We finally know whatChristopher Nolan’s next movie will be about. After months of speculation,Universal Picturesfinally made the announcement.
Christopher Nolan’s next film “The Odyssey” is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundationalsagato IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere onJuly 17, 2026.
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The Cast OfThe Odyssey, So Far
Nolan’s always had a penchant for drawing big-name actors. After the smashing success ofOppenheimer, including Oscars for Best Picture and Best Actor, it’s no surprise the cast forThe Odysseyis already stacked.
The cast, so far (in alphabetical order):
This will be Damon’s third film with Nolan, after previously starring inInterstellarandOppenheimer. It’s also the third for Anne Hathaway (The Dark Knight,Interstellar). For Pattinson, it’s his second picture afterTenet. And the first for Nyong’o, Theron, andZendaya.
Previous Adaptations OfThe Odyssey
Homer’s epic poem is one of the most popular stories in recorded history. It’s served as the source material for countless adaptations and modern re-tellings. But there aren’t many film versions.
In terms of literal versions, the most recent wasThe Return. It premiered in September at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and stars Ralph Fienees and Juliette Boniche as Odysseus and Penelope. Uberto Pasolini directed. It had a smaller theatrical release in December and received generally positive reviews from critics (72% on Rotten Tomatoes).
There was an Italian film in 1954 calledUlyssesthat starred a thirty-something Kirk Douglas.
And that’s it for notable, accurate tellings of Homer’s poem (okay, there was a miniseries in 1968, but that’s not a feature film).
There have been a number of “inspired by” versions of Odysseus’s journey home. Everything from the Coen Brothers’sO Brother, Where Art Thou?to Kubrick’s2001: A Space Odysseyto Ari Aster’sBeau is Afraid.
So there’s room for Nolan to put forth the best film adaptation ofThe Odysseythat’s ever been made. And, honestly, given his track record, we should probably expect nothing less.
If You’ve Never Watched A Nolan Movie, Where Should You Start?
The Odysseywill be Nolan’s 13th film. If you’re new to the director’s filmography and like superhero movies, you should start with his Dark Knight trilogy:Batman Begins,The Dark Knight, andThe Dark Knight Rises.
If you like more “serious” films, thenOppenheimerandDunkirkwill do the trick.
And if you want to start at the beginning, you should watchFollowingandMemento, where you’ll really get a sense for Nolan’s more arthouse beginnings before he moved to more blockbuster-y style inInsomniaandThe Prestige.
