‘The Odyssey’ Asia Premiere Exclusive: Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Tom Holland Win Hearts in Mumbai, India (Watch Videos)
Hollywood director Christopher Nolan visited Mumbai on July 10-11 for a star-studded premiere and fan screening as part of 'The Odyssey' global promotional tour, marking his first-ever official film premiere in Asia. Joined by his wife and producer Emma Thomas and actors Matt Damon and Tom Holland, Nolan and team created memorable moments for fans in India.
In a clear signal of India’s rapidly ascending status in the global theatrical ecosystem, Universal Pictures and Hollywood director Christopher Nolan descended upon Mumbai last week for a high-stakes, star-studded premiere as part of The Odyssey global promotional tour at the large-screen PVR ICON IMAX theatre in Phoenix Palladium mall. Marking Nolan’s first-ever official film premiere in Asia, the filmmaker was joined by his wife and producing partner, the Academy Award winner Emma Thomas. Accompanying them were Oscar Award-winning actor and screenwriter Matt Damon and BAFTA Award-winning actor Tom Holland, who star in The Odyssey as father-son Odysseus and Telemachus, respectively. Together, the team created wonderful moments for their fans during their Mumbai visit, with two premiere screening, a press conference and some chai near the iconic monument, the Gateway of India. LatestLY presents an exclusive on-ground report of Team Odyssey's trip to Mumbai.
'The Odyssey' Mumbai Tour and Fanbase in India
The India junket of The Odyssey team kicked off with a surprise for the fans and the media on Friday, July 10. During an exclusive fan screening at the high-profile PVR ICON IMAX at Phoenix Palladium in Mumbai, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, and Tom Holland left the audience flabbergasted with an unannounced appearance after the film ended. ‘The Odyssey’ FIRST Reactions: Christopher Nolan’s Ambitious Epic Is ‘Breathtaking, Bold and Perfect’; Matt Damon and Cast Deliver Gripping Performances.
Moreover, the Mumbai press show marked the only fan screening on the entire global press tour of The Odyssey, where the filmmakers and cast interacted with audiences in person. This generous move generated massive organic social media buzz for The Odyssey ahead of its release on Friday, July 17, 2026.
‘The Odyssey’ Fan Screening: Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Emma Thomas - Watch Video:
Christopher Nolan and 'The Odyssey' Press Conference in Mumbai
At a press conference on Saturday, July 11, at the historic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Emma Thomas pitched The Odyssey's humungous production scale to regional media, emphasising the theatrical imperative of the project.
Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Emma Thomas at ‘The Odyssey’ Press Conference in Mumbai - Pics:
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Post the presser, Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Tom Holland stepped out for chai and bun maska at Olympia Coffee House, an iconic, 108-year old restaurant near the Gateway of India in Colaba. ‘The Odyssey’ in Mumbai: Christopher Nolan, Tom Holland, Matt Damon Step out for Chai and Bun Maska at 108-Year-Old Restaurant (Watch Video).
Matt Damon, Christopher Nolan and Tom Holland Enjoy Chai in Mumbai - Watch Video:
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'The Odyssey' Asia Premiere and Red Carpet in Mumbai
The promotional blitz of The Odyssey culminated in the evening with a glitzy, red-carpet premiere at the PVR Palladium IMAX, drawing the upper echelon of Bollywood celebrities, including actress Dimple Kapadia, who starred in Nolan's Tenet (2020).
Christopher Nolan, Matt Damon, Tom Holland and Emma Thomas at ‘The Odyssey’ Asia Premiere in Mumbai - Watch Video:
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"Christopher Nolan's films have always enjoyed a deep connection with audiences in India," said Denzil Dias, Vice President and Managing Director of Universal Pictures India. "Bringing The Odyssey to Mumbai... reflects our commitment to delivering world-class theatrical experiences and celebrating one of our most important markets alongside our partners at IMAX."
'The Odyssey' Cast
The stakes are high for the mythic action epic produced by Syncopy, featuring an ensemble cast as one of the most star-studded packages in recent memory. Alongside Matt Damon and Tom Holland, The Odyssey features an equally stellar cast of Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, and Samantha Morton. Nolan adapted the screenplay from Homer’s foundational Greek epic the Odyssey that follows Odysseus's tough 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. ‘The Odyssey’: Stellar Cast, Plot, Budget – Everything To Know About Christopher Nolan’s Ambitious Epic Movie.
Christopher Nolan's Strategic India Premiere for 'The Odyssey'
Christopher Nolan has visited India several times, to shoot his films in Mumbai and Jodhpur, Rajasthan, and to showcase his films as part of the Film Heritage Foundation in 2018. His 2026 visit to Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood, for The Odyssey Asia premiere is seen as a strategic push by Universal Pictures to maximise the film's footprint in a market that has grown increasingly lucrative for premium, large-format cinema. For Universal Pictures and IMAX, India represents a vital frontier for the premium large format (PLF) format. Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film Oppenheimer was a blockbuster in India, getting significant numbers at IMAX auditoriums and ranking No.1 in the country. It served as the groundwork for the huge marketing spend for The Odyssey and its India/Asia premiere in Mumbai.
'The Odyssey' Release Date
The Odyssey will release in cinema theatres worldwide on July 17, 2026. Advance ticketing for The Odyssey officially went live across India weeks ago, with shows starting as early as 6 AM local time. The Odyssey holds the distinct industry milestone of being the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX® film cameras. Film exhibitors are bracing for historically high demand for tickets and a record-breaking box office run for The Odyssey in India.
With inputs from Shweta Parande on-ground in Mumbai.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 14, 2026 12:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
