Academy Award-winning director Christopher Nolan (Oppenheimer) has garnered plenty of hype over his next movie,The Odyssey. Given Nolan’s filmography, it was a surprise that he chose to create an epic Greek fantasy next. However, since this is Christopher Nolan, director of hits such asThe Dark Knight,Inception,Interstellar, andDunkirk, his next film was guaranteed to become a hit blockbuster event, no matter what it was.
The Odysseyis still in production, so details surrounding Nolan’s new epic have been kept under wraps. However, enough has been revealed to show that the movie will be his biggest project yet. To clear up any confusion surrounding the film, here are all the facts and rumors surroundingThe Odysseyshared so far.
When will The Odyssey come out?
It was announced onXthatThe Odysseyis scheduled to premiere in theaters onJuly 17, 2026. However, don’t expect another “Barbenheimer” double-feature phenomenon, as no other blockbuster films are currently set to debut alongsideThe Odyssey.
On August 19, 2025, a year before the film’s premiere, tickets for early IMAX 70mm screenings ofThe Odysseyinselect theaters worldwidewent on sale.
What is The Odyssey about?
Based on the ancient Greek poem by Homer,The Odysseyfollows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, on his years-long journey back home after fighting in the Trojan War, only to encounter challenges from gods and monsters alike. In his absence, his wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, struggle to fend off a band of suitors trying to claim Penelope’s hand in marriage.
Though the film is still in the middle of production, Jim Orr, Universal Pictures’ President of Domestic Theatrical Distribution,said at CinemaCon 2025that Nolan’s version ofThe Odysseyis a “visionary take” on the story and that this film “will be a once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would be very proud of.”
Who’s behind The Odyssey?
The film will be written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who will produce the film alongside his wife and longtime collaborator, Emma Thomas. With an estimated budget of $250 million reported byPuck,The Odysseyis set to be Nolan’s most expensive film production to date. It will also be Nolan’s second film distributed by Universal Pictures after 2023’sOppenheimer.
The film’s photography will be helmed by Swedish cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who won an Academy Award for working onOppenheimer. Hoytema also worked with Nolan on cinematography forDunkirk,Interstellar, andTenet. Universal revealed onXthat Nolan will use “brand new IMAX technology” to filmThe Odyssey. Ludwig Göransson will compose the film’s score, having worked with Nolan to create music forOppenheimerandTenet. Oppenheimer’s costume designer, Ellen Mirojnick, will also team up with Nolan once more to create the costumes forThe Odyssey.
Who stars in The Odyssey?
LikeOppenheimer,The Odysseyis preparing to be another star-studded blockbuster epic. While actor Matt Damon is confirmed to be the face of this film as the hero, he will be joined by many of Hollywood’s biggest names, many of whom have worked with Nolan before. However, the supporting cast’s roles remain shrouded in mystery.
Considering Nolan’s A-list status and the massive budget he has forThe Odyssey, it’s no wonder he was able to get so many prominent actors on board.
It wasrumoredthat Tom Holland was playing the lead role in the film. However, it was revealed that Damon will portray Odysseus, and that Holland will play the character’s son, Telemachus.
Though details surrounding the entire cast have yet to be confirmed,OneMan.comclaimed that Hathaway will play Odysseus’s wife Penelope. Likewise, Zendaya will allegedly play the deity Athena, respectively. On top of that, Safdie and Nyong’o will portray Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, the king and queen of Mycenae. According toChi Magazine, Pattinson will portray Hermes, the messenger of the gods.
Where and when will The Odyssey be filmed?
Matt Damon, 54, has undergone a remarkable physical transformation for his role as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, “The Odyssey.”
Photos from the set in Favignana, Italy, reveal Damon shirtless, showcasing a chiseled physique, long gray beard, and brown pants,…pic.twitter.com/GYFxldePG9
— backgridus (@BackgridUS)July 15, 2025
Universal stated onXthatThe Odysseywill be a “mythic action epic shot around the world,” and the production has already backed this up. Filming forThe Odysseybegan around February 2025 in Aït Benhaddou, a fortified village in Morocco.
Varietyclaimed thatThe Odysseywas filmed in Sicily, likely on the Aeolian Islands, but mainly on the island of Favignana, which was featured in Homer’s original poem. The production was spotted on Favignana on July 15, 2025, with photos leaking onXthat depict both Damon and Zendaya on the set in their wardrobe for the film.
Based on Zendaya’s white dress and Damon’s ragged clothes in this scene,MSN has speculatedthat the former will actually play Nausicaa, the daughter of King Alcinous and Queen Arete, who assists Odysseus after he gets shipwrecked on Scheria/Phaeacia. If this is true, her character could become romantically involved with Holland’s, as Telemachus and Nausicaa begin a relationship in some versions ofThe Odyssey.
Tom Holland on the set of Christopher Nolan’s ‘THE ODYSSEY’ in Italy!pic.twitter.com/YoBXcMpSN0
— best of tom holland (@thollandrchive)June 27, 2025
Speaking of Holland, photos onXalso showed him in Italy for filming, rocking armor with a simple yet striking design.
Likewise,Ekathimerini.comreported that the production took place in the Peloponnese Region in southern Greece, specifically at Methoni Castle, Voidokilia Beach, and the archaeological site of the Acrocorinth palace.
Holland was alreadyspottedin Methoni, Greece, being filmed by Nolan on a classical wooden boat, wearing a brown cloak reminiscent of Frodo Baggins in the Lord of the Rings films.
All in all, Nolan’s use of real-life locations in Greece shows how the director is trying to make his adaptation ofThe Odysseyas realistic as possible. For filming in Greece, the production has even collaborated with the NAF subsidiary of Faliro House Productions.
Nevertheless,The Odysseywill conduct some filming in the United Kingdom. Also,Deadline reportedthat scenes were shot in a studio lot soundstage in Los Angeles. Filming was even said to havetaken place atScotland’s Findlater Castle and Culbin Forest, as well as invarious regions ofIceland.Varietyclaimed that more filming will take place in Ireland.
How will Nolan create The Odyssey’s monsters?
AdaptingThe Odysseyis a surprising endeavor for Nolan, as the story shows Odysseus fighting giant monsters like the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the six-headed sea beast Scylla. Given Nolan’s reputation for filming with as many practical effects as possible, one could only imagine how he plans to bring this fantastical story to life without CGI.
@NolanAnalyst has reported onXthatThe Odysseywill use a 6×6 mechanical anthropomorphic puppet to present Polyphemus when he encounters Odysseus in his cave. This alleged approach harkens back to how Steven Spielberg used an animatronic T-Rex while filmingJurassic Parkin the early ’90s. If Nolan does film Polyphemus like this, it is still likely that he will use some CGI to touch up the Cyclops to make it more lifelike.
Is there a trailer for The Odyssey?
The first teaser trailer for#ChristopherNolan‘s#TheOdysseyhas been released. However, there is a catch.https://t.co/2WwToQw4Gy
— Digital Trends (@DigitalTrends)July 06, 2025
Yes, but it’s exclusive to theaters. A teaser trailer forThe Odysseywas revealed as a preview in screenings forJurassic World Rebirth. The video shows Telemachus searching for his father, with Jon Bernthal’s character sharing stories about Odysseus’s fate and whereabouts. The trailer also features shots of the Trojan Horse on the beach, a group of soldiers entering a cave, and Odysseus stranded on a piece of debris in the middle of the ocean.
Is there a poster for The Odyssey?
A film by Christopher Nolan. Shot entirely with IMAX film cameras. In theaters 7 17 26.#TheOdysseyMoviepic.twitter.com/lizYuc3Mu7
— odysseymovie (@odysseymovie)July 31, 2025
Universal released the first poster forThe Odysseyon the film’s official X account on August 01, 2025. This ominous poster depicts a statue head staring up at a dark sky with embers in the wind, accompanied by a tagline that reads, “Defy the gods.” It also states that the entire film will be shot with IMAX cameras, makingThe Odysseythe first movie to be filmed in this manner.
