Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Trailer Debuts, Revealing Cyclops Footage and Expanded Cast

Universal has released a new trailer for Christopher Nolan's upcoming adaptation of Homer's epic poem 'The Odyssey,' with the footage premiering Monday night on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' before broadening online, according to Variety.

The Details

The trailer places Matt Damon at the center of the film as Odysseus, with footage depicting the character battling the Cyclops, Variety reported. Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous, described by the outlet as one of Penelope's suitors attempting to seize the throne of Ithaca while Odysseus remains away from his kingdom.

Anne Hathaway plays Penelope. The supporting cast includes Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong'o, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron, according to Consequence of Sound's coverage of the trailer launch. Entertainment coverage has differed on Theron's exact mythological role in the adaptation, with some outlets identifying her as Circe and others describing her as Calypso. The precise assignment remains unresolved among entertainment sources covering the project.

Dark Horizons reported that Universal publicly released the full trailer after the Colbert premiere. The film is framed around Odysseus' journey home after the Trojan War, according to the outlet, with the trailer including encounters with the Cyclops, the Sirens, and Circe.

Context

The film adapts Homer's epic about Odysseus trying to return home after the Trojan War, according to Britannica. It is Nolan's 13th feature and his first narrative feature to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras, Variety noted. It also marks Nolan's first theatrical release since 'Oppenheimer,' according to Britannica.

Universal announced the film's title and its July 17, 2026, release date in December 2024, according to Britannica's timeline. Matt Damon was publicly identified as Odysseus by February 2025, when principal photography began on the project. Nolan is producing the film through his Syncopy production banner.

What's Next

'The Odyssey' is scheduled for theatrical release on July 17, 2026, according to Britannica and Rotten Tomatoes. The July date was first set when Universal announced the project in late 2024.