“It’s not like the orchestra existed back then”: Composer Ludwig Göransson says that he bought 35 bronze gongs to use on the soundtrack for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey (but he did use some synths, too)

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - MAY 14: Ludwig Göransson attends the Premiere of Disney's "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" at TCL Chinese Theatre on May 14, 2026 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic).

Christopher Nolan’s take on The Odyssey is set to be one of the most epic films of the year, but don’t expect it to come with the sweeping orchestral score that’s typical of the historical movie genre.

In an interview with Time magazine, composer Ludwig Göransson says that he was instructed by Nolan not to use an orchestra, so had to come up with another way of approaching the soundtrack.