The Odyssey (2026) Movie Preview

An ancient legend of gods, monsters, and heroes. A stellar cast. And one of the greatest directors of our time: Christopher Nolan wants to bring a true epic to the big screen with "The Odyssey".

But what happens when the master of complex, mind-bending storytelling takes on one of the oldest tales in human history? What is already known? Where will the journey lead? And what could possibly cause this ambitious project to fail? Read this article to get an idea of what might await us in theaters next year!

What Is The Odyssey About?

The famous "Odyssey" by the Greek poet Homer serves as the source material for this mammoth project. Likely composed in the 8th century BC, the epic is one of the oldest literary works in existence. It centers on the legendary hero Odysseus: as king of Ithaca, he fights on the side of the Greeks in the Trojan War. He is known for his cunning – it was him who came up with the idea of the Trojan horse.

However, his pride in this ruse angers Poseidon, the god of the sea: as a result, Poseidon ensures that Odysseus' journey home turns into a ten-year odyssey – a voyage full of adventures, during which the hero must overcome numerous trials. Along the way, he encounters a cyclops, seductive sirens, and terrifying sea monsters. Fans of great epics and Greek mythology can therefore look forward to a truly special cinematic experience.

The big question is: How closely will Christopher Nolan stick to the original in his adaptation? Officially, the film is described as a mythic action epic – which certainly sounds like what one would expect from such a story.

But Nolan wouldn't be Nolan if he didn't surprise us with his unique approach to storytelling. Time, in particular, plays a crucial role in almost all of his movies. And it lends itself perfectly to "The Odyssey": the story is not just about the hero himself; it is also about his family back home. They desperately await his return while facing increasing danger. These two narrative threads in particular could be staged as a thrilling race against time.

It is also very likely that greater focus will be placed on Odysseus' son, Telemachus. After all, he sets out on his own journey in search of his missing father. Odysseus has been gone from home for a total of 20 years – so flashbacks to the once-united family and his departure for Troy are also possible.

A Monumental Cast

When it comes to casting, "The Odyssey" could set new standards: rarely have so many of Hollywood's A-listers come together for a single project. Leading the cast is Matt Damon, who will play the title character, Odysseus. He previously worked with Nolan on "Oppenheimer".

Another central role will be played by Tom Holland. The "Spider-Man" star takes on the role of Odysseus' son, Telemachus. According to Holland, the script for "The Odyssey" is the best he has ever read. Speaking about working with Christopher Nolan, he said:

"Chris is a real collaborator. He knows what he wants… but it is not an environment where you can't pitch ideas or build characters in certain ways."

Holland's girlfriend Zendaya is also part of the cast. It has not yet been confirmed which role she will play in the film. One possibility would be the role of Athena, the goddess of wisdom. Also involved is Anne Hathaway. The actress has worked with Nolan several times before, and the role of Odysseus' wife, Penelope, would be a fitting one for her.

Charlize Theron is likewise involved. Rumor has it she will portray the sorceress Circe – a temptress whom Odysseus encounters on his journey. She is known for transforming humans into animals.

But that's not all: Robert Pattinson is also part of the ensemble. He previously worked with Christopher Nolan on "Tenet". In "The Odyssey", he might belong to Odysseus' crew. However, there have also been rumors about him playing the sea god Poseidon. Another member of the star-studded cast is none other than Jon Bernthal, the Punisher himself. So far, it is only known that his character accompanies Telemachus – meaning he is not part of Odysseus' journey.

Lupita Nyong'o will also appear in "The Odyssey", along with Mia Goth, "Inception" star Elliot Page, and John Leguizamo. As you can see, the list of famous names in the cast is huge. We expect a lot of memorable performances, even in the smallest roles.

What Happens in The Odyssey Teaser

A first teaser for "The Odyssey" was already shown in select theaters in the summer of 2025. But Christopher Nolan is serious about his love for the big screen: the wider audience is still waiting for a general release. Here's a little tip: download the free KinoCheck app, and you will be the first to know as soon as the official trailer for "The Odyssey" is released online!

Of course, there are numerous reports about what can be seen in the teaser. Although we are not allowed to show the leaked footage, we at least want to share what it is about.

Over shots of the sea and the beach, we hear a narrator's voice:

"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."

A destroyed wooden horse can also be seen – presumably the famous Trojan Horse. The teaser then features initial scenes with Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal. Bernthal's character hasn't heard anything of Odysseus since the end of the war. When Telemachus confronts him about it, 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?"

In brief scenes, we see nighttime shots of soldiers in a city. And then, at the end: Odysseus at last. He is shown stranded on some wooden planks, drifting in the open sea.

A Proven Team Behind the Scenes

In addition to directing, Christopher Nolan also penned the screenplay for the blockbuster. In Hollywood, this is somewhat unusual: major productions usually involve separate people responsible for directing and scriptwriting. However, Nolan has earned himself a special status thanks to his impressive filmography, allowing him to bring his visions to life entirely on his own terms – and the results speak for themselves.

Cinematography is handled by Hoyte van Hoytema, who has been a regular collaborator with Nolan since "Interstellar". His work on "Oppenheimer" even earned him an Oscar.

The score is also in familiar hands: Ludwig Göransson. The Swedish composer created the scores for Nolan's last two movies and is also known for his soundtrack to "The Mandalorian". He, too, won an Oscar for "Oppenheimer".

Our Opinion

For us, it's clear: "The Odyssey" is going to be great! Both in front of and behind the camera, there are talented people who have often worked together before. Above all, we are excited that an ancient epic is finally making it to the big screen. After all, it has been quite a while since the last big wave of movies such as "Gladiator", "Troy", and "300". Nowadays, blockbusters of this kind have become rare.

We also find it exciting that Christopher Nolan is now daring to tackle this genre: the director has already explored many different time periods in his films – but he has never gone this far back in time before. And: he is not really known for actually featuring supernatural beings in his movies. Often, his films deal with seemingly fantastic themes like fate, dreams, and magic – but always from a scientific perspective. We can easily imagine that in "The Odyssey", it won't actually be about real monsters and gods – but rather about how such myths and legends come to be.

In fact, we see only one real risk that could still cause the project to fail: as much as the filmmaker is celebrated for his unique works – even many of his biggest fans had to admit with "Tenet" that at some point, a movie can simply become too complicated. But we strongly assume that Nolan will have learned from that experience.

Even in the case that the mythical creatures are merely hinted at in the end, we can surely still expect a visual spectacle. Nolan is known for relying heavily on practical effects. How these will be used for cyclopes, nymphs, and gods is likely to present him with entirely new creative challenges.

The necessary resources are certainly available: the budget is said to be around 250 million US dollars. This would make "The Odyssey", together with "The Dark Knight Rises", Nolan's most expensive film to date.

When Does The Odyssey Hit Theaters?

Filming for "The Odyssey" took place from February to August 2025. The scale of this massive project is also reflected in its numerous locations: the movie was shot in Greece, Italy, the UK, Morocco, and other places, and brand-new IMAX film technology was used. The release date has already been set: "The Odyssey" will hit theaters on July 17, 2026.