Director Christopher Nolan dedicated “The Odyssey” to David Keighley, IMAX’s first chief quality officer and a pioneer of large-format films who passed away last year after a battle with cancer.
Director Nolan announced the news during the London premiere of the film at the BFI IMAX Theater. Introducing the screening, he said, “I met David for the first time at this theater, and we have been on a journey of over 20 years. I confessed to him my secret desire to make a Hollywood movie in IMAX, and he was very kind and very good at taking me along and helping me.”
Over the years, Nolan shot many of his films in Imax. Batman Begins was optimized for Imax, and The Dark Knight also started using Imax cameras. He also shot Dunkirk, Tenet and Oppenheimer using large premium formats, but The Odyssey is the first film to be shot entirely with Imax cameras.
Director Nolan said, “David sadly passed away right after we had finished some important filming on this movie and right after we had finished his very important job of printing all day and approving all the pictures. So we’re thrilled that he was able to get it done.”
David’s son, Jeff Keighley, shared the video in an Instagram post, writing, “When I learned my father had terminal cancer in January 2026, he was just days away from starting principal photography on ‘The Odyssey.’ He believed it would be “the most important movie ever made.” “The Odyssey” was the realization of a lifelong dream.”Imax started making documentaries in the 1970s, but they were all about space, animals, and the wonders of the world, but my father and mother were all about Hollywood blockbusters. I always dreamed of it being made entirely with Imax cameras. He used to say, “Our Lawrence of Arabia.” “When we met with our doctor as a family, my father made it clear that he had a goal that would define the rest of his life: ‘Please let me live long enough to finish making Chris’s ‘Odyssey.”’
Director Nolan said: “David sadly passed away shortly after principal photography on this film was completed.”
Jeff Keighley concluded by writing, “As my father grew weaker, his dedication to Chris and his wife and producing partner, Emma Thomas, never wavered. And, you know what? He did it. Like Odysseus, he returned home safely. We have completed principal photography on the film.”
