Christopher Nolan is two weeks away from releasing what could be one of the biggest films of the decade, and on July 1, he gave the world one final look at what is to come. The countdown trailer for The Odyssey has dropped, offering the most detailed and expansive look at the film yet. It is set to release in theatres and IMAX worldwide on July 17, 2026, and the wait is almost over.
The new trailer runs for about two and a half minutes and covers a lot of ground. Matt Damon’s Odysseus is front and centre, battle-worn, determined, and fighting his way through impossible odds. Charlize Theron’s Calypso gets a proper look this time, as does Zendaya’s Athena, who appears with a quiet power that already feels exactly right for the goddess of wisdom. One of the biggest highlights of the trailer is the Trojan Horse sequence, a massive large-scale practical set piece featuring thousands of soldiers that Universal has been building anticipation around for months. The trailer ends with Odysseus looking directly ahead and saying, “I defy the gods,” a line that sets the tone for the film.
The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic, one of the oldest and most celebrated stories ever written. Matt Damon plays Odysseus, the legendary King of Ithaca, who, after years of fighting in the Trojan War, simply wants to go home. But getting home turns out to be the hardest thing he has ever had to do. Along the way, he faces terrifying sea monsters, angry gods, devastating shipwrecks, and powerful temptation, all while his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus, wait for him back in Ithaca, not knowing if he is even still alive.
The cast of The Odyssey is extraordinary. Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, who is desperate to find his father. Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, the loyal wife who holds everything together at home while surrounded by men who want to take her husband’s place. Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, the most aggressive of those suitors, a role Pattinson has described as “sleazy.” Zendaya plays Athena, the goddess who helps guide Odysseus on his journey. Charlize Theron plays Calypso. Lupita Nyong’o takes on the dual roles of Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra. The film also features Himesh Patel, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Travis Scott, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, and many others. It is one of the most star-studded ensembles assembled for a single film in recent memory.
Christopher Nolan shot The Odyssey using brand-new IMAX film technology that has never been used before, something that IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond has specifically highlighted as a landmark moment for the format. This is also Nolan’s second film with Universal Pictures, following Oppenheimer in 2023. Making an interesting move, Universal has decided not to hold the usual influencer or preview screenings before the film’s release. Critics will see The Odyssey for the first time only at its world premiere in London on July 6, which means the public and the press will experience it almost together.
The excitement around the film has been building since December 2025, when the very first teaser dropped and earned 121.4 million views across social media in just 24 hours, setting a new record for Universal. More than 180,000 users have already added the film to their watchlists on IMDb. In India, the film will be released not just in English but also in Hindi, Telugu, and Tamil. July 17 is almost here, and if this trailer is anything to go by, it will be worth every bit of the wait.
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