With the year still young, 2026 is shaping up to have some heavy hitters on the silver screen. From Steven Spielberg returning to sci-fi/genre fare, Avengers: Doomsday, Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and the conclusion to the Dune saga, there’s plenty to get excited about in regards to tentpole-driven cinema. And while it may not be the box office earner that those aforementioned comic book films will be, Chris Nolan’s The Odyssey has an opportunity to be the best summer blockbuster released this year. A big-budget adaptation of the notorious Homer tale – The Odyssey boasts a star studded cast and an onslaught of massive sets and vivid special effects. The goal being to bring the epic to life by way of a gargantuan production, one in which Christopher Nolan will look to prove once again that the ‘unfilmable’ can indeed be filmed.
The fantasy film carries with it an A-list cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Lupito Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal. It sometimes feels it would be easier to list who in Hollywood isn’t in the movie. Rather than recap such a ubiquitous, well-known piece of literature, the movie’s official synopsis does an adequate job of summarizing the premise of both the film & the source material:
The Odyssey follows Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, on his long and perilous journey home following the Trojan War, chronicling his encounters with mythical beings such as the Cyclops Polyphemus, sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, while attempting to reunite with his wife, Penelope.
Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, whom promotional material has thus far depicted his performance as that of a gruff, weary warrior. It’s the appropriate first impression – the overwhelming stakes of the source material is dependent on the reader knowledge that the character has just completed a decade of fighting in the Trojan War. Thus, his trek across the Mediterranean Sea is even more improbable given his cumulative exhaustion, as he must also encounter a murderer’s row of supernatural and mythic entities. These impossible odds within the conflict helped to solidify The Odyssey as one of literature’s most recognizable epics, and any attempt to adequately depict these events in live action is a herculean task. But these are the challenges that Nolan sets for himself at this stage of his career. With that in mind, the trailer below illustrates what we can expect when this film starts hitting IMAX screens:
Now that looks like some good moviemaking. However, I’d be remiss if we didn’t tackle the major elephant in the room. For all the craftsmanship and hard work on display in this trailer, we must address the lack of fidelity the movie appears to have in terms of historically accurate uniforms. Like it or not, this is just a major blind spot for this production that casts doubt on whether Nolan’s team are up for the task of depicting such a beloved story, and quite frankly… Anyway, the movie looks very expensive and very sprawling, with a game cast that appears to be all in with sinking themselves into this universe. One thing Nolan has mentioned as a key goal for the production is he wanted to depict this fantastical universe with a strong element of realism (I know, shocking coming from this guy, right?!) and within the trailer you can see this visual design and tone take shape.
I have no idea if these were major inspirations in the creative process, but the film’s take on the source material, and the idea of mixing fantasy and realism, gives the sense that the movie is like a blend between Gladiator (2000) & The Lord of the Rings. The former for the more grounded physiques of the human characters, the wistful camerawork, and the whispery monologues and backroom political intrigue. The latter for the surrealism of the supernatural interacting with live action environments, the sweeping vistas, and grand setpieces. If that is the case, there really isn’t two better pieces of 21st century media to take inspiration from for a somewhat grounded Hollywood epic.
I also love the shot of the Trojan horse being pulled about at the shore, which has a golden look not dissimilar from that of the underrated Troy (2004).
While the trailer isn’t in abundance of lines, I did take notice of the preview’s final remarks. Odysseus’ wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) pleads “Promise me you will come back!” To which Odysseus replies “What if I can’t?” It’s a very short, small moment, but hopefully is evidence that the filmmakers have their minds in the right place. While its themes and tropes are very cliche to us today, The Odyssey is a very emotional story – in fact, I’d say that’s one of its key ingredients. And to an audience of Greeks who were the first to lay eyes on this tale, many of whom may have experienced famine & poverty and any multitude of hardships, the Homer yarn is a story of inspiration and belief into the enduring power of the human spirit.
Odysseus fighting an absurd course of obstacles to get back to his family is simplistic but relatable to a readership that wanted something to believe in. But also, Matt Damon casting doubt that he can even make it back to his bride is an acknowledgement of his limitations, his humanity, a reminder that he is mortal. Thus, he is relatable to us the audience, and he must fight to survive against entities of higher physical being with just his fighting acumen, endurance, and cunning on his side. In many ways, this story is at the heart of why people buy into myths and heroes. The filmmaking itself looks very well done and will hopefully look even better when the effects are finished. But it’s the story that will need to leave the biggest lasting impression – this movie wouldn’t exist without that story. This isn’t the first time that Matt Damon has needed to get home against all odds, but hopefully this will be the grandest such version to date.
The Odyssey makes its highly anticipated debut on July 17th, 2026.
