Meet “Keighley”: IMAX’s New 70mm Film Camera Used to Shoot Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is set to be a landmark film for many reasons. As the first feature to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras, it’s already an audacious and awe-inspiring cinematic experience of the highest order.

And now, the camera that managed to handle the film's demanding technical requirements has been given a proper name.

Let's take a look and learn more about it!

Introducing the Keighley IMAX Camera

Credit: PBS

Announced via a social post shared by Geoff Keighley, the son of David and Patricia and a noted name in the video game space, IMAX’s new film camera will be named The IMAX Keighley Camera. This name is in honor of David and Patricia’s work in helping to bring this quieter and smaller 70mm camera to life and get it into the hands of Nolan to be used for the first time on The Odyssey, which is set to come out this upcoming summer.

Here’s more from Geoff’s announcement:

There’s been a lot of well-deserved attention on my dad and his legacy this year, but my mom has been just as vital to IMAX since the very beginning — and she’s still hard at work there every day. As my dad always said, she was 50% of everything he ever accomplished. I know nothing would make him happier than seeing her contributions recognized as well.

It’s sad that David isn’t around to see the camera in action on the big screens for its debut, but the name is a fitting choice to honor the work put into bringing it to life.

The Future of the Keighley

Credit: PBS

To be honest, despite a million other setbacks and trepidations surrounding the film industry itself, this is a really exciting time for IMAX in particular, as the company has done quite well for itself over the past few years, and the large theatrical format continues to grow in popularity.

The Keighley (albeit not known under this name) has likely been used to shoot other upcoming projects as well, as it's been reported that Denis Villeneuve has been using the same new IMAX 70mm cameras for parts of his next Dune film.

The camera will likely be used quite a bit more in the coming months and years, as there doesn’t appear to be any slowing down in demand for IMAX films and for filmmakers to further embrace the format, especially with this smaller and quieter option.

If you’re excited for The Odyssey already, this is just one more reason to get pumped for the premiere in July this summer.