Christopher Nolan hasn’t just returned to cinema — he’s about to reshape mythological filmmaking itself. With Empire Magazine dropping the first explosive stills from The Odyssey, fans now have a glimpse of what might become the most ambitious ancient epic adaptation ever attempted on IMAX film.
Tom Holland. Anne Hathaway. Mia Goth. Matt Damon. Zendaya. Robert Pattinson. charlize Theron.
This isn’t a cast — it’s a cinematic event assembling itself in real time.
And with Nolan promising to bring weight, realism, and scale to a story untouched at this level, hollywood may be staring at its next Oppenheimer-sized phenomenon.
Nolan’s Odyssey: A Mythological Epic Reborn
Christopher Nolan isn’t simply adapting Homer’s legendary poem — he’s resurrecting it with brand-new IMAX film technology and a global-scale production designed to bring the Greek mythos roaring into modern cinema.
From the Trojan Horse to the shores of Ithaca, Nolan aims to deliver a grounded, visceral, almost historical version of the mythic text — one that carries emotional depth without sacrificing spectacle.
Universal Pictures has already declared the film a “mythic action epic,” ensuring audiences worldwide will experience Homer’s saga in the grandest format possible when it premieres on July 17, 2026.
Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway & Mia Goth: The First Official Look That Broke the Internet
Empire’s newly released stills introduce three major characters waiting for Odysseus back home in Ithaca:
Tom Holland as Telemachus — The Heir Left Behind
Stepping into one of Greek mythology’s most emotionally loaded roles, Holland appears older, hardened, and solemn — a son forced to grow up without a father for ten years. A bold departure from his Marvel persona, this could be Holland’s most mature role yet.
Anne Hathaway as Penelope — The queen of Endless Patience
Returning to work with Nolan after The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar, Hathaway radiates dignified strength. As Penelope — the woman who shut out suitors, ruled Ithaca, and preserved Odysseus’ legacy — Hathaway embodies loyalty, power, and heartbreak.
Mia Goth as Melantho — The Wild Card No One Saw Coming
Goth’s casting alone raised eyebrows, and now her still confirms it: Nolan is leaning into her unsettling, magnetic energy. Melantho, one of Penelope’s maids, is described as “not entirely on the up and up,” signaling betrayal, deception, and moral ambiguity.
A God-Tier Ensemble: Rumored Casting That Could Redefine Greek Myth on Screen
The stills didn’t reveal everyone — but the rumor mill is raging with a cast that looks almost mythically perfect:
Zendaya as Athena, goddess of wisdom
Robert Pattinson as Hermes, the messenger god
Charlize Theron as Circe, the sorceress who enchants and endangers Odysseus
Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, the powerful king of Mycenae
Lupita Nyong’o as Clytemnestra, queen of vengeance
This is not just casting — it’s a cinematic chessboard of titans.
Matt Damon’s Reaction Says Everything
Matt Damon, who stars as Odysseus himself, couldn’t contain his shock while talking to Empire:
“I saw the horse on the beach and I was just like, ‘F*ck.’ It was just so cool.”
If Damon — who’s worked on everything from Saving Private Ryan to The Martian — is speechless, you know Nolan is building something monumental.
Nolan’s Mission: Fill a Gap hollywood Never Dared To
Nolan explains his inspiration simply but boldly:
“I’d never seen mythological cinema done with the weight and credibility an IMAX A-budget can deliver.”
He’s right — Greek mythology has been adapted countless times, but never with this scale, seriousness, or realism.
No Harryhausen clay monsters.
No camp.
No shortcuts.
Pure, grounded, high-budget myth.
The Odyssey: A Story That Has Survived 2,800 Years Now Gets Its Biggest Stage
Homer’s epic poem follows Odysseus's survival:
The Cyclops Polyphemus
the deadly Sirens
The enchantress Circe
the wrath of the gods
the pull of war
and the weight of time itself
It’s been adapted for over a century — from the 1911 silent film to Kirk Douglas’ Ulysses (1954), to the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), to Ralph Fiennes’ The Return (2024).
But none of them had what Nolan now possesses — IMAX, global scale, a prestige ensemble, and studio confidence after Oppenheimer's thunderous success.
A Failed Odyssey of the Past: Hugh Jackman’s Version That Never Happened
In 2015, Hugh Jackman nearly led a Lionsgate adaptation with director Francis Lawrence.
The project collapsed.
Nolan’s version now stands as the definitive attempt — and possibly the definitive Greek myth movie of this generation.
The Odyssey Releases July 17, 2026 — And cinema May Never Be the Same
With Pattinson set to film The Batman – Part II, Hathaway back with Nolan, and an ensemble stacked with global icons, The Odyssey is shaping up to be the most fearless epic of the decade.
If these first stills are any indication, Nolan isn’t making a movie — he’s carving a myth onto IMAX film.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel