Christopher Nolan Discusses Major Inspiration from ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ for ‘The Odyssey’

Christopher Nolan has always acknowledged his influences from some of cinema’s most iconic filmmakers. Throughout his career, the Oscar-winning director has referenced classic films and legendary directors as inspirations for his works, from ‘The Dark Knight’ trilogy to ‘Oppenheimer’.

As he gears up to adapt Homer’s epic ‘The Odyssey’ for the big screen, Nolan has disclosed that one unexpected film significantly influenced his vision for this ambitious project.

Nolan revealed that Martin Scorsese’s 1988 film ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ was a key inspiration for his upcoming movie ‘The Odyssey’. In an interview with USA TODAY, the Oscar-winning director explained how Scorsese’s controversial classic shaped his interpretation of Homer’s legendary narrative.

While many anticipated that Nolan would draw primarily from ancient mythology or classic adventure films, he noted that ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ had a profound impact on his portrayal of Odysseus.

According to Nolan, the film was screened during pre-production as he and his team prepared for ‘The Odyssey’. He highlighted its filmmaking techniques and the unique portrayal of one of history’s most renowned religious figures.

“We screened a few different films in preproduction, and that one in particular we got a print of,” Nolan shared with USA TODAY. “It’s a stunning movie and a shocking film. There were technical things that Scorsese was doing that were quite inspiring, but more than that, the figure of Jesus and what he does with him was very, very challenging to the audience. That was quite inspiring from the point of view of Odysseus: You want to be true to all the difficulties of the character, and that’s what ‘Temptation’ is.”

Released in 1988, ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ was directed by Martin Scorsese and featured Willem Dafoe as Jesus. The film became one of the director’s most controversial works, depicting Jesus as a figure grappling with fear, doubt, temptation, and human emotion. While it garnered praise from many critics, it also sparked protests globally and divided audiences due to its interpretation of the biblical narrative.

For Nolan, the film’s portrayal of an iconic figure as flawed rather than perfect provided crucial insights while crafting ‘The Odyssey’.

His new film follows Odysseus, portrayed by Matt Damon, as the Greek king struggles for ten years to return home after the Trojan War. Throughout his journey, he encounters monsters, gods, impossible choices, and the emotional burdens of his wartime experiences. Rather than depicting him as an invincible hero, Nolan aims to showcase both his strengths and vulnerabilities.

Nolan also acknowledged that his mindset after completing ‘Oppenheimer’ influenced the narrative. After spending years focusing on a film about nuclear weapons and one of history’s darkest chapters, he found those emotions lingered.

“Coming out of ‘Oppenheimer,’ I had a funny combination of despair and optimism,” he told USA TODAY. “That film was almost a horror film for me. It was a very disturbing subject to live with for a couple of years: thinking nonstop about nuclear war and what humans bring to the table. I was quite glad to move out of that. But when you see ‘The Odyssey,’ you start to realize that I didn’t quite manage to escape it.”

This emotional conflict became integral to Odysseus’s character. Nolan explained that the hero carries the scars of war throughout his journey, making ‘The Odyssey’ more than just a fantastical adventure filled with mythical beings.

Although ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ had the most significant impact on the film’s emotional depth, Nolan also drew inspiration from other classics for its visual style. He mentioned that films like ‘Jaws’ and ‘Alien’ influenced how creatures such as the Cyclops and Scylla would be depicted, emphasizing suspense rather than revealing everything at once.

Ultimately, Nolan emphasized that Scorsese’s film left the most profound mark on the development of his main character.

‘The Odyssey’ marks Nolan’s first film since ‘Oppenheimer’, which won seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. The film features Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside a star-studded cast including Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jon Bernthal, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, and many others.

For Nolan, one of the most significant creative lessons from this monumental production stemmed from a film released nearly four decades ago. As he stated to USA TODAY, ‘The Last Temptation of Christ’ taught him that legendary figures become more compelling when filmmakers are willing to explore their struggles rather than presenting them as flawless heroes.

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