As an English major, Christopher Nolan’s upcoming movie adaption of The Odyssey is basically my Joker. The movie, slated for 2026, has a star studded cast that will be sure to give all fans of the classic tale a blockbuster excitement.
Christopher Nolan, the visionary director behind Inception, Interstellar, and Oppenheimer, is taking on one of the most epic stories in literary history: Homer’s The Odyssey. Here’s everything you need to know about this highly anticipated film.
- The Cast is Stacked
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Nolan has a history of working with A-list actors, and The Odyssey is no exception. While the full cast list hasn’t been revealed, some of the most notable actors who currently have been casted are Matt Damon as the titular character, Odysseus, Anne Hathaway (suspected to play Penelope, Odysseus’ wife), Tom Holland (suspected to play Telemachus, the son of Penelope and Odysseus), Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, and Mia Goth. While the only confirmed role is Matt Damon’s, I’m sure as set photos start to leak, it will start to be more fun for fans to guess and fill in the pieces!
- The Release Date is Locked In
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Mark your calendars—The Odyssey is set to hit theaters on July 17, 2026. This puts it in prime summer blockbuster territory, meaning it’s likely to be a visually stunning, high-budget spectacle worthy of the IMAX treatment.
- What’s The Odyssey Actually About?
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If you somehow missed this classic in high school English, The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the cunning Greek hero, on his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces mythical creatures, vengeful gods, and supernatural obstacles, from the deadly sirens to the one-eyed Cyclops, Polyphemus. Oh, and he has to deal with an entire kingdom of suitors trying to steal his wife, Penelope. Basically, it’s The Revenant meets Mad Max: Fury Road, but make it Ancient Greece. And if you’re a musical sort of person, there’s Epic: The Musical, which is Odysseus’ tale in sung-through musical form.
- Expect Nolan’s Signature Mind-Bending Style
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Christopher Nolan doesn’t do straightforward storytelling, so you can bet this won’t be a typical sword-and-sandals epic. Fans are already speculating that The Odyssey could play with time, perspective, or nonlinear storytelling—similar to Dunkirk or Memento. Could we see Odysseus’ journey told in reverse? Flashbacks within flashbacks? Some kind of Inception-style dream layers? With Nolan, nothing is off the table.
- Hans Zimmer Will (HOPEFULLY) Be Involved
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A Nolan movie without a Hans Zimmer score is like an Odysseus story without a Trojan Horse—it just wouldn’t feel right. While an official composer hasn’t been announced, Zimmer’s collaborations with Nolan (Interstellar, Inception, Dunkirk) make him the obvious choice. Prepare for music that will make you feel like you, too, are lost at sea.
- Final Thoughts: This is Going to Be Epic
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From the battle of Troy to the showdown with the suitors, Nolan’s take on The Odyssey is set to be a must-watch event. Whether you’re a die-hard fan of Homer or just love a good blockbuster, this adaptation is shaping up to be one for the ages. Now the real question is—who’s playing Athena?