The Trailer For Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey Is Out

8 Comments | Anne Hathaway, christopher nolan, matt damon, the odyssey, Tom Holland, Universal Pictures | By Peter Paltridge | May 5, 2026 | 2 minutes of reading

Famed director Christopher Nolan has been filming his own version of Homer’s epic The Odyssey and has been doing it mostly in secret. A screenshot of a sword here, a snort clip of a Trojan Horse there, but not much else — until today. Today he couldn’t hold back the trailer any longer. What does he think he’s hiding? What plot points are so precious? We went to middle school; we know this stuff.

King Odysseus has just won the Trojan War. All that’s left, it seems, is a victory lap home to his kingdom of Ithaca and his loving wife and son…but when he kills a cyclops along the way that Poseidon considered a buddy, the sea king vows vengeance on him.

CAN Odysseus make it home with the wrath of the gods bearing down on him and his crew? CAN his family hold down the fort and hold off usurpers to make sure Odysseus has a home to return to? You know this story, and you know the answer. If you want to talk about something that’s “stood the test of time” here’s Exhibit A; it’s over a millennium old and people still want to hear it again.

Matt Damon plays Odysseus in all his screaming, muscle-bound, sandal-toed glory. Anne Hathaway portrays Queen Penelope centuries before Prada was invented. Tom Holland whips it up as Tenemachus. The CEO of Gamestop plays the cyclops. Zendaya is Meechee.

Other cast members include Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, and John Leguizamo. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey opens in theaters July 17.

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Active Member

1,115 messages 20 likes

#1 May 05, 2026

I'm really excited about Nolan's take on The Odyssey! His knack for intricate storytelling and visual flair should make for an epic adaptation. Just thinking about how he might portray the journey of Odysseus and all the mythical creatures along the way gets me pumped. I can already imagine the intense action sequences and mind-bending twists he often brings to his films.

Do you think he'll lean more into the psychological elements or the grand spectacle? I'm curious about how he'll handle the character dynamics, especially with Penelope and Telemachus.

KISS OF DEATH

282 messages 20 likes

#2 May 06, 2026

I actually like that Christopher Nolan kept most of this movie secret because now the trailer feels bigger when you finally see it. Most studios release half the movie before opening day, so this feels different. Matt Damon surprised me the most. I did not expect him to look this intense as Odysseus. He really looks tired, angry, and stressed in the trailer, which fits the character. I also think Tom Holland as Telemachus is a smart choice because he can play emotional scenes well without forcing it too much.

The funny part for me was the line about everyone already knowing the story. It is true. The Odyssey is one of those stories people keep remaking because the idea still works today. A guy trying to get home while everything goes wrong is simple but effective. Nolan also seems to be making it feel huge without turning it into a superhero movie. That alone already makes me interested.

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Member

397 messages 21 likes

#3 May 06, 2026

Lately I have noticed a lot of the hate toward this movie is coming from right-wing accounts mainly because of Lupita Nyong’o being cast as Helen of Troy. Some of them keep repeating that Helen is supposed to be blonde and pale like there is only one acceptable version of beauty. Honestly that argument feels weak to me because Lupita is clearly a stunning woman with huge screen presence. The role of Helen is about being unforgettable enough to start obsession and conflict, and she absolutely has that quality.

Also feels selective when people suddenly care this much about “accuracy” in mythology movies. These films always change details depending on the director’s vision. Nobody complains when British or American actors play ancient Greeks with modern accents, but suddenly casting a Black actress becomes the line that ruins immersion. That is why some of the backlash feels less about mythology and more about discomfort with seeing a different type of beauty centered in a big Hollywood movie.

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AMAWEMEN Hear me roar!

653 messages 39 likes

#4 May 06, 2026

Never understood why some people suddenly demand historical accuracy only when casting becomes controversial. These same movies usually have modern dialogue styles, modern acting, and actors from different countries playing Greeks anyway. Feels selective.

Tower Climber

119 messages 5 likes

#5 May 06, 2026

Not surprised people got mad because Hollywood keeps changing famous characters lately, but this controversy feels smaller than people are making it. Christopher Nolan is not exactly known for random casting decisions. If he picked Lupita, there is probably a reason beyond just wanting attention. Personally more interested in whether she can bring that powerful presence Helen needs.

New Member

598 messages 32 likes

#6 May 06, 2026

Matt Damon honestly looks better for this role than I expected. There is something believable about him looking exhausted and angry the whole time. The trailer also feels massive without looking fake or overloaded with CGI. That already makes it stand out from a lot of fantasy movies now. Curious to see how Nolan handles the gods because that part can easily become goofy if done wrong.

Froggy Afternoon

640 messages 16 likes

#7 May 06, 2026

Most famous movies are based on books, history, comics, or old myths anyway. Execution matters more than surprise.

Personally, I am excited because we do not get enough serious mythological movies anymore. Everything now is either superhero content or fantasy comedy. Sometimes I just want a straight adventure story with danger, tragedy, and drama. The Odyssey has all of that already built into it.

I also respect that Nolan seems committed to scale. The ships and battle scenes looked huge from the trailer clips. That matters for a story like this because Odysseus is supposed to feel small compared to nature and the gods. If everything looks tiny or fake, the story loses pow

New Member

69 messages 2 likes

#8 May 06, 2026

I laughed at the “victory lap home” line because that is basically the whole story. Odysseus really thought he was just going home after the war and then his life turned into a disaster for years. Greek mythology is honestly full of people making one bad decision and suffering forever because of it.

Christopher Nolan directing this makes sense because he likes characters dealing with guilt, obsession, and time. Odysseus fits all of those themes. I can already imagine the movie being loud and stressful for three hours straight. That sounds exhausting but also fun in theaters.

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