Christopher Nolan Had One Non-Negotiable Condition the Studio Had to Agree to Before He Made THE ODYSSEY

It’s no secret that movie studios make more money off of PG and PG-13 rated films. They cast a wider net, and appeal to a broader audience. But many R-rated movies have been the big award winners over the years, as well as fan favorites, and director Christopher Nolan has proven he can bring in fans no matter what rating he chooses.

This was a sticking point for Nolan when he approached Universal on behalf of his production company, Syncopy, wanting to make this summer’s blockbuster The Odyssey.

The film is based on the 24-book Ancient Greek epic written by the poet Homer around the late 8th or 7th century BC. The story follows the heroic Greek king Odysseus as he attempts to return home after the fall of Troy. It is violent and bloody, and Nolan knew that if he was going to make an honest version of the story, he needed its rating to reflect that.

The director explained to Empire Magazine (via World of Reel), “I went to studio at the very beginning and had a very honest conversation with them that we wanted to make the most intense version of The Odyssey.”

Nolan wanted The Odyssey to “feel visceral and modern,” and given the brutality of the era it depicts, there would be no compromise. He went on, “With the weapons of the time, they are more brutal— you’re talking about swords and bows and arrows and things like that.

“So I concluded pretty early that it would be pretty difficult and potentially compromising to make a PG-13 version of this story.”

At this point, Christopher Nolan has won two Academy Awards, and has made one film after another that audiences love. He has a unique vision, and he has proven himself to be an incredible storyteller.

The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17th.