Academy Award winner Sir Christopher Nolan announces Homer’s ‘The Odyssey’ as next picture
Academy Award-winner Sir Christopher Nolan is a filmmaker of immense creative thought and talent, and following his Academy-Award-winning work for the WWII epic Oppenheimer, he has now confirmed that his next picture will be an adaptation of Homer’s classic The Odyssey.
Just announced by Universal Pictures and confirmed by Deadline, Nolan will write and direct the epic picture and will also produce it alongside his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas.
While details are few, Universal Pictures did release a brief statement to give context to the film and what audiences can expect:
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The ancient Greek poem from Homer tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, exploring themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning, and the struggle against divine will. The tale includes iconic episodes like his encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, culminating in his reunion with his wife, Penelope.
The film already has an incredible cast lined up for the feature, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron, although none of their roles have been confirmed as yet, although it is likely that Damon will take on the role of the heroic King Odysseus, and it is also certain that Anne Hathaway will portray the role of his wife Penelope.
Homer’s The Odyssey is considered one of the founding texts of Western literature and continues to inspire audiences the world over. Uberto Pasolini’s The Return, starring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche, made for an incredibly poignant and emotional watch and brought a new light to the story, and we’re excited to see how Nolan will reinterpret the story through his own lens. Nolan will also film across the world, so there will be a sense of a lived-in quality to the narrative and design of the [picture, and this will fully capture the essence of Odysseus’ ten-year journey to return to Ithaca.
Audiences will again witness an incredible feat of filmmaking when The Odyssey arrives in cinemas on July 17, 2026.
Source: Deadline.
