Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic The Odyssey is bringing Homer’s timeless Greek poem to the big screen with a star-studded cast. The filmmaker aims to make the ancient story accessible to both longtime fans and audiences discovering it for the first time. The film is scheduled to open in cinemas on 17 July.
Speaking to AP, Nolan said audiences do not need to know the original epic to enjoy the film. He described the story as a foundational text that people know to different degrees, adding that the film has been made for viewers ranging from complete newcomers to those deeply familiar with Homer’s work.
Matt Damon leads the cast as Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, whose perilous journey home after the Trojan War forms the centre of the story. Damon described the character as deeply human and shaped by the consequences of his own choices. Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus’s devoted wife, who spends 20 years waiting for his return while resisting more than 100 suitors seeking both her hand and the throne of Ithaca.
Tom Holland stars as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus and Penelope. Raised without knowing his father, he embarks on a journey to uncover his fate. Nolan said the film is both a homecoming tale and a coming-of-age story. Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous, the leading suitor pursuing Penelope. Nolan said Pattinson brings a distinctive blend of menace and dark humour to the role.
Zendaya portrays Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, who guides Odysseus throughout his journey. The actress said she wanted to balance the goddess’s strength with humanity. Lupita Nyong’o takes on the dual roles of Helen of Sparta, whose abduction triggered the Trojan War, and her sister Clytemnestra. She said the film focuses on the emotional consequences of war as much as the familiar mythology.
Charlize Theron plays Calypso, the nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island during his voyage. John Leguizamo appears as Eumaeus, the loyal swineherd who remains faithful despite Odysseus’s long absence. The character is portrayed as nearly blind, reflecting the belief held by some historians that Homer himself was blind.
Jon Bernthal stars as Menelaus, King of Sparta and Helen’s husband, who shares memories of Odysseus with Telemachus. Benny Safdie portrays Agamemnon, commander of the Greek forces during the Trojan War. Samantha Morton appears as the powerful sorceress Circe, while Himesh Patel plays Eurylochus, Odysseus’s trusted second-in-command who accompanies him through many of the epic’s greatest trials.
Elliot Page takes the role of Sinon, a veteran of the Trojan War drawn from Greek mythology. Bill Irwin portrays the Cyclops, the one-eyed giant and son of Poseidon. Nolan said the production combined puppetry, animatronics and computer-generated visual effects to create the character while giving him emotional depth instead of presenting him simply as a monster.
Mia Goth plays Melantho, one of Penelope’s servants, while Corey Hawkins portrays Polybus, one of her suitors. Travis Scott also appears as a bard in the royal court of Ithaca.
Combining mythology, adventure and an ensemble cast, The Odyssey aims to introduce one of literature’s greatest stories to a new generation of cinema audiences.
