The official trailer for The Odyssey has been released, offering the first full look at Christopher Nolan’s next feature film ahead of its theatrical debut on July 17, 2026. Positioned as a large-scale mythic action epic, the film marks Nolan’s follow-up to Oppenheimer and represents his first direct adaptation of a foundational literary work. Universal Pictures will distribute the film worldwide, with Syncopy handling production duties.
The Odyssey brings Homer’s ancient Greek saga to the big screen using newly developed IMAX film technology. According to the announcement, the project was shot across multiple locations around the world and is the first time the epic poem has been brought to IMAX film screens in this format. Nolan and his team employed a new, lighter generation of IMAX 70mm cameras, allowing for extensive on-location shooting while maintaining the large format presentation the director is known for. The film is scheduled to open in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.
Matt Damon leads the cast as Odysseus, whose journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War forms the core of the narrative. The story follows his decade-long struggle against both mortal and divine obstacles, including encounters with the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the witch goddess Circe, portrayed by Charlize Theron. Tom Holland stars as Telemachus, while Anne Hathaway appears as Penelope. The ensemble also includes Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jon Bernthal, rounding out one of Nolan’s most expansive casts to date.
The production scale of The Odyssey is substantial. The film carries a reported budget of 250 million dollars and was shot almost entirely on film, with Nolan reportedly capturing nearly 400 miles of footage. Production also involved extended time at sea, with months spent filming on open water to achieve a grounded and physical depiction of ancient seafaring. It is, by all indications, a deliberately demanding shoot, both for the cast and the crew.
The Odyssey is produced by Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan under their Syncopy banner, with Thomas Hayslip serving as executive producer.
