For months, it’s been rumored that director Christopher Nolan is working on a new star-studded movie. This week, Universal Pictures revealed that it will be a film adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”
On Monday, Universal Pictures’ social media confirmed that Christopher Nolan is working on an adaptation of “The Odyssey,” which will bring “Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time.”
The movie is said to be a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology,” per Universal Pictures.
Nolan’s other movies include “Tenet,” “Dunkirk,” “The Dark Knight” and “Inception.”
This will be Nolan’s second movie with Universal, following “Oppenheimer,” which won best picture at the Oscars last year, according to CNN.
What is ‘The Odyssey’ about?
The ancient Greek poem spans 24 nonlinear books and tells the story of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, per People.
During his journey, Odysseus encounters iconic mythical creatures such as the sorceress Circe, the goddess Athena, the cyclops Polyphemus and the nymph Calypso.
Back home in Ithaca, his wife Penelope and son Telemachus struggle as suitors — who assume Odysseus is dead — fight to win Penelope’s affection in order to take the throne, according to People.
During the tale, Telemachus also goes on his own secret journey to find out if his father lives.
According to People, when Odysseus does return home, after shipwrecks, captivity and other struggles, he must fight to take back control of his kingdom.
Who will star in ‘The Odyssey’?
Here is a look at who is set to star in the upcoming movie, according to Deadline:
- Matt Damon
- Tom Holland
- Anne Hathaway
- Lupita Nyong’o
- Charlize Theron
- Robert Pattinson
- Zendaya
Other adaptations of ‘The Odyssey’
Homer’s poem has been used as source material for many different works, per Deadline, including the 1954 Italian movie “Ulysses” and the 1997 miniseries “The Odyssey.”
The 2024 movie “The Return” from Bleeker Street, which stars Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, is also based on “The Odyssey,” according to Deadline.
According to Deadline, other pieces that have drawn inspiration from the poem include the book “The Penelopiad” by Margaret Atwood, the movie “Ulysses’ Gaze” and “Star Trek: Odyssey.”
When is ‘The Odyssey’ movie set to release?
According to Universal Pictures, the film will release in theaters on July 17, 2026.
Shooting for the movie has not yet started, but is set to begin in early 2025, per Deadline.