Christopher Nolan is setting the stage early for ‘The Odyssey’, with a six-minute prologue arriving in cinemas long before the film’s 2026 release. The extended preview will screen exclusively in 70mm Imax from December 12, attached to re-releases of ‘Sinners’ and ‘One Battle After Another’.
Universal is positioning the prologue as an event in its own right. The studio intends to keep the footage exclusive to 70mm Imax even after December 19, when a shorter trailer begins running ahead of all showings of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’. The full prologue will then continue to screen solely with Imax presentations of Avatar 3, reinforcing Nolan’s longstanding partnership with the premium format.
The rollout reflects the scale of the project. The Odyssey is the first feature to be shot entirely on Imax cameras, a step beyond the format-heavy production of Oppenheimer, which drew significant box office strength from Imax engagements. Demand has been strong enough that Universal has opened ticket sales for select 70mm Imax venues a year in advance.
Audiences have already had a brief look at the production. A short teaser premiered in the summer ahead of ‘Jurassic World Rebirth’ and ‘Superman’, hinting at Nolan’s interpretation of Homer’s epic. Matt Damon leads the cast as Odysseus, joined by Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal.
The Odyssey is scheduled to reach cinemas on July 17, 2026, with wider ticket sales expected nearer the release.
