Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey gets its first trailer, revealing an epic, $250 million IMAX retelling of Homer’s classic. Matt Damon’s Odysseus battles monsters, storms and inner turmoil as he fights to return to Ithaca, where Anne Hathaway’s Penelope and Tom Holland’s Telemachus face pressure from Robert Pattinson’s Antinous and rival suitors vying for the throne.
The first trailer for The Odyssey has been released, offering a detailed look at Christopher Nolan’s ambitious retelling of The Odyssey. Backed by Universal Pictures, the film is slated to open in theatres on July 17 and marks the director’s most expensive project to date with a reported budget of $250 million.
The story follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he journeys home after the Trojan War. The trailer emphasizes both the scale of the voyage and its emotional stakes. Odysseus is trying to return to Ithaca where his wife Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, and his son Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, are under increasing pressure from rival suitors.
Among them is Antinous, portrayed by Robert Pattinson, who seeks to marry Penelope and take control of the kingdom. The trailer also introduces key figures from Greek mythology and history including Charlize Theron as Calypso and Zendaya as Athena. Supporting roles include Jon Bernthal as Menelaus and John Leguizamo as Eumaeus.
Nolan has shot the film entirely using IMAX cameras, continuing his preference for large format filmmaking seen in earlier projects. The trailer highlights large scale battle sequences along with mythological elements such as the Cyclops and the Sirens. These elements suggest a relatively faithful adaptation of Homer’s structure while leaning into cinematic spectacle.
The source material dates back to ancient Greece and remains one of the foundational works of Western literature. Its episodic narrative and fantastical encounters present both an opportunity and a challenge for adaptation, especially at this scale.
While Nolan’s films have consistently performed at the global box office, The Odyssey is a different kind of gamble. Its classical subject matter and dense mythology are less familiar to contemporary mass audiences compared to his previous work. However, the combination of established IP, a high profile cast and a director with a strong theatrical track record positions the film as one of the most closely watched releases of the year.