Christopher Nolan's IMAX Epic Could Deliver Another Massive Payday

Director Christopher Nolan is making one of the most ambitious films of his career with The Odyssey, a US$250 million historical epic filmed entirely using IMAX 70mm cameras, Forbes Daily reported.

Christopher Nolan's upcoming film The Odyssey was shot entirely in IMAX 70mm format. (Photo: OdysseyMovie Facebook)

According to Forbes, Universal Pictures paid Nolan an upfront fee of US$20 million for directing the film.

While deductions and contractual terms could affect his final earnings, Forbes estimates that if The Odyssey grosses more than US$800 million worldwide, Nolan could earn at least US$75 million through profit participation.

Nolan joins a select group of directors whose commercial success has translated into extraordinary wealth. Steven Spielberg built a fortune that Forbes estimates at US$7.1 billion, while James Cameron reportedly earned more than US$300 million from his profit participation in Avatar (2009).