The Odyssey is on the way next year, and it's shaping up to be one of director Christopher Nolan's most epic movies. Hot on the heels of his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, the movie is an adaptation of Homer's epic poem of the same name.
Below, we've got everything you need to know about the next Nolan movie, from the release date to the complete cast, as well as the lowdown on the first teaser for the film. This is one of our most anticipated upcoming movies, so it's well worth getting up to date.
So, for all that and more, head down to our ultimate guide below. For even more on this year's releases, check out our roundup of the most exciting upcoming TV shows.
The Odyssey release date
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has a set release date of July 17, 2026 – so get it in your diaries if you haven't already!
Because this is Nolan we are talking about, it will arrive exclusively in theaters worldwide during the summer blockbuster season. The best way to watch it is at an IMAX screen, especially since new IMAX technology was developed just for this movie.
The Odyssey cast
If you thought Nolan's previous film Oppenheimer featured a stacked cast, it turns out you have seen nothing yet.
The Odyssey sees an all-star cast come together to bring this epic story to the big screen, with many of Nolan's former collaborators returning including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, and Elliot Page. They will be joined by Hollywood A-listers including Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron.
Right now it is unclear which characters each cast member will be portraying aside from one – Damon will take on the lead role of Odysseus, the legendary Greek king whose journey we follow. This was confirmed via a first look image which showed Damon in costume looking ready for battle.
You can see the confirmed The Odyssey cast so far below:
- Matt Damon – Odysseus
- Tom Holland
- Anne Hathaway
- Zendaya
- Lupita Nyong'o
- Robert Pattinson
- Charlize Theron
- Jon Bernthal
- Benny Safdie
- John Leguizamo
- Elliot Page
- Himesh Patel
- Bill Irwin
- Samantha Morton
- Mia Goth
- Corey Hawkins
- Cosmo Jarvis
- Ryan Hurst
The Odyssey plot
If you haven't already guessed it from the title alone, The Odyssey will be based on Homer's epic ancient Greek poem of the same name.
One of the oldest surviving literary works having been written around the 8th or 7th century BC, The Odyssey tells the story of Greek hero Odysseus over the course of 24 books. It follows the king of an island known as Ithaca as he journeys home from Troy, following the decade-long Trojan War.
That homecoming journey also takes another 10 years, as Odysseus encounters many threats including several monsters after enraging the god Poseidon by blinding one of his Cyclops sons. Whilst Odysseus is absent during this journey, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus presume he is dead, leaving them to contend with several unruly suitors who are competing to be the former's new husband.
Over the years The Odyssey has been retold countless times so it will be interesting to see how Nolan interprets the classic story. However, one thing is for sure – it is set to be the director's most epic feature yet.
Jim Orr, Universal Pictures' distribution chief, said at CinemaCon in early April 2025 that the film will be "a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of".
Is there a The Odyssey trailer?
Yes, an Odyssey trailer does exist. However, the only way to see it is to go and watch Jurassic World Rebirth in theaters. Currently, the trailer has not been released online. But, it did leak.
Though it hasn't been released yet, we do know what happens in it, too. In the trailer, we see Tom Holland's Telemachus, as well as Jon Bernthal, who appears to be playing Agamemnon. The final image is Matt Damon's Odysseus, lost at sea and drifting on a piece of wood.
Along with the trailer, there's also a new poster to feast your eyes upon, too.
As we eagerly await Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, check out our guide to all the other movie release dates you need to add to your calendar.
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