The Odyssey

The Odyssey — Release Date: July 17, 2026. Written and directed by Christopher Nolan, The Odyssey is a large-scale cinematic adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic, reimagined through Nolan’s immersive visual language and structural precision. The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca, whose journey home after the Trojan War becomes a prolonged test of endurance, identity, and moral resolve.

Set in the aftermath of Troy’s fall, the story follows Odysseus as he attempts to return to his homeland and reunite with his wife, Penelope, after years of warfare. Though victorious in battle, Odysseus’ homecoming is repeatedly delayed by forces beyond his control — divine intervention, human folly, and the consequences of his own decisions. Each stage of the voyage places him in conflict with both mythic beings and internal doubt, gradually reshaping his understanding of leadership, loyalty, and survival.

The journey brings Odysseus into contact with figures drawn directly from classical mythology, including the Cyclops Polyphemus, whose encounter tests Odysseus’ cunning and restraint; the Sirens, whose song threatens to undo his resolve; and the witch-goddess Circe, whose island becomes a prolonged detour marked by temptation and transformation. These encounters are not presented as isolated episodes, but as cumulative experiences that erode time, certainty, and identity.

Parallel to Odysseus’ wandering, the narrative maintains focus on Ithaca, where Penelope awaits his return, navigating the political and personal pressures created by his prolonged absence. Her endurance and agency form a counterbalance to Odysseus’ physical trials, grounding the mythic journey in emotional continuity.

Produced by Christopher Nolan and Emma Thomas under Syncopy, The Odyssey represents Nolan’s most ambitious production to date, filmed entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras across multiple international locations. Rather than modernizing the source material, the film emphasizes scale, physicality, and temporal weight, aligning ancient myth with cinematic spectacle.

The Odyssey positions itself as both a mythological epic and a character-driven exploration of perseverance, shaped by time, loss, and the cost of returning home unchanged.