Christopher Nolan’s highly anticipated adaptation of Homer’s epic poem The Odyssey unveiled its first-look images through an exclusive feature in Empire magazine, revealing key casting details for the star-studded ensemble. Matt Damon leads as the cunning Greek hero Odysseus, whose decade-long voyage home after the Trojan War forms the narrative core of the film, set for theatrical release on July 17, 2026. The project marks Nolan’s 13th directorial venture and his first since the Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, blending mythological grandeur with the filmmaker’s signature large-format cinematography. Shot entirely on IMAX 65 mm film—consuming over two million feet of stock at an estimated cost of $3 million—the production emphasises authenticity, with sequences filmed on open seas to capture the perilous, uncharted nature of ancient maritime travel.

The newly released character posters spotlight three pivotal figures in Odysseus’ saga. Tom Holland portrays Telemachus, the hero’s son, depicted in full armour with a resolute expression as he embarks on his own journey to seek his long-absent father. Anne Hathaway, reuniting with Nolan after The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, embodies Penelope, Odysseus’ steadfast wife, shown gazing into the distance while clutching a bow—a nod to her iconic defence of their home against suitors. Standing behind her is Mia Goth as Melantho, one of Penelope’s maids, dressed in simple brown attire that contrasts Hathaway’s regal blue gown adorned with a red sash and jewellery. These visuals underscore the film’s thematic tension between loyalty, deception, and survival, reimagined through Nolan’s lens of practical effects and immersive realism.

Nolan described the 91-day shoot as “pretty primal”, emphasising the crew’s exposure to real oceanic conditions to convey the terror and wonder of Odysseus’ odyssey. “We got the cast who play the crew of Odysseus’ ship out there on the real waves, in the real places,” he told Empire. “It’s vast and terrifying and wonderful and benevolent, as the conditions shift.” The director’s commitment to analogue filmmaking—generating approximately 100 hours of raw footage—aligns with his advocacy for preserving celluloid in an increasingly digital era. Kodak reports confirm the unprecedented scale, highlighting IMAX’s superior resolution for rendering everything from stormy seas to intimate character moments with unparalleled clarity.

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Rounding out the ensemble are Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal, though their roles remain under wraps. As Nolan’s first foray into classical mythology, The Odyssey promises to blend epic scope with psychological depth, much like his explorations of time and human resilience in Inception and Dunkirk. With principal photography wrapped and post-production underway, anticipation builds for a cinematic event that could redefine how ancient legends are visualised on screen, leveraging practical locations and IMAX technology to transport audiences into Homer’s timeless world of gods, monsters, and mortal perseverance.

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