A legendary adventure comes to life on the big screen: Christopher Nolan takes us on Odysseus’ journey.
After the huge success of Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan is now turning his attention to one of the oldest and most famous hero stories in world literature: The Odyssey. The film brings Odysseus’ ancient adventure back to the big screen, this time in stunning IMAX and with a star-studded cast set to amaze audiences.
The Odyssey's Release Date And Production
The Odyssey is scheduled to hit theaters on July 16, 2026. Filming took place in early 2025 across the UK, Morocco, and the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily. Notably, the island of Favignana served as the setting for the legendary Cyclops Polyphemus’ sheep-covered isle.
For the scenes featuring the enormous Cyclops, the production team built a figure over six meters tall to facilitate interaction with the actors. The project cost around 250 million US dollars, making it one of Nolan’s most expensive productions to date.
Plot: Odysseus’ Journey Home
The story begins after the Trojan War and follows Odysseus’ long journey back to Ithaca. On his ten-year voyage home, he faces numerous obstacles: from the island of the Lotus-Eaters, where his men are seduced by a forgetfulness-inducing fruit, to encounters with the man-eating Cyclopes, and finally the Sirens, whose enchanting song Odysseus survives only through cunning.
The sorceress Circe, who turns some of Odysseus’ men into pigs, and the nymph Calypso, where he remains captive for seven years, also play central roles. Ultimately, Odysseus returns to Ithaca, disguised as a beggar, reunites with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus, and confronts his adversaries.
Cast: A Star-Studded Ensemble
Matt Damon takes on the role of Odysseus, placing him at the center of Nolan’s epic. Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus, while Zendaya appears as the goddess Athena. Anne Hathaway portrays Penelope, Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, one of the suitors, and Charlize Theron takes on the role of the sorceress Circe. The cast also includes John Leguizamo, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, and Mia Goth, among others. Many of the actors have worked with Nolan before, creating a familiar and collaborative dynamic on set.
Technology And Innovation
A major highlight is the full use of IMAX cameras. For the first time in Nolan’s career, the entire film was shot in this format, allowing for breathtaking close-ups and intense action sequences that bring the ancient adventure to life with unprecedented detail. The soundtrack is composed once again by Ludwig Göransson, costumes were designed by Ellen Mirojnick, and Hoyte Van Hoytema handled the cinematography.
Early glimpses of the film have been revealed through teasers and set photos, already showing Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as Telemachus in period-accurate attire.
FIRST LOOK
— Empire (@empiremagazine) November 14, 2025
Tom Holland is Telemachus, Odysseus' son, in Christopher Nolan's #TheOdyssey.
Read more: https://t.co/hzU5shdzCF pic.twitter.com/pkoc9vVt0P
Additional images feature Zendaya as Athena and Robert Pattinson as Antinous. The full trailer is set to be released at the end of 2025, offering the first moving glimpses of the epic adventure.
First look at Robert Pattinson and Zendaya in Christopher Nolan's 'THE ODYSSEY'
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 20, 2025
Pattinson will play Antinous & Zendaya will play Athena.
(Source: @empiremagazine) pic.twitter.com/avZ2DaGkSJ
With The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan takes on another ambitious project: a timeless story brought to life with a modern approach and a cast that unites Hollywood’s A-list. Anyone who loves spectacular cinema, mythological adventures, and cutting-edge technology should mark their calendars for summer 2026.