Stepping onto the set of a Christopher Nolan film is enough to make even experienced actors nervous, and Tom Holland has now revealed that his first day filming The Odyssey came with an unexpected moment of panic. The actor admitted he briefly believed Nolan was unhappy with his performance after the director repeatedly called “cut” during a scene. It wasn’t until later that Holland discovered the real reason had nothing to do with his acting.
Speaking during a conversation with Fandango, the Spider-Man star shared that working with IMAX cameras introduced him to a filmmaking process he had never experienced before. The misunderstanding left him questioning his own performance until someone from the crew stepped in with an explanation.
Tom Holland Misread Nolan’s Frequent “Cut” Calls
Holland explained that The Odyssey marked his first experience shooting with IMAX cameras, and he wasn’t aware of one important technical limitation. Unlike many standard digital cameras, the IMAX film magazines used during production can only record a few minutes of footage before they need to be replaced. Since he didn’t know that, every interruption made him think something had gone wrong.
Recalling the moment, Holland said, “Working with the Imax cameras for the first time is an experience. It is unlike anything I have ever seen before, and I didn’t know that it only ran for three minutes. So, I remember you would continue cutting, and I was with Jon [Bernthal], like, ‘Why does he keep cutting? Why does he keep doing that?’”
The actor admitted his mind quickly jumped to the worst possible conclusion. He continued, “And in my head, I was like, ‘Does he not like what we’re doing? What is happening?’ And then, I remember it was actually [stunt coordinator] George Cottle that was like, ‘No, no, no, there’s only three minutes in the mag.’ I was like, ‘Oh, thank god.’ I thought I was totally shitting the bed in this scene.” Once he understood the technical reason, Holland said he felt immediate relief.
Nolan’s Epic Features a Star-Studded Cast
In The Odyssey, Tom Holland plays Telemachus, the son of Matt Damon’s Odysseus. Christopher Nolan’s ambitious adaptation of the classic Greek epic features one of the biggest ensemble casts assembled in recent years. Alongside Holland and Damon, the film also stars Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, Mia Goth, and John Leguizamo.
The highly anticipated epic is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 17 and has already generated enormous excitement among movie fans. Nolan is once again using large-format IMAX photography on an extensive scale, continuing his long-standing commitment to practical filmmaking and premium theatrical presentation. The film is expected to be one of the biggest global releases of the year.
“The Best Experience I’ve Had on a Film Set”
Although his first day began with unnecessary worry, Holland says the overall experience of working with Christopher Nolan turned into a career highlight. During a recent interview with GQ, the actor described the production as the finest experience he has ever had while making a movie. He also praised producer Emma Thomas, saying the pair created an environment where he could learn from some of the industry’s best filmmakers.
Holland said, “Working with Chris, getting to know him and Emma [Thomas] was absolutely fantastic. I’ve never seen someone that can work the way that they do, and there is a reason why they’re the best in the business for sure.” He further added, “To get a front row seat to that and to be a part of the process and to collaborate with a true master of his craft and learn from him was the best experience I’ve ever had.”
While the first day left him wondering whether he had made a terrible impression, Holland now looks back on the moment with humour. His story also offers fans a rare behind-the-scenes look at the demanding technical process involved in Christopher Nolan’s productions, where even the limitations of IMAX film cameras can momentarily leave actors second-guessing themselves.
