After dominating awards season with Oppenheimer, Christopher Nolan is turning to one of the oldest stories ever written. His next feature, The Odyssey, adapts the epic poem attributed to Homer, bringing the nearly 3,000-year-old tale to IMAX screens worldwide in what Universal calls a “mythic action epic.”

With a confirmed release date, a massive ensemble cast, and groundbreaking IMAX technology, here’s everything we know so far.

When will The Odyssey hit theaters?

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is officially scheduled to arrive in theaters on July 17, 2026.

The film will receive a full theatrical rollout backed by Universal Pictures, with a strong emphasis on IMAX screenings. Nolan has consistently championed the theatrical experience, and this release strategy aligns with his long-standing preference for premium large-format exhibition.

The July window also mirrors the filmmaker’s history of summer launches for major projects, positioning The Odyssey as one of 2026’s defining blockbuster releases.

What is The Odyssey about?

Christopher Nolan’s next film adapts one of the oldest surviving works of Western literature: the epic poem traditionally attributed to Homer, composed around the 8th century BCE. Described by Universal Pictures as a “mythic action epic” shot across the world using brand-new IMAX film technology, the project brings the ancient saga to large-format screens in what marks the first full-scale IMAX treatment of the story.

At its core, The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, in the aftermath of the Trojan War. What should be a relatively brief voyage home transforms into a decade-long struggle across hostile waters. Odysseus and his crew are repeatedly pushed to the brink as they confront legendary threats, including Polyphemus the Cyclops, the seductive and deadly Sirens, the nymph Calypso, and the sorceress Circe.

Back in Ithaca, Odysseus is presumed dead. His wife, Penelope, faces mounting pressure from suitors who have taken over the palace and seek to claim the throne. In one of the epic’s most enduring symbols of loyalty and resistance, Penelope delays remarriage by weaving during the day and secretly unraveling her work each night. Meanwhile, their son Telemachus grows up in uncertainty, caught between hope and the possibility that his father may never return.

Who is in the cast?

• Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the king of Ithaca and the epic’s central hero. This marks his latest collaboration with Christopher Nolan following Interstellar and Oppenheimer.
• Tom Holland portrays Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, who seeks answers about his father’s long disappearance. The film marks his first time working with Nolan.
• Anne Hathaway takes on the role of Penelope, Odysseus’ loyal and resilient wife. She previously collaborated with Nolan on The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar.
• Zendaya plays Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war who guides and protects Odysseus.
• Jon Bernthal appears as Menelaus, the king of Sparta, who reflects on Odysseus’ fate following the Trojan War.
• Charlize Theron portrays Circe, the powerful enchantress of Aeaea who crosses paths with Odysseus and his crew.
• Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, one of Penelope’s most prominent suitors during Odysseus’ absence. He previously worked with Nolan on Tenet.
• Benny Safdie takes on the role of Agamemnon, king of Mycenae and leader of the Greek forces during the Trojan War.
• Himesh Patel portrays Eurylochus, Odysseus’ second-in-command. He previously appeared in Tenet.
• Mia Goth plays Melantho, a maidservant in Odysseus’ household whose loyalties are divided.
• John Leguizamo appears as Eumaeus, Odysseus’ loyal swineherd and childhood companion.
• Lupita Nyong’o and Elliot Page have undisclosed roles.
• Travis Scott is also part of the cast, with his character teased in promotional footage but not yet officially identified.

Is there a trailer for The Odyssey?

Yes — and it confirms that Nolan is not shying away from scale.

A teaser first debuted exclusively in theaters, followed by an official trailer release from Universal Pictures in December 2025.

The trailer balances mythological spectacle with intimate character beats, including a closing exchange in which Penelope asks Odysseus to promise he will return — and he questions whether he can.