Everything We Know About Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
Published Jun 14, 2026, 5:16 PM EDT
Since 2019, Kevin Erdmann has been one of Screen Rant's Senior Staff Writers, covering all kinds of Superhero and Star Wars media with Easter egg breakdowns, theory pieces, breaking news, and more. A huge Star Wars & MCU fan, Kevin also loves Batman (because he's Batman), but could talk for hours about why Nightwing is DC's greatest hero.
With 8 years of total experience covering entertainment and pop culture, Kevin has gotten the chance to interview top creatives and talent, and has also attended major media events like Disney's D23 convention.
Majoring in Cinema Studies with a minor in Comics and Cartoon Studies from the UofO, Kevin lives in Oregon with his wonderful wife, adorable dog, and sinister cat who is no doubt currently plotting his demise.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey will be released in theaters soon, promising to be one of the director's most ambitious projects yet. Adapting Homer's Greek epic for the big screen, Nolan's The Odyssey will no doubt be a cinematic adaptation unlike anything seen before, further cementing Nolan's reputation for larger-than-life storytelling with must-see blockbusters.
With a star-studded cast, groundbreaking filmmaking technology, and one of the largest production budgets of Nolan's career ($250 million), The Odyssey is already one of the biggest movie events of 2026. Keeping that in mind, here is everything audiences need to know about Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey ahead of its imminent release.
What Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Is About
The Odyssey is an adaptation of Homer's epic poem of the same name, telling the tale of King Odysseus and his decade-long journey home to Ithaca following the end of the Trojan War (which was told in Homer's preceding poem, The Iliad). During his absence, Odysseus' wife and son repel various suitors seeking to marry Queen Penelope and take Odysseus' throne.
Odysseus' voyage home is full of various supernatural threats, monsters, and divine intervention. While past adaptations have downplayed or removed the mythological elements, Nolan's version of The Odyssey appears to be embracing Homer's original work in its entirety, including the Cyclops Polyphemus, giants, magic, and the gods themselves.
Other mythological dangers expected to appear include the Sirens who lure sailors to their deaths, the enchantresses Circe and Calypso, as well as the sea monster Scylla and the deadly whirlpool Charybdis.
Additionally, Nolan's The Odyssey will also feature events that take place during The Iliad, most notably Odysseus' plan involving the iconic Trojan Horse, which was used to take the city of Troy and win the war.
The Odyssey Trailer Has Been Released
Universal Pictures recently released the second full trailer for The Odyssey, offering audiences their most extensive look yet at Nolan's upcoming epic. Offering new looks at the film's mythological elements, The Cyclops is clearly going to be one of the movie's biggest set pieces.
Beyond Odysseus' long and perilous journey home and his determination to "Defy the Gods", the trailers also highlight the conflict in Ithaca, where Queen Penelope faces mounting pressure from the various men occupying her kingdom, particularly Antinous, one of the most ruthless and boldest of the suitors.
In general, The Odyssey's trailers have been doing an excellent job showcasing the massive scope of Christopher Nolan's upcoming epic, which is set to feature major battles, conflicts at sea, and more major set pieces.
The Odyssey's Cast & Characters
One of the biggest reasons for excitement surrounding The Odyssey is its absolutely stacked ensemble cast. Here's every confirmed role so far:
-
Matt Damon — Odysseus
- The legendary King of Ithaca struggling to return home after the Trojan War.
-
Tom Holland — Telemachus
- Odysseus' son, who searches for his missing father as an adult.
-
Anne Hathaway — Queen Penelope
- Odysseus' loyal wife, resisting suitors while waiting for her husband's return.
-
Robert Pattinson — Antinous
- The cruel and arrogant leader of Penelope's suitors.
-
Zendaya — Athena
- The goddess of wisdom who guides and protects Odysseus
-
Charlize Theron — Calypso
- A powerful sorceress seeking to keep Odysseus with her, promising immortality.
-
Jon Bernthal — Menelaus
- The King of Sparta, whose wife Helen was abducted, starting the Trojan War.
-
John Leguizamo — Eumaeus
- One of Odysseus' most trusted allies.
-
Himesh Patel — Eurylochus
- A key member of Odysseus' crew.
-
Benny Safdie — Agamemnon
- The commander of the Greek armies during the Trojan War.
-
Mia Goth — Melantho
- A servant in Penelope's household.
-
Bill Irwin — Polyphemus
- The monstrous Cyclops who traps Odysseus and his men in his cave.
-
Samantha Morton — Circe
- An enchantress who briefly turns Odysseus and his men into pigs.
-
Lupita Nyong'o — Helen of Troy & Clytemnestra
- Playing both Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra.
-
Elliot Page — Rumored to be playing Elpenor
- While not fully confirmed, trailers suggest that Page is playing Elpenor, the youngest member of Odysseus' crew, whose ghost speaks with the King of Ithaca in the underworld following the crewman's death.
Check out our cast list for The Odyssey to view the full ensemble, including those with unconfirmed roles.
When The Odyssey Will Be Released
The Odyssey is scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026, continuing a Christopher Nolan tradition of releasing movies in the middle of the summer, including Inception, The Dark Knight, Dunkirk, Oppenheimer, and more.
One of The Odyssey's biggest rival films at the box office in July will be Spider-Man: Brand New Day, which just so happens to share some pretty big actors with Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Jon Bernthal. Nevertheless, The Odyssey is widely expected to be one of the best-performing theatrical movies of the entire year.
Are Tickets Available Yet?
Tickets for The Odyssey are available now via major theater chains and ticketing services like Fandango. Likewise, premium formats such as IMAX 70mm screenings have proven especially popular, with many theaters' opening night showings selling out almost immediately after tickets went on sale almost a full year ago, breaking major records. For fans hoping to experience the film in Nolan's preferred IMAX format, purchasing tickets as early as possible is definitely recommended.
How And Where The Film Was Shot
The Odyssey has reached some pretty major technical filmmaking milestones. After all, it's the first feature film to be shot entirely using 70mm IMAX cameras. To do so, Nolan pushed for brand-new camera techniques to achieve this impressive feat, most notably the creation of 400-lb acoustic blimps to muffle the loud sound of the giant cameras so that close-ups and dialogue could be filmed.
While these impressively heavy cameras reportedly created all kinds of logistical problems, especially on location, the result will hopefully be worth it.
Filming itself took place across numerous international locations selected to recreate the ancient Mediterranean world, including Greece, Sicily, Morocco, Scotland, Iceland, and portions of Italy. Many coastal sequences were shot on location rather than on soundstages, allowing Nolan to capture incredibly authentic landscapes and seascapes with many regions traditionally associated with Homer's original epic. That said, some key scenes were reportedly filmed at Universal Studios' Falls Lake, a massive water tank on the backlot that's been used for several iconic movies over the last 100 years.
The Odyssey releases in theaters on July 17th from Universal Pictures.
Release Date July 17, 2026
Runtime 172 Minutes
What's Your Reaction?
Like
0
Dislike
0
Love
0
Funny
0
Wow
0
Sad
0
Angry
0
Comments (0)