Behind the scenes of 'The Odyssey': Anne Hathaway's daily helicopter rides, Matt Damon's female stunt double and more - Yahoo

What the report says

Yahoo Entertainment reported on a series of behind-the-scenes details from Christopher Nolan’s film adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” focusing on the director’s emphasis on practical filmmaking, location work and large-format camera technology. The report says Matt Damon plays Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and cites comments from Nolan and cast members about the physical demands and unusual production methods used to bring the mythological journey to screen.

Among the details Yahoo highlighted, Damon said he was sealed inside the Trojan Horse set with Nolan, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema and other performers to film the sequence from within. The production also used a custom IMAX 70mm camera referred to as the Keighley, along with a sound-dampening housing. Because that equipment could block actors from seeing each other, Nolan’s team added mirrors so performers could play intimate scenes while viewing each other’s reflections.

The report also describes practical approaches to sea-monster sequences: Damon said jet skis were used to churn water for a whirlpool effect connected to Charybdis, while stunt coordinator George Coddle rigged performers to be pulled from the boat for Scylla scenes. For the Sicily location used for Ithaca, the cast and crew often had to make a steep 45-minute walk to the 15th-century Castello di Santa Caterina because of limited road access.

Yahoo also noted that Hathaway was flown to set by helicopter because the production wanted Penelope to arrive looking less worn down than other characters. Damon said a female stunt performer doubled him for forced-perspective work involving the Laestrygonians, underscoring the film’s mix of old-fashioned staging, stunt work and modern technical problem-solving.