The New York City premiere of Christopher Nolan’s mythic action epic The Odyssey featured a striking centerpiece at Lincoln Square: a 40-foot practical replica of the Trojan Horse. Far from being a mere promotional prop, the massive structure served as a central, physically constructed set-piece for a pivotal sequence in the $250 million Universal Pictures release.
During the red carpet event, cast member John Leguizamo, who portrays Odysseus’ loyal companion Eumaeus, recalled his first encounter with the set-piece during physical production. Leguizamo noted that when he sought out Nolan on set, he discovered the director, cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, and a large-format IMAX film camera had crammed inside the wooden horse alongside 20 actors to capture the sequence firsthand.
Lead actor Matt Damon, who stars as the legendary Greek king Odysseus, detailed the technical challenges of filming inside the tight confines. Damon explained that Nolan opted against extensive pre-planning for the shots, instead choosing to assemble the crew and cast inside the structure to construct the scene in real-time. According to Damon, the resulting claustrophobia and raw energy captured on camera developed organically due to the physical limitations of the space.
The feature film represents a notable technical milestone, marking the first theatrical release shot entirely using IMAX film cameras. The production took place across 91 days of principal photography on location in six countries, including Italy, Iceland, Greece, Morocco, and Scotland.
The premiere ensemble included co-stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal. Universal Pictures will release The Odyssey in theaters on Friday, July 17, 2026. For fans visiting Southern California, the original Trojan Horse utilized during the production has been installed for public viewing outside the AMC Theater at Universal Studios Hollywood’s CityWalk.
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