IMAX is preparing new film cameras for the new Chris Nolan film “The Odyssey.”

Universal Pictures has announced on X that Christopher Nolan’s next film will be released The Odysseyis based on the classic Greek myth story and is shot using “new IMAX film technology.” What exactly these are has not been officially confirmed, but most speculate that they are the new film cameras that IMAX says they have been working on for several years.

Details of these new cameras were first revealed in March 2024 in a live panel discussion at the NAB 2024 conference, which can be viewed for free on YouTube.

In the video, Bruce Markoe, head of post-production at IMAX, revealed that the cameras are essentially 21mm cameras^stCentury update of the eight IMAX film cameras, now 25 years old.

Lighter and quieter

The main feature is that the cameras will be 30% quieter and lighter thanks to a carbon fiber construction. This is especially good news for Hoyte van Hoytema, Nolan’s cinematographer since 2014 Interstellarwho is often seen balancing the larger IMAX camera on this back.

Lighter and quieter IMAX film cameras will allow directors to increase the number of shots they can use them for. Last summer’s blockbuster Oppenheimer had about 75 minutes of its three-hour running time in the full-frame 1.43:1 IMAX film, about the same as his previous film. principleso there is every chance The Odyssey I’ll see that increase.

The quieter operation could also help with widespread complaints from some that certain scenes in Nolan’s films are inaudible. This was explained by the noise of current IMAX cameras combined with Nolan’s reluctance to use automatic dialogue replacement (ADR).

Analog innards in a digital shell

Other camera improvements include a new 5-inch full-color high-resolution display and brighter digital and optical viewfinders, as well as, for the first time, the ability to monitor on-set output via Wi-Fi on external devices such as tablets.

Markoe also announced that the camera displays will also show image lines for the native IMAX film format 1.43:1, as well as IMAX 1.90:1 (used for all IMAX digital screens) and the standard 2.40:1 format. Of course, other aspect ratios are also available and the display can be adjusted line by line depending on the desired aspect ratio.

The new cameras promise even greater film exposure stability and greater reliability. Marko said the motion of the film camera is internally unchanged from the original design. IMAX realized there was nothing to improve on, which is impressive considering they were developed 25 years ago.

High demand for IMAX

In the video, Markoe also reveals the fascinating statistic that even though only 1.5% of theaters worldwide are showing “Interstellar” in IMAX, the film brought in 20% of the film’s revenue. This would only have increased after the recent hugely successful 10^Th-Anniversary re-release of Interstellar.

If you’ve tried to get a ticket to see the film in IMAX 15/70 format, you’ll know that the appetite for seeing films in the full 1.43:1 aspect ratio is huge. However, there are only 30 cinemas worldwide that can show IMAX 1.43 (as these require an IMAX 15/70 film camera or an IMAX dual laser projection system combined with a 1.43:1 screen) and the IMAX -Show even boasts that people fly just to see films in this format. While the new cameras are great news, it’s a bit disappointing that there’s no sign that IMAX wants to increase this number.

I also have hope that there is more to this new technology than just the cameras. There are hints in the presentation that Kodak may introduce a new type of film stock in 2025. As large format film photographer Tyler Sheilds said on the panel, the future of cinema must be “daring, courageous and interesting.” In Oppenheimer Nolan broke new ground by getting Kodak to create black and white IMAX films for the first time, something that had not been possible before The OdysseyI would expect him to push technical boundaries again.