# The Odyssey (2026 film)

The Odyssey is an upcoming epic fantasy-action film written, produced, and directed by Christopher Nolan as an adaptation of the eponymous epic poem by Homer. Distributed by Universal Pictures and produced by Nolan's production company Syncopy, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Ancient Greek king of Ithaca, and follows his journey home after the Trojan War to reunite with his wife, Penelope. The ensemble cast also features Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron.
In October 2024, Nolan was revealed to be developing his next film at Universal, after doing so with his prior film Oppenheimer (2023). Casting took place in the following months, and it was announced in December to be an adaptation of Homer's Odyssey. Filming began in late February 2025, taking place throughout Morocco, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom. With an estimated production budget of $250 million, it is poised to be the most expensive film of Nolan's career.
The Odyssey is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on July 17, 2026.

## Premise

The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his perilous journey to return home following the Trojan War, his encounters with the cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch goddess Circe, and his reunion with his wife, Penelope.

## Cast

* Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca
* Tom Holland as Telemachus, son of Odysseus
* Anne Hathaway as Penelope, wife of Odysseus
* Zendaya as the Greek Goddess Athena
* Lupita Nyong'o as Clytemnestra, wife of King Agamemnon
* Robert Pattinson
* Charlize Theron as the enchantress Circe
* Jon Bernthal
* Benny Safdie as King Agamemnon
* John Leguizamo
* Elliot Page
* Himesh Patel
* Bill Irwin
* Samantha Morton
* Jesse Garcia
* Will Yun Lee
* Rafi Gavron
* Shiloh Fernandez
* Mia Goth
* Corey Hawkins
* Nick E. Tarabay
* Jimmy Gonzales
* Maurice Compte
* Michael Vlamis
* Iddo Goldberg
* Josh Stewart
* Cosmo Jarvis
* Ryan Hurst

## Production
### Development and casting

In October 2024, director Christopher Nolan was revealed to be developing his next film at Universal Pictures, after working with that studio on Oppenheimer (2023). Nolan was once again writing the script and producing the film with his wife Emma Thomas through their production company Syncopy. Matt Damon was in talks to star in the film, after collaborating with Nolan on Oppenheimer and Interstellar (2014), and filming was slated to begin in early 2025. Unlike Oppenheimer, which Universal acquired in an auction, this film was directly set up at the studio. The Hollywood Reporter debunked speculation that the film would adapt the British spy television series The Prisoner (1967–68), which Nolan previously considered in 2009. Damon was confirmed to star later that month when Tom Holland was cast. Previous Nolan collaborators Anne Hathaway—who starred in The Dark Knight Rises (2012) and Interstellar—and Robert Pattinson, who starred in Tenet (2020), joined the cast in undisclosed roles in November, alongside Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, and Charlize Theron.
In December 2024, Universal announced Nolan's new film as The Odyssey, an adaptation of Homer's the Odyssey, an Ancient Greek epic poem. The studio described the film as a "mythic action epic" that would be filmed across the world, and it was reported to have a $250 million budget, making it the most expensive film of Nolan's career. Further casting took place throughout early 2025, with prior Nolan collaborators Benny Safdie, Josh Stewart, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, and Bill Irwin joining alongside Samantha Morton, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Mia Goth, Corey Hawkins, Nick E. Tarabay, Jimmy Gonzales, Maurice Compte, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, Cosmo Jarvis, and Ryan Hurst. Skeet Ulrich said he unsuccessfully read for a role in the film in early February alongside two other actors. Damon was confirmed to be portraying Odysseus when a "surprise" first-look image of him in costume was released in mid-February, ahead of the start of filming later that month. This came after some rumors had circulated that Holland may be playing the role.

### Filming

Principal photography began on February 25, 2025, in Aït Benhaddou, Morocco. The film is being shot using new IMAX film technology, with Hoyte van Hoytema serving as cinematographer after working on several of Nolan's previous films. Later in March, the production is set to move to Sicily, Italy, for filming throughout the Aeolian Islands, particularly on the island Favignana, which is a location mentioned in the poem. Filming is expected to then take place in the Peloponnese region of Greece, with locations including the Methoni Castle, the Voidokilia beach in the region of Messenia, and at an archaeological palace site in Acrocorinth, Corinth. The production has partnered with Faliro House Productions's NAF subsidiary for filming in Greece. Filming is also expected to take place in the United Kingdom.

## Release

The Odyssey is scheduled to be theatrically released by Universal Pictures in the United States on July 17, 2026, in IMAX.