By Konstantin Koos on July 2, 2025 at 04:45 pm3 min reading time

It is one of the most anticipated movies of next year: Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey". A first teaser is already playing in select theaters. Meanwhile, it has also been leaked online, but Universal is taking strict action against this. Here we reveal what can be seen in the teaser.

The teaser starts with scenic shots of the sea and the shoreline. At the same time, the following words can be heard:

"Darkness. Zeus' law smashed to pieces. A kingdom without a king since my master died. He knew it was an unwinnable war. And then, somehow... somehow he won it."

In addition to shots of the beach and ocean by day and night, a destroyed wooden horse can also be seen – presumably the famous Trojan horse. The voiceover could belong to John Leguizamo or Robert Pattinson. So far, it's still unknown which characters the two will be playing.

The teaser continues with a first look at the characters played by Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal, illuminated by firelight. Holland plays Telemachus, son of Odysseus, who sets off in search of his father after the end of the Trojan War. He talks about this with Bernthal's character, who will presumably accompany him on his journey. His character emphasizes that he has not heard from Odysseus since the end of the war. When Telemachos asks him about this, he replies:

"Interested in rumor, huh? Gossip. Who has a story about Odysseus, huh? You? You have a story? Some say he's rich or some say he's poor. Some say he perished. Some say he's imprisoned. What say you?"

Meanwhile, we see more brief scenes, including soldiers in a city at night. The teaser ends with the revelation of the whereabouts of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon: The king of Ithaca lies on some wooden planks in the middle of the sea. Basically, the teaser shows first scenes of Matt Damon's Odysseus, Tom Holland's Telemachus and Jon Bernthal. The nearly 80-second teaser does exactly what it's meant to: It whets the appetite for more.

When it comes to Christopher Nolan, it's hardly surprising that the first footage of "The Odyssey" is currently being shown exclusively in theaters. The director is a strong advocate for cinema and designs his movies specifically for the big screen. A similar approach was taken with Nolan's last blockbuster, "Oppenheimer". Here, too, the first teaser was initially screened in theaters only.

However, due to the leaks, it is quite possible that the teaser will soon be officially released online for the general public. When that happens, you will of course be able to watch it immediately in the best quality on our YouTube channel or in the KinoCheck app!

The Plot of "The Odyssey"

Nolan's movie is based on Homer's famous "Odyssey". The Greek poet's epic was probably written in the 8th century BC, making it one of the oldest surviving works of world literature. The legendary hero Odysseus, King of Ithaca, fights on the side of the Greeks in the Trojan War. After the fall of Troy, he and his companions set off on their journey home – an adventurous journey that lasts a whole ten years and presents him with numerous trials. Among other things, he encounters the one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus, beguiling sirens, angry gods, and a six-headed sea monster.

The Epic Cast of "The Odyssey"

In addition to "Spider-Man" star Tom Holland, Matt Damon, "The Punisher" actor Jon Bernthal, and "Tenet" star Robert Pattinson, the top-class cast of "The Odyssey" also includes many other actors. Among them is Anne Hathaway, who has already worked with Nolan in "Interstellar" and "The Dark Knight Rises". She could play Odysseus' wife Penelope, but this has not yet been confirmed.

Charlize Theron ("Mad Max: Fury Road") is also involved, although she will probably take on a smaller role. The Hollywood Reporter knows that the actress will play the sorceress Circe. However, Theron will only be involved in filming for two weeks. Zendaya, known from numerous popular productions such as "Euphoria", "Challengers" and "Dune", is also part of the cast. Lupita Nyong'o ("12 Years a Slave") has been cast as well – possibly as Clytemnestra, Agamemnon's wife. The ensemble is completed by Elliot Page ("Inception"), Cosmo Jarvis ("Shōgun"), and horror actress Mia Goth. An impressive cast that raises high expectations.

The theatrical release of "The Odyssey" is scheduled for July 17, 2026. You can find all other known information in our big movie preview. There you can also find out about the previous "Odyssey" film adaptations and which approach Christopher Nolan could choose for his interpretation!