Jon Bernthal Hilariously Sums Up ‘The Odyssey’ Experience With Christopher Nolan in an Epic Anecdote

Published 04/19/2025, 11:25 PM EDT

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There is no universal yardstick for stardom. Every actor has their own definition of what it means to make it in Hollywood. For some, it is fronting billion-dollar franchises and riding the Marvel money train. For others, it is cozying up to the cinematic sorcerers who shape the dreams of Tinseltown. But if there is one name that makes even the coolest cats go full fanboy, it is Christopher Nolan. According to Jon Bernthal, landing a gig with Nolan is a once-in-a-lifetime, call-your-mom-screaming kind of moment. He recently opened up about The Odyssey, and it looks like Odysseus had an easier time getting home.

In a tale equal parts side-splitting and epic, Bernthal took fans on a comedic sail with The Odyssey.

Inside Jon Bernthal’s experience with Christopher Nolan in The Odyssey

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In a recent conversation on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the host congratulated Jon Bernthal for landing The Odyssey with Christopher Nolan. Bernthal did not mince his words or downplay the fact that he was star-struck with the Oscar winner, calling the experience “one-of-a-kind.” Commenting on how far actors are often willing to go for a chance to work with Nolan, he added that he would not even think twice.

“You know you jump at an opportunity to work with somebody like that,” Bernthal said. He then paused, and added with a grin, pointing to his shaved head and face full of beard, “even if he does give you a haircut like the one I’m rocking right now.Bernthal reminded the 2024 Oscar host and fans about his wife’s zero tolerance for romance policy whenever there is facial hair, underscoring the miles he was ready to travel for the Nolan opportunity.

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While Jon Bernthal’s sail with The Odyssey comes with a comedy circus at home, he could not help but shed light on a Marvel moment with the beloved Spidey, Tom Holland.

Jon Bernthal shares his Marvel-ous experience with Tom Holland in The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan has not just banked on star power for The Odyssey–he has cast a multiversal spell to ensure it becomes a blockbuster to be remembered. In his recent discussion about The Odyssey on Jimmy Kimmel Live, Jon Bernthal remained tight-lipped about everything, lest something important slips, but not about Tom Holland, whom The Punisher could not stop raving about. 

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“Tom Holland is one of the greatest human beings that ever lived,” Bernthal said. He recalled working with Holland on Pilgrimage, a 2017 Irish medieval flick where they both made their audition tapes for Spider-Man and The Punisher. Although Holland was just a teenager, Bernthal remembered his focus and steadfastness on becoming Spider-Man. While he must have had his doubts, too, Bernthal could not help but declare Holland “the best Spider-Man ever.”

The Internet Raves in Agreement as Christopher Nolan Pays ‘The Odyssey’s’ Greek Roots Deserved Respect in a Subtle Way

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What do you think of Jon Bernthal's hilarious experience in The Odyssey? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

2233 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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