For millennia, the epic poems of Homer have profoundly shaped Western literature and thought with their timeless tales of heroism, gods, and the enduring human spirit. While The Iliad plunges us into the raw intensity of the Trojan War’s final weeks, unleashing the wrath of Achilles and detailing the tragic fall of a mighty city, its equally monumental successor, The Odyssey, unfolds a distinct, yet equally compelling, narrative. This second great epic shifts its focus from the blood-soaked battlefields to the treacherous seas and distant, mythical lands, chronicling the legendary Greek hero Odysseus’s decade-long odyssey to reclaim his home and family after the fall of Troy.
Director Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the timeless epic, The Odyssey, is slated for release on July 17, 2026. The film will be presented in IMAX, with Nolan’s long-time creative partner, Emma Thomas, producing. The star-studded cast features Matt Damon in the lead role as the king of Ithaca, Odysseus, while Tom Holland will portray his son, Telemachus.
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Further cast members whose roles have not yet been revealed include Jon Bernthal, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Benny Safdie, Logan Marshall-Green, Charlize Theron, Cisni Jarvis, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, and Samantha Morton, among many others.
The poem begins not in the immediate aftermath of the Trojan War, but years later. The war has ended, and most of the Greek heroes have returned. However, Odysseus, the king of Ithaca who devised the Trojan Horse, has been lost at sea for ten long years. During his prolonged absence, his palace in Ithaca has been overrun by a horde of arrogant suitors, all vying for the hand of his faithful wife, Penelope, and devouring his wealth. Their insolence and disrespect create a perilous situation for Odysseus’s son, Telemachus, who is coming of age and struggling to assert himself against the oppressive suitors.
The narrative then splits, following both Odysseus’s incredible voyage and Telemachus’s efforts to find news of his father and protect his household. Telemachus, encouraged by the goddess Athena, embarks on his journey to consult with old war companions of his father, like Nestor and Menelaus, seeking any information about Odysseus’s fate.
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Meanwhile, Odysseus is finally released from the island by the nymph Calypso, who has held him captive for seven years, deeply in love with him but unable to claim his heart. His journey home is fraught with peril, a truly “odyssey-like” experience that has given the word its modern meaning. He encounters a series of mythical creatures and challenges that test his intellect and strength. They include the Lotus-Eaters, the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sorceress Circe, and the Sirens.
After enduring countless hardships and losing all his men, Odysseus finally reaches Ithaca, disguised as an old beggar by Athena.
The climax of the poem arrives with Odysseus’s epic return to his palace, disguised as an old beggar, and the ensuing battle against the suitors. With the help of Telemachus and a few loyal individuals, Odysseus proves his identity by stringing his bow, a feat none of the suitors can achieve. He then unleashes a brutal and bloody revenge on the suitors, restoring order to his household and reclaiming his throne.
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