CinemaChristopher Nolan adapts the epic ‘The Odyssey’ for the cinema with release in 2026Film will feature a star cast, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway and Zendaya, scheduled for release in July 2026By Editorial Staff

Christopher NolanOscar-winning director for Oppenheimerwill work on his next project, an adaptation of The Odysseythe Greek epic written by Homer. Universal Pictures has confirmed that the film will premiere on July 17, 2026. Described as a “mythical action epic”, the film will be filmed using new IMAX camera technology.

Christopher Nolan’s next film ‘The Odyssey’ is a mythical action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.

— Universal Pictures (@UniversalPics) December 23, 2024

Homer’s epic poem, considered a landmark in Western literature, narrates the journey of Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his “tumultuous journey home after the Trojan War. Along the way, he faces monsters, challenges imposed by the gods and the hope of reuniting with his family. The work explores themes such as heroism, loyalty and the fight against divine will.”

Nolan will direct, write and produce the film alongside Emma Thomasunder the Syncopy banner. According to Universal Pictures, filming will begin in the first half of 2025.

The director comes from a sequence of successful productions. Oppenheimer (2023) grossed more than US$960 million globally, becoming his third biggest box office success behind The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises.

Cast and main roles

The film’s cast includes big Hollywood names, with Matt Damon leading the core of protagonists alongside Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson and Anne Hathaway. Zendaya and Lupita Nyong’o will have supporting roles, complementing the main group. Furthermore, Charlize Theron is also confirmed in the cast, although her role has not yet been revealed.

Previously, the actor Tom Holland revealed in a podcast interview The Dish who accepted the role without knowing many details about the plot. According to him, Nolan presented the project in a vague way, but the director’s involvement was enough to guarantee his interest. “I’m super excited, but everything has been kept under wraps.”Holland said.

The Odyssey It has already been adapted for cinema and television on several occasions:

• In 1911Giuseppe de Liguoro’s silent film was the first film adaptation of the poem.

• In 1954Kirk Douglas starred in the feature film Ulyssesa direct adaptation of the epic.

• In 2000, O Brother, Where Art Thou? reimagined the story with a comedic and satirical approach.

• The Return (2024), with Ralph Fiennes, drew on the final sections of the poem for its narrative.