Watch Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Preview the Way It Was Never Intended for Viewing.
Christopher Nolan's legendary action saga, The Odyssey, is a film we've been eagerly awaiting since its announcement. It firmly sits among the most hotly anticipated motion pictures coming next year. As a pre-Christmas treat, a preview has now been released, even if it's compromised by YouTube's poor compression—maybe illustrating why Nolan initially kept the trailer solely for theatrical audiences.
The Initial Look at the Legendary Cast
The debut footage reveals Matt Damon portraying the king of Ithaca. We also see Tom Holland playing the son alongside Anne Hathaway as Penelope. During an emotional scene, the character pleads with her husband to vow he will return, to which he look up and question what happens if he cannot. The trailer also offers a brief, shadowy glimpse at Polyphemus the Cyclops, whose flock Odysseus and his crew steal on their treacherous voyage.
Adapted from a cornerstone in classic storytelling, The Odyssey follows the epic journey undertaken by the famed ruler. Following his victory at Troy, as told in Homer's Iliad, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous return to his homeland.
Mythical Encounters and a Star-Studded Lineup
On his travels, Odysseus confronts numerous obstacles and mythical beings. This roster features the witch-goddess Circe, known for turning humans into pigs, and the deceptive Sirens. Regardless of these ordeals, Odysseus vows to overcome anything to reunite with Penelope and Telemachus on his home island.
The adaptation's cast is remarkably star-studded. Joining Damon, Holland, and Hathaway are Charlize Theron as the cunning Circe, together with Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.
A Tale of Many Adaptations
Homer's epic has inspired many reinterpretations over the years. Examples include modern retellings and a late-90s dance production. There has even been adapted into a musical titled Epic: The Musical, released in the form of a nine-album collection.
The official trailer was long awaited following the project's reveal and a short teaser clip that previously played exclusively in theaters. That teaser subsequently found its way onto the internet shortly thereafter.
To see a clearer version, the trailer posted on the film's official social channel might deliver a better, clearer look.
The Odyssey will debut in IMAX theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026.
