Yahoo Movies What we know about Christopher Nolan's new film The Odyssey
The Oscar-winning filmmaker has found his next project
Christopher Nolan has lined up his next film after his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, with Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Tom Holland set to star in a big-screen adaption of Homer's The Odyssey.
Holland's real-life partner Zendaya has also recently joined the cast, alongside Matt Damon, Lupita Nyong'o and Anne Hathaway.
After years at Warner Bros., Nolan is working with Universal Pictures once again after their successful Best Picture-winning collaboration. The studio said the new film, which is due to be released in July 2026, will be a "mythic action epic shot across the world".
But what else can fans expect from The Odyssey? Here is everything we know so far.
What is The Odyssey about?
The Odyssey is a Greek epic poem widely attributed to Homer. Divided into 24 books and composed in the 8th or 7th century BC, it follows the hero Odysseus, king of Ithaca, on his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War.
Who is starring in The Odyssey?
The cast list for The Odyssey includes Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron and Anne Hathaway. It is not yet clear who the actors will play.
Damon previously worked with Nolan on Oppenheimer and Interstellar, while Hathaway appeared in both Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises. Pattinson starred in the director's 2020 film Tenet.
Holland spoke about being cast in the film on Good Morning America sharing that it was the opportunity of 'a lifetime'. When asked if he'd accept an offer from Nolan without seeing a script, he said: "100% without a shadow of a doubt.
"When the opportunity came in, it was the phone call of a lifetime. It was reminiscent of getting the call about Spider-Man 10 years ago. It’s an amazing thing for me. I’m super proud and I’m really, really excited."
The actor will be joined in the project by his real-life partner Zendaya, which marks their first non-Spider-Man movie together. The pair have filmed three Marvel movies together as Peter Parker and MJ.
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When is The Odyssey being released?
The Odyssey is expected to be released in IMAX on 17 July, 2026. Given Nolan’s deal with Universal Pictures in the wake of his falling out with Warner Bros. we know that the director’s new film will be released exclusively in cinemas.
As part of his new deal, The Odyssey will be released with no new Universal releases in the three weeks either side of the director's film.
Is there a trailer for The Odyssey?
No, there is currently no trailer for The Odyssey because filming hasn't yet started. Once production has finished there will be a number of teasers and trailers unveiled.
Does The Odyssey rule Christopher Nolan out as director of Bond 26?
Nolan is the director that fans of James Bond have most been hoping will take on the challenge of directing a 007 movie, and he has previously expressed an interest in doing so.
In 2012, Nolan said: "It would have to be the right situation and the right time in their cycle of things."
Then, talking in 2017, he cited Bond as one of his moviemaking white whales: "I’ve spoken to the producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson over the years. I deeply love the character, and I’m always excited to see what they do with it. Maybe one day that would work out. You’d have to be needed, if you know what I mean. It has to need reinvention; it has to need you. And they’re getting along very well.”
In November 2023 the director said that he was not going to be working with the franchise, telling AP: “No, sadly no — no truth to those rumours.” He then doubled down on this denial in 2024 at the Golden Globes
News of a new James Bond film is expected to be imminent, with actors constantly being rumoured to be in line to portray the spy, so it seems that Nolan's new movie could clash with a potential 007 production. This means that Nolan is likely not to be directing the next movie for the espionage franchise.
The Odyssey will released on 17 July, 2026
