Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey: 10 facts about the epic film of 2026

Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is set to become one of 2026’s biggest films, bringing Homer’s ancient epic to life with a $250 million budget. From real ships and thousands of extras to heated debates over casting choices, here are 10 facts about the ambitious adaptation.

1. Retelling Homer’s ancient epic

British film director and writer Nolan’s film is based on Homer’s The Odyssey, an ancient Greek epic believed to have been written down around the 7th or 8th century BC after existing for centuries as an oral tradition.

The story follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War, facing gods, monsters and mythical creatures along the way. After years away, he finally reaches Ithaca, returning to the place where his journey began...

2. Practical effects over digital shortcuts

Known for his preference for real-world filmmaking, Nolan recreated Homer’s world using physical sets, real locations and thousands of performers.

For the Trojan Horse sequence, the production built multiple 10-metre-high wooden horses and used thousands of costumed extras while filming at the ancient walled town of Aït Benhaddou in Morocco.

The film also features:

• real ships filmed on open oceans,
• large-scale battle scenes,
• a 12-metre animatronic puppet for the Cyclops. 

3. Matt Damon’s toughest role yet

Matt Damon, known for playing characters such as Jason Bourne and an astronaut stranded on Mars in The Martian, said portraying Odysseus was the most demanding role of his career.

The actor said the production’s commitment to realism made the experience unlike any other film he had worked on.

“This is how a movie would have been made 80 years ago. Everything’s in-camera. If you see a thousand people, then there are a thousand people there. The ships, those are real ships in the background.”

4. Filmed across six countries

The production travelled across Greece, Morocco, Iceland, Italy, Scotland and the United States.

The cast and crew faced difficult conditions, including strong winds, heavy rain and rough seas while filming ocean scenes.

American actor Matt Damon said the cast had to endure extreme weather conditions while shooting scenes on ships in the open water.

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5. Nolan’s full-IMAX filmmaking ambition

The nearly three-hour film is the first feature movie ever shot completely using IMAX cameras- a long-time ambition for Nolan.

The director has previously used IMAX sequences in films such as The Dark Knight and Oppenheimer, but The Odyssey marks his first attempt to shoot an entire movie in the format.

Nolan said his goal was: “Creating a world that feels as real as a contemporary movie set anywhere in our modern world.”

6. One of Hollywood’s biggest casts

The film brings together some of the biggest names in cinema, including:

• Matt Damon as Odysseus
• Anne Hathaway as Penelope
• Tom Holland as Telemachus
• Zendaya as Athena
• Robert Pattinson as Antinous
• Charlize Theron as Calypso

Nolan described the project as an opportunity to bring “the biggest of stories” to the screen with a major Hollywood production.

7. The debate over casting choices

The casting choices have become one of the biggest talking points surrounding the film.

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o’s casting as Helen of Troy triggered online debates because Homer described Helen with the phrase “white-armed”, and Hollywood has traditionally portrayed her as a white, blonde figure.

Nyong’o defended the decision, saying: “This is a mythological story. Our cast is representative of the world.”

Some critics, however, argued that a Greek epic should include more Greek actors.

8. The controversy over modern language and accents

Some viewers criticised the use of American accents and modern phrases in the trailers, including Tom Holland’s character using the word “dad”.

Classicist Susan Deacy argued that expectations about how ancient characters should sound are often based on Hollywood tradition rather than historical accuracy.

“I wonder whether we have become inclined to treat mythological material as though it were historical material,” Deacy said.

9. Nolan defends unconventional choices

Rapper Travis Scott’s casting as the poet Demodocus surprised many viewers.

Nolan explained the decision by connecting ancient oral storytelling with modern music traditions: It was a “nod towards the idea that this story has been handed down as oral poetry, which is analogous to rap.”

The choice reflects Nolan’s approach of adapting Homer’s epic rather than simply recreating the ancient world.

 

10. A major cinematic event of 2026

The film, Nolan’s follow-up to the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, reportedly cost around $250 million to make.

Industry forecasts expect a strong box-office opening, with analysts predicting between $80 million and $100 million in the United States and Canada during its first weekend.

The Odyssey is scheduled to arrive in cinemas on 17 July, 2026.

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News movie Christopher Nolan Odyssey Greek mythology Oppenheimer Hollywood Cinema