Christopher Nolan will adapt The Odyssey in his next movie. The epic poem of Homer, Composed in the 8th century BC, it tells of the journey made by the Greek hero Odysseus (in Latin, Ulises) to returning home after the Trojan War. 24 songs that tell the odyssey of ten years full of misadventures, mythological creatures and amazing events that the protagonist experienced to return to the island of Ithaca, where his wife was waiting for him Penelope and his son Telemachus.
Of course, Nolan has plenty of big names to play these characters if we take into account the cast members who are confirmed: Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron… The roles of each have not yet been revealed, but we can speculate with Damon being the titular hero. Holland perhaps Telemachus? And who could resist Charlize Theron as Circe?
These are details that we will learn little by little, as this blockbuster gets underway (with a final budget yet to be revealed) of Universal Pictures, with whom the British filmmaker works again after the commercial success of Oppenheimer (2023), with which he won seven Oscars. Nolan himself signs the script and produces with his wife, Emma Thomas, through Syncopy Films.
The challenge of 'The Odyssey' and its other versions
As foundational work of Western culture, The Odyssey has had an endless influence and multiple adaptations in all artistic fields. Also in cinema, of course, the oldest surviving being an Italian film from 1911.
Beyond very personal reviews like that of Franco Piavoli in Nostos: The return (1989) or lateral ones like that of the brothers Coen in O Brother! (2000), the most canonical adaptation remains Ulises (1954), from Mario Camerini, where Kirk Douglas was the protagonist and Silvana Mangano she played a double role as Penelope and Circe.
Nolan's version of The Odyssey has a theatrical release date set for July 17, 2026. It will be next year when a filming will take place that promises to move a lot, since the statement talks about locations around the world.
It also points out that in the realization it will be used new IMAX technology never seen before, making this project not only one of the most anticipated of 2026, but also the most intriguing filming of 2025.
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