Christopher Nolan is stepping into legend — and the first trailer for The Odyssey makes it clear this isn’t just a retelling, it’s a full-scale cinematic odyssey.
Universal has unveiled the first official trailer for The Odyssey, Nolan’s ambitious adaptation of Homer’s epic saga, offering a sweeping look at the filmmaker’s next theatrical event following Oppenheimer.
Matt Damon’s Odysseus and the long road home
The film follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War — a journey defined by loss, temptation, and survival. The trailer shows Odysseus and his soldiers shipwrecked, scattered, and battling both nature and the unknown as they move across land, sea, and shadowy terrain.
Damon appears rugged and battle-worn, fully embodying a hero pushed to his limits by time and fate. His first-look image in costume, released earlier this year, now feels like just a hint of what’s to come.
Trojan Horse, monsters, and family
The trailer revisits the Trojan Horse, a key visual that was previously previewed in a six-minute IMAX clip shown before select 70mm screenings. Nolan balances this iconic imagery with darker, more mysterious beats — including a tense cave sequence where a massive, unseen creature lurks in the shadows.
Emotionally, the trailer also introduces:
- Tom Holland as Telemachus, Odysseus’ son
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope, his wife, waiting years for his return
These glimpses suggest the story will be as much about absence and endurance as it is about spectacle.
A stacked cast and Nolan’s full creative control
Joining Damon are Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo, making this one of Nolan’s most ensemble-heavy films to date.
Nolan has written, directed, and produced the film alongside Emma Thomas, maintaining his long-standing creative partnership. Universal has confirmed the movie is being shot across multiple countries using brand-new IMAX film technology, reinforcing Nolan’s commitment to large-format, theatre-first storytelling.
Universal executive Jim Orr has described the project as a “once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece” — praise that fits Nolan’s reputation for turning ambitious concepts into global events.
“An indie filmmaker with crazy money”
Actor John Leguizamo recently summed up Nolan’s approach by comparing him to an independent filmmaker working without studio interference — just on a massive scale. According to him, Nolan avoids decision-by-committee filmmaking, choosing instead to follow a singular creative vision.
That philosophy aligns with Nolan’s own past remarks about only pursuing projects he feels complete ownership over — even when adapting iconic source material.
Nolan’s next chapter after Oppenheimer
Following Oppenheimer, which won seven Oscars in 2024, Nolan’s return with The Odyssey marks a shift from historical drama to ancient myth — but the trailer suggests the same obsession with scale, realism, and emotional weight.
This isn’t mythology as fantasy. It’s mythology as endurance.
Release date
The Odyssey is set to release in theatres on July 17, positioning it as one of the biggest cinematic events of the year.
Final Words
The first trailer for The Odyssey promises a sweeping, punishing, and deeply human journey — one shaped by Nolan’s relentless precision and love for theatrical spectacle. If this is the road home for Odysseus, it looks long, brutal, and unforgettable.
