Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Trailer Unveils Cyclops, Calypso, and a $250M Epic Shot Entirely on IMAX

Key facts

• Matt Damon plays Odysseus, Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Anne Hathaway plays Penelope.
• Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, a suitor vying for Penelope’s hand.
• Charlize Theron plays the nymph Calypso; Zendaya plays Athena; Lupita Nyong’o appears in an undisclosed role.
• budget of $250 million (£184 million).
• Nolan shot over 2 million feet of film entirely on large-format IMAX cameras, a first for a narrative feature.
• The Odyssey is due for release on July 16, 2026 in Australia and July 17, 2026 in the UK and US.
• It will compete with Disney and Sony’s ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ on its opening weekend.
• Tickets for 70mm screenings were released a year in advance in July 2025.

A Hero’s Journey, Retold on an Epic Scale

Christopher Nolan has released the first full trailer for his adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey, offering a sweeping glimpse of Matt Damon as the Greek hero Odysseus. The trailer debuted Monday night on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, immediately generating buzz for its depiction of mythological threats and a star-studded cast. The film retells Odysseus’s ten-year voyage back to Ithaca after the Greek victory at Troy. The trailer shows Damon’s bearded hero pleading with the gods, “Help me go home,” as he faces a whirlpool, the Cyclops, and the nymph Calypso. It also introduces Robert Pattinson’s Antinous, a suitor attempting to usurp Odysseus’s throne and marry his wife Penelope.

A Constellation of Stars in Homeric Roles

Beyond Damon, the cast includes Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and Zendaya as the goddess Athena. Charlize Theron plays Circe, the goddess of witchcraft, while Lupita Nyong’o and Will Yun Lee appear in undisclosed roles. John Leguizamo portrays Odysseus’s servant Eumaeus, Jon Bernthal plays King Menelaus, and Benny Safdie takes on Agamemnon. Other notable names include Himesh Patel as Eurylochus, Mia Goth as Melantho, and Jimmy Gonzales as Cepheus. The ensemble also features Elliot Page, Jovan Adepo, and dozens more, making the film one of the most densely cast epics in recent memory.

Record-Breaking Production and Budget

budget of $250 million (£184 million), reflecting its ambition. Nolan revealed in November that he had shot more than two million feet of film, all on large-format IMAX cameras. This makes The Odyssey the first narrative film to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras, a technical milestone. The production is Nolan’s 13th directorial feature. He wrote the screenplay based on Homer’s ancient poem and produced it alongside Emma Thomas under their Syncopy banner. Universal Pictures is distributing the film.

From ‘Oppenheimer’ to Ancient Greece: Nolan’s Momentum

Nolan and Thomas’s last film, Oppenheimer (2023), grossed $958.8 million worldwide and earned 13 Academy Award nominations, winning seven including Best Picture and Best Director for Nolan. The success of that film has raised expectations for The Odyssey, which arrives three years later. Like Oppenheimer, which shared a release date with Barbie, The Odyssey will open on the same day as Disney and Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day on July 17, 2026. The direct competition mirrors the ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon, though the outcome remains to be seen.

Monsters, Gods, and a Race Against Time

The trailer emphasizes the mythological obstacles Odysseus must overcome. A key moment shows Charlize Theron’s Calypso asking Odysseus what he remembers of his life. He replies, “A wife, a son, we won the war,” before cutting to scenes of him battling the Cyclops and enduring the fury of the gods. Meanwhile, in Ithaca, Antinous (Pattinson) pressures Penelope, creating tension as Odysseus’s family awaits his return. The trailer suggests a race against time, with Odysseus struggling to reach home before Antinous consolidates his power.

What Comes Next: Release and Audience Expectations

The Odyssey is scheduled for release on July 16, 2026 in Australia and July 17 in the UK and US. In a promotional stunt, tickets for 70mm screenings were made available a year in advance, starting in July 2025. The film’s IMAX exclusivity and early ticket sales indicate a strong push for premium formats. With a budget of $250 million and a release date opposite a major superhero film, The Odyssey faces significant commercial pressure. However, Nolan’s track record and the star power of the cast suggest the film could be one of 2026’s biggest events.

A Modern Epic Rooted in Ancient Storytelling

Nolan has described Homer’s work as containing the ‘original superheroes,’ comparing the poet to Marvel in his day. The director’s approach blends classical mythology with his signature large-scale filmmaking. The trailer’s final line, “Sing to me of the man, Muse, the man of twists and turns,” directly invokes the opening of The Odyssey, signaling fidelity to the source material. The film’s success will depend on whether audiences embrace a two-and-a-half-hour epic in an era of franchise fatigue. But if the trailer is any indication, Nolan has crafted a visually stunning and emotionally charged journey that honors Homer while pushing cinematic boundaries.

The bottom line

• The Odyssey is Nolan’s first narrative film shot entirely on IMAX cameras, using over two million feet of film.
• The budget is $250 million, making it one of the most expensive independent productions of the decade.
• The film features a massive ensemble cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya.
• It will compete directly with Spider-Man: Brand New Day on its opening weekend, echoing the ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon.
• Tickets for 70mm screenings were sold a year in advance, reflecting high anticipation.
• Nolan’s previous film, Oppenheimer, won seven Oscars, setting a high bar for this release.