Universal Deploys Downey Jr. and Spielberg to Secure 'Odyssey' Nominations
The studio's awards campaign launches this week, leveraging seven Oscar winners as moderators to push for 15 categories of recognition.
By Olivia Grant ·
The official Oscar campaign for Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" begins the week of Nov. 9. Universal Pictures has scheduled a series of screenings and question-and-answer sessions in Los Angeles, New York, London, and other global cities. The strategy relies heavily on high-profile industry figures to moderate the events and engage directly with Academy voters.
Robert Downey Jr., a winner for "Oppenheimer," will moderate the Los Angeles kickoff on Nov. 11 at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Guillermo del Toro will host a session at AMC Universal CityWalk on Nov. 12. Steven Spielberg will moderate a 70mm screening at the DGA Theater on Nov. 17. These three moderators, along with four others appearing during the run, collectively hold seven Academy Awards.
The film opened in July with a global gross of $264.1 million. It has since surpassed $1.1 billion, marking the highest gross for a Nolan film. Universal is emphasizing the physical format of the release. Most Los Angeles screenings are tagged as Imax 70mm, 70mm, or 35mm. The studio aims to remind voters that the film was shot entirely on Imax film cameras and is best viewed on large screens rather than digital platforms.
A central event in the campaign is not a screening of the main feature. On Nov. 10, Universal's Spielberg Theater will host the world premiere of "Behind the Scenes of The Odyssey," a 75-minute documentary. Nolan will introduce the film. Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, will moderate a subsequent discussion with key production members.
The Q&A participants include producer Emma Thomas, casting director John Papsidera, editor Jennifer Lame, and production designer Ruth De Jong. The panel also features costume designer Ellen Mirojnick, hair department head Gloria Casny, makeup department head Luisa Abel, and sound mixer Willie Burton. Composer Ludwig Göransson and visual effects supervisor Andrew Jackson will also be present.
Universal has listed 15 categories for the film in its campaign materials. These include Best Picture, Director, and Actor for Matt Damon. Supporting actor and actress categories feature Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, and Samantha Morton. Technical categories cover Cinematography, Editing, Production Design, Costume Design, Makeup and Hairstyling, Sound, Original Score, Original Song, and Visual Effects.
The campaign acknowledges a historical hurdle for blockbusters. Only "Titanic" and "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" have won Best Picture after crossing the $1 billion mark. However, Nolan's "Oppenheimer" secured seven awards in 2025, including top honors for Picture and Director, providing a recent precedent for a summer tentpole to succeed in the awards season.
Source: Variety
