A trailer for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” is now online. It was premiered tonight at midnight, and will no doubt be dissected by many in the hours to come. Nolan told Stephen Colbert that the film is written in a “non-linear way” — which is, quite honestly, the most Chris Nolan thing imaginable.
The film obviously looks massive in scope and scale—some actors seem perfectly cast, while others… let’s just say I’ll reserve judgment until I actually watch the film. The photography, and the lack of color, is a bit disappointing—though maybe it’s just the trailer, and there will be much more texture on the big screen. I hope.
Will it prove to be a wise decision for Nolan to take on one of the most enduring and influential works of classical literature? It’s a story whose scale, mythic structure, and episodic, time-spanning journey make it notoriously difficult to adapt into a cohesive film narrative—a daunting task. And while there is a great deal of anticipation, there are also skeptics already underwhelmed by the trailer.
This is clearly a fresh take on Homer’s epic poem —perhaps not entirely faithful, but faithful enough, and filled with the signature flourishes we’ve come to expect from Nolan. The new footage highlights Matt Damon as Odysseus battling the Cyclops, while Robert Pattinson’s Antinous — chewing up the scenery —schemes to seize the throne of Ithaca. Meanwhile, Tom Holland’s Telemachus searches for his “Dad.”
The ensemble cast is there as well, including Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya as Athena, and Charlize Theron as Circe, alongside numerous other actors portraying figures from the ancient poem. There’s even a brief glimpse of Elliot Page, with a muddied-up face, potentially playing Elpenor.
From what I can gather, Nolan’s take on “The Odyssey” leans, heavily, into the gritty, grounded side of the story, but seems to sideline the more dreamlike qualities of the poem. The emphasis appears to be on physical struggle—mud, blood, and survival—but where is the strange, otherworldly texture that defines Homer’s story? It is quite possible that such footage simply hasn’t been shown yet, if it even exists.
The budget for “The Odyssey” is $250M. The stakes are high. Maybe too high. It’s also being set up as the first narrative feature shot entirely using IMAX cameras. Furthermore, tickets for 70mm IMAX screenings were made available a full year ahead of release, going on sale back in July 2025. All sold out.
Watch the trailer below.
