Universal has revealed the first look of The Odyssey with Matt Damon in the lead role in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s work.
The Odyssey is the third collaboration between Christopher Nolan and Matt Damon. The actor, who was also in The Departed, has previously starred in Oppenheimer and Interstellar. Next year, audiences will be able to see first-hand why Christopher Nolan chose Matt Damon for this role when the film releases in theaters.
1. Matt Damon in The Odyssey Movie First Look
In the side-view image, Damon, who worked with Nolan on Oppenheimer, can be seen wearing a royal army costume. A post on X showing the photo also confirmed that the film will be released on July 17, 2026.
This first look confirms that Matt Damon will play the main character in The Odyssey, as well as dismissing speculation that Tom Holland will be Odysseus.
Holland is set to play Telemachus, the son of Odysseus who plays a significant role in Homer’s tale. In the story, Telemachus travels in search of his father who was lost on his way home after the Trojan War.
2. Third Big Screen Adaptation
In December, Universal Pictures announced that The Odyssey, a mythological action epic, would be filmed in various locations around the world using the latest IMAX technology.
Before being handled by Nolan, Homer’s classic work entitled The Odyssey had been adapted into a movie several times. The first adaptation was a silent film released in 1911 by Giuseppe de Liguoro, followed by Ulysses which aired in 1954 with Kirk Douglas as the main star.
After the success of Oppenheimer’s film, both fans and the movie industry are eagerly awaiting the latest work from Christopher Nolan. The renowned director has finally chosen this project as his return to the world of cinema.
Principal photography is planned to take place this year, and the film will hit theaters on July 17, 2026. The mid-summer season has proven to be a favorable time to release a number of Nolan’s previous films, such as The Dark Knight Rises and Inception.
3. What is The Odyssey about?
The Odyssey is an epic work from Ancient Greece by Homer. It is recognized as one of the oldest literary texts still read today.
The story follows the adventures of a hero named Odysseus, who is also the king of Ithaca. In this story, Odysseus is on his way home after being involved in the Trojan War that lasted for ten years.
Odysseus’ journey home from Troy to Ithaca took ten years, crossing Africa and southern Europe. During the journey, he and his army faced many dangers that led to the death of his entire team. Besides Odysseus, there are also some other important characters in this story, such as Telemachus, Penelope, Athena, Circe, Calypso, and Poseidon.
Those characters will probably be played by a number of actors officially involved in The Odyssey project, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. In addition, the movie will also feature Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, and Mia Goth.
