Following Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan is taking on one of the most famous stories of the ancient world: The Odyssey. This monumental historical epic stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya and Tom Holland, and has already been tipped as one of the must-see films of 2026.
It is one of the most highly anticipated films of 2026 and undoubtedly one of Christopher Nolan’s most ambitious projects. Three years after Oppenheimer, the British filmmaker is turning his attention to one of the best-known narratives of antiquity: Homer’s Odyssey. It is a colossal undertaking for the director, who is setting science fiction aside (for now) to focus on a genre he has explored only sparingly: the historical epic. And to bring this journey into the world of Greek mythology to life, Nolan has spared no expense, assembling a truly staggering cast and budget.
Christopher Nolan adapts one of Antiquity’s greatest epics
What is The Odyssey about? The clue is in the title. Based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem, the film follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, on his seemingly endless voyage home after the Trojan War. Audiences can expect mythological creatures, capricious gods and perilous sea voyages. Along the way, the hero must face obstacles including the Cyclops Polyphemus and the Sirens, while also encountering Circe and Calypso before he can hope to reunite with his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus.
Running for 2 hours and 52 minutes, the film brings together several themes that are central to Christopher Nolan’s work: journeys, time, the obsession with returning home, and the loneliness of the hero. As in Interstellar, the director presents a perilous voyage driven by one clear objective: getting the protagonist home. Tom Holland has already described the screenplay as 'the best script I’ve ever read', further fuelling excitement surrounding this promising epic.
A lifelong admirer of both The Iliad and The Odyssey, Christopher Nolan is expected to remain faithful to Homer’s epic spirit while presenting it through a contemporary cinematic lens. To realise this vision, the director has chosen to shoot in the IMAX format, which should deliver a higher level of image quality and resolution than conventional films.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_bKjZeJBBI&t=1s
A star-studded cast for a major cinematic event
Another reason for the enormous anticipation surrounding the film is its impressive cast. Matt Damon will play Odysseus, while Anne Hathaway reunites with Christopher Nolan twelve years after Interstellar to portray Penelope. Tom Holland will take on the role of Telemachus, and Zendaya will play Athena.
The cast also includes several other well-known actors:
- Charlize Theron as Circe,
- Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy,
- Robert Pattinson as Antinous,
- Benny Safdie as Agamemnon,
- Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth and Himesh Patel in supporting roles.
The Odyssey is scheduled for release in cinemas on 17 July 2026.
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