Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Trailer Reveals Cyclops, Calypso and a $250M Epic

Key facts

• at $250 million (£184 million).
• Nolan shot over 2 million feet of film, entirely on large-format IMAX cameras.
• The film is due for release on 16 July 2026 in Australia and 17 July 2026 in the UK and US.
• Matt Damon plays Odysseus, Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Anne Hathaway plays Penelope.
• Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, Charlize Theron plays Calypso, Zendaya plays Athena.
• Nolan compared Homer to George Lucas and the Odyssey to the Marvel of its day.
• Nolan said the runtime is shorter than Oppenheimer’s three hours.
• A cinema-only trailer was leaked online in July 2025.

A Hero’s Journey, Shot on IMAX

Christopher Nolan has released the first official trailer for The Odyssey, his adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic. The footage offers glimpses of Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, who embarks on a decade-long voyage home after the Trojan War. The trailer, which debuted online after a previous leak in July 2025, showcases the film’s monumental scale. Nolan shot more than two million feet of film entirely on large-format IMAX cameras, a technical feat that underscores his commitment to immersive cinema. The production’s reported $250 million budget makes it one of the most expensive films ever greenlit, reflecting the director’s ambition to bring Homer’s world to life with unprecedented visual fidelity.

The Cast: From Spider-Man to Suitors

The trailer introduces a constellation of stars. Matt Damon leads as Odysseus, a role that echoes his previous portrayals of men striving to return home. Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, while Anne Hathaway portrays Penelope, the faithful queen of Ithaca. Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous, the most aggressive of Penelope’s suitors, and Charlize Theron takes on the role of the nymph Calypso, who detains Odysseus on her island. Other cast members include Zendaya as the goddess Athena, Jon Bernthal as King Menelaus, Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, Mia Goth as Melantho, and John Leguizamo as the servant Eumaeus. Lupita Nyong’o and Will Yun Lee appear in undisclosed roles. The ensemble, Nolan said, represents a who’s who of Hollywood’s most bankable talent.

Nolan on Homer, Marvel, and the Pressure of Adaptation

During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Nolan discussed the parallels between Homer’s epics and modern comic-book franchises. “The thing about Homer is, nobody knows if that was a person,” Nolan said. “Homer, in a way, is the sort of George Lucas of his time.” He added that The Odyssey is “the Marvel of its day,” reflecting a human desire to believe gods walk among us. Nolan acknowledged the “massive amount of pressure” in adapting such a beloved story. “Anyone taking on ‘The Odyssey’ is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere,” he told the Associated Press. He emphasized that audiences want a “strong and sincere interpretation” from a filmmaker who has “gone to the mat for it.”

A Shorter Runtime Than Oppenheimer, but No Less Epic

Nolan confirmed that The Odyssey will run shorter than his three-hour biopic Oppenheimer, though he did not specify the exact length. He described the film as “an epic” but assured fans that it would not overstay its welcome. The director’s previous blockbuster, Oppenheimer, earned nearly $1 billion worldwide and won multiple Oscars, setting high expectations for his follow-up. The trailer teases key mythological encounters: a whirlpool, the Cyclops, and the wrath of the gods. In one scene, Charlize Theron’s Calypso asks Odysseus what he remembers of his life. “A wife, a son, we won the war,” Damon’s character replies, before pleading with the gods to help him return home. The footage also shows Robert Pattinson’s Antinous leering at Penelope, creating tension in Ithaca.

From Leaked Footage to Official Release

A cinema-only trailer for The Odyssey was leaked online in July 2025, months before the official release. The leak generated significant buzz, but Nolan and Universal Pictures maintained a tight lid on the project until now. The official trailer, released in early 2026, provides the first public look at the film’s visual style and narrative scope. The film is scheduled for release on 16 July 2026 in Australia and 17 July 2026 in the UK and US. Nolan’s decision to shoot entirely on IMAX cameras ensures that theaters equipped with the format will offer the definitive viewing experience. The director has a history of championing theatrical exhibition, and The Odyssey is expected to be a major draw for summer audiences.

The Weight of a Classic

Adapting Homer’s Odyssey is a daunting task, as the poem has been a cornerstone of Western literature for nearly three millennia. Nolan’s interpretation arrives at a time when studios are increasingly reliant on established intellectual property, but the director has positioned his film as a sincere, artist-driven take on a foundational story. “What I learned from making The Dark Knight trilogy is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story is a strong and sincere interpretation,” he said. The trailer’s reception suggests that audiences are eager for Nolan’s vision. Social media reactions have been overwhelmingly positive, with many praising the visual effects and the cast’s chemistry. Whether the film can live up to the hype—and Homer’s legacy—will be determined when it hits theaters this summer.

The bottom line

• Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is a $250 million IMAX epic based on Homer’s poem, releasing July 2026.
• Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Tom Holland as Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope.
• Nolan compared Homer to George Lucas and the Odyssey to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
• The film’s runtime is shorter than Oppenheimer’s three hours, but Nolan insists it remains an epic.
• A leaked trailer in July 2025 preceded the official release, building anticipation.
• The cast includes Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong’o in undisclosed roles.