Okay movie fans get ready because Christopher Nolan is taking on something HUGE. Like mythic-poem-level huge. We are talking about "The Odyssey" Homer's classic tale of Odysseus' long journey home and Nolan is bringing it to the big screen. And from what we are hearing and seeing it is going to be a wild ride.
Star-Studded Cast Alert: Damon Holland Zendaya and More Join Nolan's Epic Voyage
Nolan is known for pulling together incredible casts and "The Odyssey" is no different. Seriously look at this lineup it is insane! Matt Damon is set to play the lead as Odysseus himself. That is already a pretty interesting choice right there. But it gets even bigger.
Tom Holland seems to be on board as Odysseus' son Telemachus. Set photos even show Holland on a ship looking very sea-voyage ready. And then there is Zendaya reportedly playing Athena. Charlize Theron Anne Hathaway Robert Pattinson Lupita Nyong'o Benny Safdie Jon Bernthal Mia Goth Elliot Page Samantha Morton Cosmo Jarvis and even Ryan Hurst from Sons of Anarchy are all part of this massive project . It's like Nolan just collected every talented actor in Hollywood and put them in one movie!
Mythic Action Epic: What We Know About Nolan's Take on "The Odyssey" So Far
Universal is calling "The Odyssey" a "mythic action epic". It is supposed to be shot all over the world using brand new IMAX film tech. Nolan is really going all out on the scale and visuals for this one. The movie is bringing Homer's poem to IMAX screens for the first time ever which sounds pretty impressive.
For those who need a refresher "The Odyssey" is about King Odysseus a Greek hero after the Trojan War. His journey home to Ithaca takes TEN YEARS and is full of crazy adventures monsters gods and all sorts of trouble. Meanwhile back home Odysseus' wife Penelope and his son Telemachus are dealing with a bunch of annoying suitors trying to take over the throne. Expect monsters witches gods and a whole lot of action if Nolan is at the helm.
Behind the Scenes Glimpse: Set Photos Spark Questions (and Maybe Viking Ships?)
Set photos have started leaking out and they are definitely interesting. We see Tom Holland on a ship directed by Nolan who is even wearing a little floatie which is kind of funny. But some people are raising eyebrows about the ship itself.
Apparently the ship looks more like a Viking longboat than a traditional Greek Trireme. One article joked about Nolan filming a Greek epic on a Viking ship and wondered if there might be time travel involved. While movies are obviously not documentaries it does make you wonder about Nolan's interpretation and how he is mixing things up. Maybe it is a wild re-imagining of the story or maybe it is just a cool-looking boat. We will have to wait and see!
Confirmed Cast and Roles (So Far): Who's Who in Nolan's "The Odyssey"
Here's a list of the actors and roles that have been confirmed or strongly rumored for Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" based on current reports:
- Matt Damon as Odysseus
- Tom Holland as Telemachus (rumored)
- Zendaya as Athena (rumored)
- Charlize Theron as Circe (rumored)
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope (rumored)
- Benny Safdie as Agamemnon (rumored)
- Lupita Nyong'o as Clytemnestra (rumored)
- Ryan Hurst (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Robert Pattinson (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Jon Bernthal (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Mia Goth (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Elliot Page (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Samantha Morton (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Cosmo Jarvis (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- John Leguizamo (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Bill Irwin (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Himesh Patel (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
- Corey Hawkins (Role unknown but confirmed cast member)
This is already an absolutely stacked cast list and there might even be more surprises to come!
Release Date and Hype: Get Ready for "The Odyssey" in Summer 2026
Mark your calendars folks because "The Odyssey" is set to hit theaters on July 17 2026. That is still a bit of a wait but it gives us plenty of time to speculate theorize and get even more hyped for what Nolan has in store.
Will it be a totally faithful adaptation? Will it be a Nolan-style mind-bending epic? Will there be Viking ships involved? We don't know all the answers yet but one thing is for sure: Christopher Nolan tackling "The Odyssey" is a massive movie event and we are all here for it. Get ready for a long journey because this one is going to be epic.