Christopher Nolan’s Next Epic: The Odyssey Brings Greek Myth to the Big Screen

Christopher Nolan is known for thinking big, and his next film may be his most ambitious yet. After the Oscar-winning success of Oppenheimer, the director is taking on one of the oldest and greatest stories ever told: Homer’s The Odyssey.

Written nearly 3,000 years ago, The Odyssey follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca, as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War. Nolan’s adaptation turns this legendary journey into a massive mythic action epic, filmed across the world using brand-new IMAX technology.

Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, marking another collaboration with Nolan. His character’s journey home lasts ten years and is filled with danger at every turn. Along the way, Odysseus faces terrifying and magical threats, including the Cyclops Polyphemus, the deadly Sirens who lure sailors with song, and the witch Circe, who famously turns his men into pigs.

Anne Hathaway reunites with Nolan to play Penelope, Odysseus’ loyal wife. While waiting for her husband’s return, Penelope must fend off powerful suitors who want both her hand in marriage and the throne of Ithaca. Tom Holland plays their son, Telemachus, who sets out on his own journey to discover what really happened to his father.

The film boasts a huge ensemble cast. Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous, one of Penelope’s most aggressive suitors. The cast also includes Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, and Will Yun Lee.

Universal Pictures has described The Odyssey as a “mythic action epic,” and early footage shown exclusively in IMAX theaters hints at the film’s scale. Viewers have already seen glimpses of Odysseus, Telemachus, and a mysterious character played by Jon Bernthal, as well as striking images of the legendary Trojan Horse — both towering over the beach and half-submerged in water. A short prologue recently shown in IMAX 70mm screenings depicts Odysseus and his men hiding inside the horse just before the Battle of Troy begins.

Nolan wrote the screenplay himself, a challenging task given that Homer’s original poem is divided into 24 books. He is also producing the film alongside his longtime collaborator and wife, Emma Thomas.

The Odyssey is set to arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026, promising audiences a bold new take on a timeless legend — told on the biggest screens possible.