well aware that Korean audiences loved ‘Interstellar.’ It’s truly amazing and delightful to have my films appreciated in a country I’ve never visited.”

Director Nolan is known for his globally successful films, including the “Batman” trilogy, “Inception” (2010), and “Dunkirk” (2017). In 2024, he cemented his status as a master filmmaker when “Oppenheimer” (2023) won seven awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, at the 96th Academy Awards. He is also a director who is greatly loved in Korea, having drawn 10 million viewers with the sci-fi blockbuster “Interstellar” (2014).

Director Nolan, who is currently on a world tour promoting *Odyssey*, along with lead actors Matt Damon and Charlize Theron, arrived in South Korea on the 1st and toured Seoul. Director Nolan remarked, “We took a walk along the Han River and also visited a famous salt bread shop and Olive Young,” adding, “Seoul is a beautiful city. I was grateful for the fans’ warm welcome.”

*The Odyssey* follows the journey of Odysseus (played by Matt Damon), the hero who led the Trojan War to victory after a decade-long conflict, as he returns to his wife Penelope (played by Anne Hathaway) and his son Telemachus (played by Tom Holland). It is based on Homer’s epic poem, *The Odyssey*. The film garnered significant attention as the first in cinematic history to be shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. Audiences can experience Odysseus’s journey back to his kingdom of Ithaca through epic visuals and immersive sound. As a result, high-priced scalped tickets have appeared overseas.

The film opened in North America on the 17th of last month and has become a box office hit, grossing over $900 million (approximately 1.2 trillion won) worldwide in less than a month. Director Nolan explained, “I crafted it as an entertaining adventure story so that even those unfamiliar with Homer’s *Odyssey* could enjoy it to the fullest,” adding, “I’m very curious to see how Korean audiences will react.”

Director Nolan emphasized that he worked hard to maximize the theater experience and recommended watching the film in a movie theater. “I made this film with the intention of inviting audiences on Odysseus’s journey,” he said. “I want viewers to feel as if they are right there on the deck, on the mountain, or inside the cave of the monster Cyclops.” He added, “That’s why I hope audiences will experience it on the big screen.”

Matt Damon shared his thoughts, saying, “I’m incredibly excited and nervous to present this film in Korea,” and added, “I think many people will relate to the various themes explored in the film.” Charlize Theron added, “I hope this film sparks meaningful conversations.”

Emma Thomas, Nolan’s wife and a producer who has worked with him for over 30 years, described *The Martian* as a special film. “We poured everything we had into making it, so everyone was exhausted during filming,” she said. “But when the final scene wrapped, no one wanted to leave the set. We all just stood there for hours, as if we were rooted to the spot—it was a truly amazing moment.”