Christopher Nolan has found his Odysseus.
Matt Damon has been cast as the legendary Greek hero in The Odyssey, Nolan’s highly anticipated epic. He will lead an ensemble cast featuring Tom Holland, Mia Goth, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo.
Based on Homer’s ancient epic, The Odyssey follows Odysseus’ perilous journey home after the Trojan War. First recorded over 2,000 years ago, the tale remains one of the most enduring and influential works of literature.
Universal, Nolan’s longtime studio partner and the film’s distributor, has described The Odyssey as a “mythic action epic” that will be filmed across multiple locations using cutting-edge IMAX technology. This will mark the first time Homer’s legendary tale is brought to IMAX screens.
Nolan wrote the screenplay and will direct and produce the film, with his longtime collaborator and wife, Emma Thomas, producing under their Syncopy banner.
In January, Variety exclusively reported that parts of The Odyssey will be filmed in Sicily, particularly on the Island of Favignana—known as “goat island”—which some scholars believe could have inspired Homer’s vision of Odysseus’ travels. Filming is set to begin this spring.
This marks Damon’s third collaboration with Nolan. He previously played Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer, which won seven Academy Awards, and had a supporting role in Interstellar.
The Odyssey is set to hit theaters on July 17, 2026.
SOURCE: Variety
