Christopher Nolan has revealed that Samantha Morton, who plays the goddess Circe in his forthcoming adaptation of The Odyssey, delivered a performance so striking that the film crew broke into applause on set — something the director says had not happened in nearly two decades. Speaking to the Los Angeles Times, Nolan compared the moment to the last time it occurred: Heath Ledger's celebrated turn as the Joker on The Dark Knight. The remarks are drawing attention ahead of the film's release and add to mounting buzz around the star-studded epic.

Despite her relatively brief screen time, Nolan described Morton's character as the "fulcrum" on which the film "lived or died", and early critics have echoed the praise. He also explained his casting choices, selecting Matt Damon as Odysseus for his everyman-meets-superhero appeal and his ability to lead demanding physical shoots, including extensive boat work. Elsewhere, co-star Robert Pattinson, who plays the suitor Antinous, likened his role to Jacob from Twilight. The Odyssey — which also features Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya — is the first film shot entirely in IMAX, runs two hours and 53 minutes, and opens in cinemas on 17 July.