What Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Teaches You About Screenwriting

Christopher Nolan has achieved a status rarely seen in today’s audiences: people will see his movies no matter what. That means he has proven himself to be such a reliable filmmaker that massive audiences will flock to the theaters to experience his stories on-screen regardless of what it’s about.

In the documentary, The Comedian, there’s a scene between Jerry Seinfeld and another comic where Seinfeld admits he’s nervous.

“What are you nervous about? You're Jerry Seinfeld!” The comedian stated.

“Yeah. That'll get me two minutes,” Seinfeld responded.

What is being implied is that the name may be enough to get people there, but soon after they’ll start judging the material.

That holds true for Christopher Nolan. If The Odyssey is slow, boring or any other adjective a filmmaker hates to hear, it doesn’t matter who the writer/director is. Fortunately, that’s not the case for The Odyssey. It’s a true masterpiece by a filmmaker who knows his craft.

While many screenwriters may aspire to be the “next Nolan,” what’s more important for writers to do is use the lessons that help tell a memorable story like The Odyssey.

Here are 5 lessons Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey can teach screenwriters.

1. Adapt Iconic IP, Don’t Copy It

Homer's The Odyssey is an epic Greek poem dating back to the 8th century BCE, making it one of the oldest and most influential pieces of intellectual property ever created. It blends mythology, folklore and history in the story of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War. The journey is anything but straightforward. Angered gods, mythical creatures, mutinies and more all push him to his physical, emotional and psychological limits. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his wife Penelope is besieged by power-hungry suitors eager to claim the throne, while his son Telemachus must find the courage to defend his family and prove himself worthy of his father's legacy.

When it comes to adapting this story, there's no chance Christopher Nolan will remain completely faithful to Homer's poem. And that's the first lesson screenwriters should learn about adapting iconic IP.

Whether you're adapting Harry Potter, Dracula or even biblical stories, every adaptation requires change. Screenplays demand different storytelling techniques than novels, poems and even true stories. Dialogue is rewritten, scenes are removed or expanded, timelines are condensed, characters are combined and entire subplots disappear. Some changes are creative choices, while others are driven by pacing, runtime, budget or audience expectations. Adaptation isn't about copying the source material—it's about capturing its essence in a form that works on screen.

The story of The Odyssey has been turned into movies and TV miniseries for over 100 years with some using only a portion of the poem (2024’s The Return) or a complete reimagining (2000’s O Brother, Where Art Thou?), all of which take a new angle on the millennia-old story.

Nolan is taking a more grounded, character-driven approach to his adaptation and steering away from a scene-by-scene recreation. He focuses on Odysseus’ (Matt Damon) emotional journey, jumping between timelines as the hero finds his way home and the struggles his family endure awaiting his return.

“I don't think of it so much as adding and subtracting as trying to translate your experience of reading the poem and absorbing the poem into the cinematic medium,” Nolan said in a NPR interview. “What feels like adding things, in a way, you're sometimes just looking at the source material with a specific lens, a modern lens.”

A successful adaptation respects the source material without becoming imprisoned by it. It creates a film that will stand on its own while preserving the themes and emotional core that made the original endure.

2. Don’t Be Afraid to Think Big

Epic movies begin with writers who aren't afraid to imagine on a grand scale.

The page is your playground and if you have a big story to tell, then don’t be afraid to write it. There are two reasons for this:

1. If you want to write big stories, then lean into it. By neglecting to follow what you’re passionate about, you risk bogging yourself down with material that doesn’t interest you. That will only lead to burnout or a loss of passion for screenwriting.

2. How many original epic movies are there every year? The biggest movies of any given year are filled with sequels, reboots or adapted material; original is rare – especially in the big budget studio world. But someone (or several people) has to write these movies and if you have an “epic” sample, that someone could be you.

Remember, writing an epic screenplay doesn't simply mean adding more explosions, larger armies or world-ending stakes. Big storytelling comes from the character and how their choices drive the story forward. Every massive battle, impossible journey or breathtaking set piece should reveal character, escalate conflict or reinforce the story's central theme.

In The Dark Knight, Nolan has a scene where Batman (Christian Bale) must make a choice to either save Rachel (Maggie Gyllenhaal) or Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart) setting off a set piece that has the caped crusader racing to the rescue. This is more than just an exciting action scene, but is the means of showing Bruce Wayne’s loyalties and his ability to be manipulated by the Joker (Heath Ledger).

It’s storytelling techniques like that prove Nolan can deliver the adventure and the emotional weight of the character for projects like The Odyssey. The spectacle of Inception and Interstellar means nothing unless its characters are anchored by deeply personal stakes.

As a screenwriter, don't let budget concerns stop you from writing the story you envision.

3. Introduce the Hero Before Testing Them

Odysseus isn't just a hero, he’s human.

When Nolan introduces Odysseus, he immediately establishes why he's worthy of following. It’s explained quickly and easily so audiences can empathize with the hero of the story.

Odysseus is immediately seen as:

• A respected king with a legion of followers

• A brilliant tactician and a warrior whose men admire him and believe in his competence

• A hero in the eyes of children who he teaches to hunt. When asked for an arrow, all excitedly hold out theirs in hopes he will use it

• Someone who wants to go home

Odysseus’ introduction tells the audience this is a capable, honorable man with something worth fighting for. 

Then Nolan begins to chip away at that image.

Odysseus isn't perfect. As the story continues, he’s seen as too proud at times, such as believing he can outthink anyone, including the gods and his own decisions become obstacles, testing his leadership and his soldiers’ confidence in him.

Great protagonists aren't defined solely by their strengths, but by their biggest flaws. Nolan’s other heroes such as Cobb (Leonardo DiCaprio) in Inception is a brilliant strategist and leader, but the memories of his wife and kids complicate the job he’s trying to do. For Nolan’s Batman, it’s all about order – so, what happens when the Joker brings chaos for the sake of chaos to Gotham and how does Batman react?

As a screenwriter, introduce your hero by showing why they're exceptional, then challenge the very traits that make them great.

4. The First ‘Hero’s Journey’

Almost 2,800 years before Joseph Campbell identified the Hero's Journey, Homer wrote one of its greatest examples and Nolan didn’t shy away from using it to tell his version.

The Hero's Journey remains one of the most recognizable storytelling frameworks because it’s a solid means of exhibiting character transformation. This is exactly what Nolan does with Odysseus, showing early on what his world is like before he embarks on the war that leads to his decades away from home. From Calypso (Charlize Theron) to Circe (Samantha Morton) to Cyclops, every trial Odysseus faces isn't just another obstacle delaying his trip home, it's a test that forces him to confront who he is.

Even when Odysseus isn’t on screen, his presence is felt. As Penelope (Anne Hathaway), Telemachus (Tom Holland) and Eumaeus (John Leguizamo) face their own battles to maintain the throne in Ithaca, the audience is continually reminded of the stakes. Odysseus isn't trying to complete a quest for glory, his journey centers on the key themes from the original poem which include nostos (Ancient Greek for ‘homecoming’) as well as testing and omens.

The Hero’s Journey isn’t always about monsters or angry gods or revenge, it’s about how challenges change your protagonist through their journey and the emotional experience that leads to their return to the new normal.

5. Think of Theme as Glue Holding the Story Together

The themes of a story are what hold the whole thing together. Nolan is great at this, and is a hallmark of his films. The Odyssey doesn’t have just one theme, but several: nostos, identity, leadership, temptation and the cost of pride.

Every storyline reflects the themes. Let’s take a look at a few examples: 

Homecoming

Penelope’s and Telemachus’ lives surround Odysseus’s homecoming. Both want to believe the honorable patriarch is alive and coming home whereas other characters like Antinous (Robert Pattinson) is using his absence to try to take the throne. Even the warriors alongside Odysseus all desire to go home.

The cost of pride

Antinous is prideful, often seeing himself above all others and a rightful heir to the throne of Ithaca. Odysseus has pride too which leads them on this journey when he decides to go a different route than Agamemnon.

Leadership

What does it mean to lead? For some, it’s about taking charge of the men that Odysseus once led and how he regains their trust. Penelope must lead in her own way to avoid the suitors from taking charge of their home. And Telemachus wants to be a leader but it’s obvious from the start that he needs some work.

Each character explores their own version of the same themes. While this might seem daunting, maybe even an unnecessary task, it’s important for screenwriters to do this exercise. When every aspect of the story reinforces its themes, the emotions of the story are more powerful as it shows what these it means to different characters.

Conclusion

Even though Christopher Nolan is a master at spectacle, he didn't become one of Hollywood's most respected filmmakers by relying on that alone. Nolan understands that great movies are built on compelling characters who make choices that show who they are, even when those decisions negatively impact their journey.

Screenwriters don't need Nolan's budget or reputation to apply these lessons from his latest film. Focus on telling stories with emotional stakes, memorable protagonists and a clear thematic purpose, which will help your story connect with the audience.