Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ First Poster Revealed, Trailer Coming Soon, Charlize Theron’s Role Announced
Christopher Nolan is making headlines again with his next big movie, The Odyssey. This time, he’s bringing the ancient Greek legend to life in a way only he can. The film is based on Homer’s classic poem and is being made through Nolan’s company, Syncopy, with Universal Pictures handling the release. It’s expected to hit theaters on July 17, 2026.
At the heart of the story is Matt Damon, who plays Odysseus, the king of Ithaca. The movie follows him as he tries to get home after the Trojan War to be with his wife, Penelope. Damon isn’t the only big name in the cast.
He’s joined by Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, and Charlize Theron.
Nolan first started working on the project in October 2024, according to The Hollywood Reporter. By December, Universal confirmed that the film would be an adaptation of The Odyssey. Filming kicked off in February 2025 and has been moving across places like Greece, Morocco, Italy, Iceland, Los Angeles, and parts of the UK and Ireland. It’s a massive production with a $250 million budget, the biggest in Nolan’s career — and it’s being shot entirely with IMAX cameras.
A first look at the film arrived recently with an official poster featuring the tagline “Defy the Gods.” A short teaser is also expected to drop soon and might be shown during Jurassic World Rebirth screenings.
While Damon is front and center as Odysseus, Charlize Theron also plays a key role. She’s taking on the part of Circe, a powerful sorceress from Greek mythology known for her magic and her connection to the sun god Helios. Theron told Variety that she’s feeling a little nervous about joining the shoot late. “I will be the new kid on the block. Everybody will know what they are doing and not me,” she said.
Charlize Theron talks about Christopher Nolan’s ‘THE ODYSSEY’pic.twitter.com/ra9KcSwt2A
— Nolan Art & Updates (Fan Account) (@NolanAnalyst) June 29, 2025
This isn’t Nolan’s first time working with Damon. The two teamed up for Oppenheimer and Interstellar. Anne Hathaway and Robert Pattinson are also returning collaborators. The rest of the cast includes a mix of actors new to Nolan’s world, which gives the film a fresh feel.
A photo of Damon in costume as Odysseus was recently released, and while some historians weren’t happy with the design, fans are excited to see how it all plays out. The costume work is being handled by Ellen Mirojnick, and Ludwig Göransson is back to do the score, after previously working on Oppenheimer.
Years ago, Nolan was almost going to direct Troy, but he chose Batman Begins instead. Now, with The Odyssey, he’s finally telling a Greek myth in his own way. This version sticks with Odysseus’s long, painful trip home rather than focusing on more familiar stories like Caesar or Cleopatra, which Nolan reportedly felt had already been told enough.
Right now, the film is still shooting in Scotland, and more scenes are expected to be filmed in Ireland and across the UK. With such a high budget, an all-star cast, and cutting-edge camera work, Nolan’s The Odyssey looks like it’s going to be a huge, visually stunning film when it finally arrives in theaters next summer.
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