Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated next project is an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. It’s a centuries-old tale about an epic homecoming: following the decade-long Trojan War, Odysseus seeks to finally return home, only to be beset by gods, shipwrecks, monsters, and more.
Starring Matt Damon as the titular Odysseus, Nolan’s Odyssey movie is guaranteed to be a hit, much like his previous projects Oppenheimer, Interstellar, Dunkirk, and more.
Plus, it seems like every few days, another star is added to the cast list, including some regular Nolan collaborators. So far, we know of Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong’o, among others.
Only Damon’s character has been confirmed, leading to speculation about who will play which characters; after all, The Odyssey features a wide array of characters, including soldiers, goddesses, monsters, suitors, and more.
As we anticipate more news on the project, we’re looking ahead to 5 things we hope to see from this film:
1. Focus on Odysseus’ family
While Odysseus is away fighting the Trojan War, his loyal wife, Penelope, keeps his kingdom of Ithaca secure for her husband. However, when the war ends and Odysseus has yet to return, the suitors sweep in, trying to convince Penelope her husband is dead.
It’s up to her cunning and wiles to keep them at bay. Anne Hathaway would be a great choice to play Penelope in Nolan’s film, and we hope she doesn’t take a backseat to the action and intrigue. We also don’t want this to be just an action-packed and testosterone-filled film. Penelope has a wonderful story arc, and hopefully, Nolan will play into it.
Meanwhile, it’s likely that Tom Holland will portray Telemachus, Odysseus’ and Penelope’s son. Telemachus must confront growing up without a father to teach him what it means to be a man.
Surrounded by treacherous and lecherous suitors all vying for his mother’s hand in marriage, Telemachus never gives up hope that his father is alive and will do everything in his power to prove it and bring him home.
The familial drama will be just as exciting as Odysseus’s journey, and if Nolan would spend equal parts on both, it would make for a great and well-balanced film.
2. Practical Effects
It’s long been established that Nolan is a master of his craft. For a movie of this scope, headlines have already been made that not only will he shoot on location in and around the Mediterranean, among other locales, but he will strive for practical effects as opposed to CGI.
This has led to jokes and memes online, including those about recruiting a real-life Scylla and Charybdis—the whirlpool and rock monster that torment Odysseus and his men. Jokes aside, we hope Nolan gets creative and harkens back to Old Hollywood tips and tricks to achieve these effects.
We can’t wait to see how Nolan achieves the cyclops, sirens, and more of the iconic characters from this epic poem with little or no CGI, instead opting for practical and realistic effects.
Additionally, realistic locations are just as important. Odysseus is king of Ithaca, an island off the coast of mainland Greece. It’s small, rocky, and primitive compared to the dazzling mythical city of Troy. On his journey home, Odysseus also encounters the homes of goddesses and even enters the Underworld.
Going along with no CGI, we hope Nolan creatively brings all these locations to life, opting out of studio sets when possible.
3. Emotional Depth
Christopher Nolan is known for delivering heart-wrenching and heart-pounding films. The Odyssey contains plenty of opportunity for both. With the undoubtedly great cast of characters, stunning performances are sure to come about in the film; performers in Nolan’s films have garnered many awards, including Oscars.
Just look at the material they have to work with. The Odyssey has been re-told and read by millions for centuries. It’s a story we can’t get enough of, and part of that is because of all the wonderful dramatis personae. Rest assured, this director will get his actors to deliver some truly exceptional performances.
We’re getting chills alone just imagining the emotional reunion between Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus has also just experienced a decade of war, and with all he encounters on his journey home, we are curious to see how Damon will show this character’s emotional and physical scars.
4. Historical Accuracy
When Matt Damon’s preliminary photo as Odysseus was released, it received equal amounts of fanfare and scorn. His costume, while technically not inaccurate, felt bland.
Ancient art from the time period of the Trojan War depicts colorful and intriguing armor for Grecian soldiers. Let’s hope Nolan and co. catch wind of the discourse online and create fun but accurate costumes for each character.
Especially if—as rumors suggest—Nolan opens the film with or includes flashbacks to the city of Troy and the Trojan War. We hope he captures the awe of the ancient world through a deeper understanding and appreciation of its color, armor, and peoples.
We are excited to see the ancient world on the big screen again, as it has been quite some time since an epic or blockbuster of these proportions was released.
5. A New Take
In the publishing industry, myth retellings have taken off like wildfire. It’s hard to say how much of that craze has translated or reached outside of the literary world, but one thing is for sure: it can be fun for authors, or in this case directors, to retell these old tales in their own way.
Some deviations from the original story would be welcome. Myths were often fluid centuries ago and were born of oral tradition. It’s debatable how much of The Odyssey as we know it can even be attributed to Homer, or if he gathered multiple stories and put them down on paper for the first time in his epic poem.
We wouldn’t be mad if Nolan put his own spin on things. Nolan is a visionary, and maybe he has his own ideas for characters or how events in The Odyssey should play out.
If so, he would be part of a centuries-old tradition. Audiences have trusted him with the story of Robert Oppenheimer and even the iconic Batman; we should trust what he has in store for Odysseus, too.
Are you looking forward to watching this adaptation of The Odyssey? What are your hopes for the film? Let us know in the comments below!
The Odyssey is set to release in theaters July 17, 2026.
Amanda Larch Hinchman
Amanda Larch works as a writer and editor when she’s not in the middle of a good book. Learn more about her work and view her portfolio at www.amandalarchwriter.com/ and keep up with her on Goodreads @_groovyginger_.
