Christopher Nolan’s next epic, The Odyssey 2026, is already dominating film conversations after the first official trailer dropped online, revealing a massive, IMAX-shot reimagining of Homer’s legendary voyage.
The new trailer for The Odyssey 2026 introduces Matt Damon as Odysseus, the war-worn Greek king of Ithaca trying to get home after the fall of Troy. A bearded, battle‑scarred Damon narrates over storm-tossed seas and burning shorelines: years of war behind him, an impossible journey ahead. Quick flashes show Anne Hathaway as Penelope waiting in Ithaca and Tom Holland as Telemachus, their son, caught between hope and doubt.
The footage leans into mood more than plot: shattered ships, thunderous waves, soldiers clinging to wreckage, and glimpses of mythic threats hinting at Cyclopes, Sirens, and vengeful gods without revealing full creature designs. Fans have flooded YouTube and social media with reactions, calling it Nolan’s “most ambitious” and “must-see in IMAX” film yet.
The Odyssey 2026 cast, format and release date
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey 2026 is described as a “mythic action epic” shot around the world using brand‑new IMAX film technology, continuing his commitment to large‑format, practical spectacle.
Key details for The Odyssey 2026:
- Director / Writer: Christopher Nolan
· Lead cast:
- Matt Damon as Odysseus
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope
- Tom Holland as Telemachus
- Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and others in supporting roles
· Format: Shot on IMAX and 70mm, over 2 million feet of film, with a theatrical, IMAX‑first rollout planned.
· Release date:
- United States & UK: July 17, 2026
- Staggered international dates around the same weekend, with tickets for select IMAX 70mm shows already selling out in advance presales.
Universal Pictures is distributing The Odyssey 2026, Nolan’s first film since the Oscar‑winning Oppenheimer, raising expectations for both critical acclaim and box office power.
The Odyssey 2026 story: Nolan’s take on Homer
At its core, The Odyssey 2026 adapts Homer’s epic poem about Odysseus’ long and perilous journey home after the Trojan War, facing monsters, divine grudges and temptation while trying to reunite with his family.
According to early synopses, Nolan’s version will:
- Follow Odysseus from the immediate aftermath of Troy through major mythic episodes like the Cyclops, Circe and the Sirens.
- Emphasize psychological toll as much as physical danger, focusing on trauma, memory and time—recurring Nolan themes applied to ancient myth.
- Cross‑cut between Odysseus at sea and Penelope and Telemachus in Ithaca, amplifying the family stakes and emotional core hinted at in the trailer.
Critics expect The Odyssey 2026 to blend large‑scale action with intimate character work, turning a foundational myth into a modern cinematic event designed for big screens rather than streaming.
For moviegoers tracking Nolan’s career, The Odyssey 2026 looks like the next must‑see chapter—a massive, IMAX‑built odyssey that brings one of history’s greatest stories to theaters with his signature precision and ambition.