Carl Roberts 
Written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on Homer’s epic, The Odyssey takes to the land and sea. It delivers an epic new trailer.
Based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic, The Odyssey, the new trailer has arrived directly from the Trojan War, via Ithaca, to us. The film is set for release in cinemas on July 17th, 2026. Written and directed by Oscar winner Christopher Nolan, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, alongside an all-star cast. These include Tom Holland as Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, the wife of Odysseus. Additionally, Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Circe, and Jon Bernthal as Menelaus. Benny Safdie portrays Agamemnon, and John Leguizamo portrays Eumaeus in the film. Himesh Patel takes the role of Eurylochus, Mia Goth as Melantho, Jimmy Gonzales as Cepheus. Also appearing are Will Yun Lee and Lupita Nyong’o.
Nolan and his wife, Emma Thomas, began writing this epic adaptation of the classic poem in March of last year. They started after Nolan’s Academy Award success with Oppenheimer. Nolan courted Matt Damon almost instantly after the actor’s appearances in Oppenheimer and Interstellar. The director added two more of his past collaborators. Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson starred in The Dark Knight Rises and Tenet, respectively. Instead of shopping the film around, as he normally does, Universal set the film up directly at their studio. They worked in partnership with Nolan’s own Syncopy. This is the first time Nolan has shot exclusively with IMAX cameras.
THE PREMISE
The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, as he attempts to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
THOUGHTS
Just by watching the trailer, we can see the film is a massive undertaking. The word epic is bandied around too freely these days; however, the film looks to be a genuine epic. From the lavish spectacle we see in the trailer, the look and feel of the film, and how it plays out, give us the feeling of something monstrous. Something we rarely see on screen these days, and haven’t since the heydays of the classic movies from the 1950s and 1960s. This looks and feels like it is a genuine Hollywood heavyweight, a spectacle that has to be seen and heard on the biggest screen imaginable. A truly epic movie for the modern age.
ANOTHER NOLAN EPIC?
Whether the film is or isn’t something we wouldn’t expect, a huge undertaking that will blow us away, is something we can debate for the next seven months and change. But could Nolan be throwing down the gauntlet early? Is he delivering his next big Oscar-winner with the film? Could Nolan be daring other movies to come and take on his incredible-looking movie? Just from watching the trailers we have been given so far, I feel we are looking at a juggernaut, something that will run and run with great staying power, just like Oppenheimer. Plus, Nolan rarely makes an average or merely good film. And this looks far from being simply good.
The Odyssey will arrive on our shores on July 17th, 2026
What do you make of the trailer? Do you agree that the film looks to be an epic? Or are you left underwhelmed by what you have seen so far? Will you be going to see the movie? Head down to the comments section to let us know.
Introducing Carl! As the News Editor at Future of the Force, Carl has been an invaluable member of our team since early 2016. His expertise and dedication have made him an integral part of our editorial staff. Beyond his professional role, Carl is a fervent supporter of Liverpool F.C. and an avid follower of pop culture. He has a deep passion for Halloween, Friday the 13th, and the iconic movie franchises Star Wars and Star Trek.
He can be found either at his neighborhood cinema, enjoying the latest releases on the big screen, or at home streaming the newest blockbuster movies.
