Matt Damon is stepping into the role of Odysseus for Christopher Nolan’s next epic. The first official image from The Odyssey has dropped, showing Damon clad in ancient Greek armour as the legendary King of Ithaca.
The reveal has confirmed Damon’s casting in the lead role, with the film’s official X account putting it simply: “Matt Damon is Odysseus. A film by Christopher Nolan, #TheOdysseyMovie is in theatres July 17, 2026.”
Nolan Takes on One of the Oldest Adventure Stories
Rumours about what the filmmaker’s next film would be had been circulating for months before confirmation arrived in December that Nolan would be bringing The Odyssey to life. The epic poem, attributed to an Ancient Greek poet named Homer, dates back to the 8th or 7th century BC and remains one of the most influential stories in Western literature.
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The narrative follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he struggles to return home after the Trojan War. A journey that should have been straightforward, Odysseus’ trek drags on for a decade. Along the way, he battles a vengeful sea god, survives shipwrecks, and outwits mythical beings, including the Cyclops Polyphemus and the deadly Sirens. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his wife, Penelope, fights to keep her home intact as suitors grow bolder, convinced her husband is never coming back.
An Impressive Cast
Nolan has gathered up quite the ensemble, including (deep breath now) Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, Charlize Theron, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Bill Irwin, Lupita Nyong’o, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, and Will Yun Lee. Several of them—Pattinson, Hathaway, Page, and Safdie—have worked with Nolan before, continuing his trend of bringing back past collaborators.
As of now, Damon, who played Gen. Leslie Groves in Nolan’s Oppenheimer, is the only cast member with a confirmed role.
Production and Release Plans
Nolan follows up a huge hit with J. Robert Oppenheimer drama Oppenheimer, which topped $US975 million worldwide. The film also dominated last year’s awards season, earning seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Nolan’s first as director. As expected, he’s once again leaning into large-scale filmmaking, with Universal describing The Odyssey as a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand-new IMAX film technology.”
Filming is set to begin this spring, and Sicily has been confirmed as one of the shooting locations—a fitting choice given its historical ties to Odysseus’ legendary journey.
We’re trying to keep expectations in check – but it’s Nolan tackling The Odyssey with one hell of a cast! The Odyssey is scheduled to open in Australian cinemas on July 16th and U.S. cinemas on July 17th, 2026.
