Cover Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has all the ingredients to be the ‘Next Big Thing’
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ has all the ingredients to be the ‘Next Big Thing’
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With a stellar cast of Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland and Zendaya, as well as new Imax technology to boot, Christopher Nolan has left no stones unturned to make Homer’s epic Odyssey a cinematic masterpiece
Two years after creating a buzz with Oscar-winning film Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan has moved on to yet another magnum opus—and it’s literally epic in scale. This time he is making a movie based on the Odyssey, one of the two ancient Greek epic poems written by Homer in 8th century BC.
Nolan’s movie, titled The Odyssey, depicts the same tale where Homer’s hero, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, has to embark on a dangerous journey back home to his wife Penelope after the Trojan War. In Homer’s poem, Odysseus fights Cyclops, overcomes Circe’s magic and encounters countless perils on his ten-year voyage back to his kingdom. In Nolan’s rendition, given the director’s proven talent, this will no doubt translate to countless spectacular cinematic moments and emotional performances. To find out more on what to expect from The Odyssey, read on.
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‘The Odyssey’ cast
Above Matt Damon makes his debut as the title character Odysseus (Photo: Universal Pictures)
Above This is the first time that Matt Damon plays the leading male role in a film directed by Nolan (Photo: Getty Images)
Matt Damon makes his debut as the title character Odysseus (Photo: Universal Pictures)
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There are only a few directors who can amass a casting coup of Hollywood’s biggest names, and Nolan happens to be one of them. The Odyssey’s cast is a veritable who’s who list of A-listers: Odysseus will be played by Matt Damon, who will be joined by Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattison, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page and Benny Safdie. There has been some media speculation about Tom Holland and Zendaya joining the cast too. With such a strong acting department, we won’t be surprised if film sweeps all the major awards once it’s released.
Newly developed Imax technology for ‘The Odyssey’
Above Anne Hathaway is set to star in “The Odyssey” (Photo: Getty Images)
Above Tom Holland and Zendaya will reportedly work together again in “The Odyssey” (Photo: Getty Images)
Anne Hathaway is set to star in “The Odyssey” (Photo: Getty Images)
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Nolan has always pushed the boundaries of filmmaking technology with his projects. For instance, Oppenheimer was shot using Imax 65mm and 65mm large-format film photography.
This time, Nolan has decided to use a newly developed Imax technology. Imax CEO Richard Gelfond said in an investor conference earlier this year that this equipment was only developed last year and hasn’t been used in films before. It’s bound to bring a brand new visual experience to the audience. We’re excited!
‘The Odyssey’ release date
Above Christopher Nolan attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in California in 2025 (Photo by JB Lacroix/FilmMagic)
Christopher Nolan attends the 77th Annual Directors Guild of America Awards in California in 2025 (Photo by JB Lacroix/FilmMagic)
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The Odyssey is expected to be released in theatres in the US on July 17, 2026. It is worth mentioning that in the past, the director has preferred to release movies in the third week of July, such as Insidious (premiered in the United States on July 16, 2010) and Oppenheimer (July 20, 2023).
Filming locations of ‘The Odyssey’
Above The natural wonders of Favignana Island (Photo: Getty Images)
The natural wonders of Favignana Island (Photo: Getty Images)
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In Homer’s epic, Odysseus’ journey took him to many mythical lands, the exact locations of which have been heavily debated, but the consensus reached by historians is that these locations would be somewhat equivalent to modern-day places such as Greece, Italy, Tunisia, the Maltese archipelago and the Iberian peninsula.
Nolan’s film will roughly stick to this geographical landscape, with the shoot starting this month in the Aeolian Islands near Sicily and Favignana. In addition, the film is also likely to be shot in many locations in the UK and Morocco.
The cultural significance of ‘The Odyssey’
Above “Odysseus and Polyphemus”, 1896, by Swiss Symbolist painter Arnold Böcklin (Photo: Wikipedia)
“Odysseus and Polyphemus”, 1896, by Swiss Symbolist painter Arnold Böcklin (Photo: Wikipedia)
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The Odyssey is easily one of the most canonical works of Western literature. As such, its scenes, interpretations, philosophy and iconic moments have all been depicted and reimagined in countless pieces of art, from paintings and sculptures to literature and TV. The characters and subplots, such as the temptation of the Sirens and the confrontation with the Cyclops, have not only become embedded in culture, it has shaped it profoundly. Even less-glorified figures from the epic, like Circe, have inspired popular adaptations, including Madeline Miller’s acclaimed novel Circe (2018).
Seen in this light, bringing the scale and magnitude of the Odyssey to the big screen is no small undertaking—and if we know anything about Nolan, he’s the man for the job.
Suchetana Mukhopadhyay is the Digital Content Manager for Tatler Hong Kong. In this role, she leads all digital editorial and branded content on Tatler Hong Kong’s website, from brainstorming story ideas with the writers to editing and publishing the articles, and from managing the overall content flow to driving search engine optimisation. She also leads the beauty content at Tatler Hong Kong and across the region, and is always looking to champion diversity through her articles. She was previously with Cedar Hong Kong and Gafencu, and freelanced for the South China Morning Post, Campaign Asia-Pacific, CNN and more. Contact her here.
