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The Odyssey is an action fantasy epic movie in development, and is written, directed, and co-produced by Christopher Nolan. Based on the ancient Greek epic poem The Odyssey by Homer, the film features Matt Damon as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca.
The movie follows Odysseus' dangerous and lengthy homecoming journey after the Trojan War as he seeks to reunite with his wife Penelope. The film stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal in prominent roles.
The film documents a series of confrontations by the Greek king with legendary creatures such as the one-eyed Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the sorceress-deities Circe and Calypso. The Odyssey teaser was released on July 1, 2025, and offers a brief yet powerful look at Nolan's take on Homer’s classic.
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Odysseus stands alone, and 4 other reveals from Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey teaser
1) Zeus' law hints at a mythic take
One of the questions hanging over The Odyssey is how much director Nolan will explore the supernatural details of the original mythology. Other versions of Homer's epics (such as Brad Pitt's Troy) opted for a more terrestrial take.
Although no overt gods appear on-screen in The Odyssey teaser, the quoting of Zeus' law at the beginning suggests the Greek Pantheon is in operation in the movie. Most of the dialogue appears to be said by a servant of a ruined kingdom, such as Troy, or a disintegrating one, such as Ithica.
It is due to the toil of Poseidon and Helios that it takes ages for the king to reach home. Meanwhile, Athena and Zeus' intervention offers some meaningful assistance. The explicit mention of divine code can point towards an enormous element of The Odyssey.
2) Odysseus stands alone: A glimpse of his final journey
The final frame of The Odyssey trailer shows a gaunt, fatigued Odysseus standing alone on the wreckage of a ship amid a raging sea. There are a couple of frames that most likely occur after Odysseus and the remaining men wash ashore on the island of Thrinacia.
Odysseus in The Odyssey was absent from Ithaca for two decades. The first 10 years, he fought the Trojan War, and the next decade was spent sailing because of Poseidon's curse.
Despite the warning from Circe and Odysseus's command, the remaining men pursue the cattle of Helios. Enraged, Helios causes Zeus to destroy a ship on which all of the men die. Odysseus alone survives.
3) The women who held Odysseus captive
Through the narrative of Odysseus to Telemachus, Bernthal's enigmatic figure tells stories of the king's captivity. This is most probably referring to either the island of Circe or Calypso, both magic enchantress women who take Odysseus captive.
In The Odyssey, Odysseus and his men stay on Circe's island for a year after he impresses the sorceress and wins her favor. Odysseus remains with Calypso for seven years.
Odysseus's personality of staying on such islands as the captive lover of two enchanted beings would account for Bernthal's mock tone when retelling the character of the king in captivity.
Though the Calypso casting remains a mystery (with Zendaya, Mia Goth, or Anne Hathaway potentially appearing as any one of them), Charlize Theron is confirmed to play Circe in the movie. That should give Theron some good time to co-exist with Matt Damon's Odysseus.
4) Cyclops encounter hinted
One of the scenes in the teaser shows the king leading a group into a massive cave. That would probably be the movie's take on Polyphemus' cave. Polyphemus is Poseidon's son, a fatal cyclops, and he slays and eats a few of Odysseus' men before being tricked and blinded by Odysseus.
Polyphemus is only a minor nuisance in the larger picture. However, it is the blinding of the cyclops by Odysseus that infuriates Poseidon, and he makes it difficult for the king and his men to return home for another ten years. If Nolan's
The Odyssey follows the mythical elements of the original tale, visiting the Cave of Polyphemus could be a key part of the storyline.
5) Who is Jon Bernthal playing?
The teaser is propelled through a dialogue between Telemachus and Jon Bernthal's character. Bernthal’s exchange with Telemachus hints that he could be portraying one of four possible characters, likely Antinous or Eurymachus, two key Suitors vying for Penelope’s hand during Odysseus’s absence.
Perhaps Bernthal might be portraying a more heroic coded role. Bernthal's monologue to Telemachus would be the on-screen equivalent of King Nestor sparring on advice or Menelaus speaking tales of Troy.
Both were close to Odysseus and adopted his persona as their own, catalyzing a greater intensity in Holland's portrayal of Telemachus. Bernthal’s character is seen sitting next to a woman who seems to be Lupita Nyong’o. If he is cast as Menelaus, she may be playing his wife, Helen of Troy.
Alternatively, if he plays one of the Suitors, Lupita might be cast as Penelope. It is suggested that Anne Hathaway might be the popular contender for the part of the queen,
The Odyssey is slated for a theatrical release on July 17, 2026.
