Unlocking Christopher Nolan's Passion For 'The Odyssey'

Christopher Nolan is undeniably at the peak of his filmmaking powers. He's a guy who can get anything greenlit that he needs and wants.

And now, just two years after his almost billion-dollar box-office hit Oppenheimer, he’s already plunged headfirst into his next obsession, Homer's The Odyssey.

The movie has a reported budget of $250 million and was shot entirely on IMAX 70mm film. They shot on locations spanning Greece, Morocco, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, and the hauntingly beautiful sands of Western Sahara.

Now, all of this is being edited together for what might be the biggest Nolan movie ever.

But why did he pick this one to make?

Let's dive in.

The All-Star Cast Setting Sail

When you're a director as big as Nolan, you can pretty much get any cast you want. And for this movie, he's assembled a murderers' row.

These are roles that will probably vie for awards in 2027.

The Core of Ithaca

These are the actors playing the central family driving the narrative.

Matt Damon: Odysseus

Why It Works

The cunning, battle-hardened hero and King of Ithaca. Damon's intensity and star power make him a perfect fit for the epic's central figure.

Anne Hathaway: Penelope

Why It Works

The faithful wife of Odysseus, desperately holding off a horde of greedy suitors while awaiting his return. Hathaway brings the required strength and vulnerability.

Tom Holland: Telemachus

Why It Works

The young son of Odysseus, who matures throughout the story as he searches for his father. Holland’s youth and proven action chops make this an exciting casting choice.

Gods, Sorceresses, and Monsters

This is where the mythology gets interesting, with major stars taking on figures who both help and hinder Odysseus's journey.

Charlize Theron: Circe (Confirmed)

Why It Works

A powerful goddess and sorceress who famously transforms Odysseus's crew into swine. Expect a captivating, formidable presence.

Zendaya: Athena (Highly Rumored)

Why It Works

The Goddess of Wisdom and War, and Odysseus's divine patron and protector. A role that requires grace, authority, and intelligence.

Lupita Nyong'o: Calypso or Clytemnestra (Rumored)

Why It Works

Calypso is the beautiful nymph who holds Odysseus captive for seven years. Clytemnestra is a key figure in the events following the Trojan War. Either way, it's a role of significant power.

Robert Pattinson: Major Antagonist (Rumored)

Why It Works

Given their history, many expect Pattinson to play a powerful, complex figure, possibly a major Suitor or perhaps even the vengeful sea god, Poseidon.

Benny Safdie: Polyphemus (Rumored)

Why It Works

The monstrous, man-eating Cyclops blinded by Odysseus. Safdie's intensity could lend itself well to a motion-capture or heavily stylized performance.

The Rest of the Massive Ensemble

Several other critically acclaimed actors have roles that are currently being kept under wraps. But they will appear in the movie...

• Elliot Page
• Jon Bernthal
• Mia Goth
• John Leguizamo
• Himesh Patel
• Samantha Morton

Why The Odyssey?

All these details are exciting, but I think most people want to know why Nolan picked this myth and this movie to make.

Nolan himself told Empire, it was about finding a cinematic gap and fulfilling a childhood dream in a way no one has before.

"As a filmmaker, you're looking for gaps in cinematic culture, things that haven't been done before," Nolan explained. "And what I saw is that all of this great mythological cinematic work that I had grown up with — Ray Harryhausen movies and other things — I'd never seen that done with the sort of weight and credibility that an A-budget and a big Hollywood, IMAX production could do."

Man, this makes me even more excited or the film. Nolan is talking about giving the visceral, tactile feeling of a classic, creature-filled Harryhausen adventure—the kind he grew up on—but with the immense production values and physical realism that only a $250 million, IMAX 70mm film can deliver.

To me, that's maybe the ultimate reason to go to the movies.

An Epic We Haven't Seen Since... When?

What's the last real epic released in theaters? No filmmaker has seriously attempted a mythic epic on this technical scale and budget in at least 20 years.

The most recent comparable studio spectacle was perhaps Wolfgang Petersen's 2004 film Troy. And that never felt this big.

It feels like Nolan is doing something closer to classic Hollywood, Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, or even The Ten Commandments. It's personal but also humongous. An epic that has to be seen on the big screen, shot with the best cameras ever invented.

Summing It All Up

I am very excited to see what Nolan brings to the big screen with this movie. It feels innovative, inventive, and interesting. I can't believe he gets to play in this realm.

It feels like the perfect use of an unlimited budget -- somehow both a throwback and taking us to what movies need to be in the future.

Mark your calendars. The Odyssey sets sail into theaters on July 17, 2026.

Let me know what you think in the comments.