Matt Damon looked every bit the tough Trojan Warrior in the first image of him in costume as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, in Christopher Nolan’s big-screen adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey.
The Universal Pictures ‘mythic action epic shooting across the world using brand new IMAX film technology’ is already scheduled to hit IMAX theaters on July 17, 2026.
Principal photography is scheduled to begin later this month in locations like the UK, Morocco, and Sicily.
On December 26, The InSneider reported that The Odyssey will have a $250M budget, making it ‘the most expensive film’ of the 54-year-old Englishman’s career.
The 54-year-old Golden Globe winner previously portrayed US Army General Leslie Groves, the director of the Manhattan Project, in Christopher’s 2023 atomic bomb biopic, Oppenheimer.
Matt also had a small role as NASA astronaut Dr. Mann in Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi epic Interstellar opposite Matthew McConaughey.
Matt Damon looked every bit the tough Trojan Warrior in the first image of him in costume as Odysseus, the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, in Christopher Nolan’s big-screen adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey
Over on The Odyssey’s official X account, users tweeted wisecracks about Damon’s lead role like ‘Alternative title: Good Home Hunting.’
X user @DurdenLeodad also quoted a variation on Gus Van Sant’s 1997 math prodigy drama Good Will Hunting starring Damon, writing: ‘How do you like them olives?’
‘Of course, because if there’s one thing Damon’s known for, it’s playing a guy who can’t find his way home,’ X user @hrivaths17656 tweeted.
‘Whether it’s space, earth, or ancient Greece.’
X user @hrivaths17656 commented: ‘Fantastic, get ready for a three-hour movie of him wandering around, bumping into gods, and trying to find his way home while Nolan bends time and reality just to make sure he stays lost.’
Oscar winner Anne Hathaway is rumored to be playing Odysseus’ wife, Queen of Ithica Penelope, whom he’s eager to reunite with following a perilous journey back home.
Rumor has it that Tom Holland – whose famous fiancée Zendaya also plays a mystery role – will take on the part of Odysseus’ son Telemachus.
And Oscar winner Charlize Theron is said to be playing the witch goddess Circe in the 3K-year-old fantastical tale full of sirens and a cyclops.
The Odyssey ensemble cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth.
The Universal Pictures ‘mythic action epic shooting across the world using brand new IMAX film technology’ is already scheduled to hit IMAX theaters on July 17, 2026
On December 26, The InSneider reported that The Odyssey will have a $250M budget, making it ‘the most expensive film’ of the 54-year-old Englishman’s (L, pictured in 2024) career
The 54-year-old Golden Globe winner previously portrayed US Army General Leslie Groves, the director of the Manhattan Project, in Christopher’s 2023 atomic bomb biopic, Oppenheimer
Matt also had a small role as NASA astronaut Dr. Mann in Nolan’s 2014 sci-fi epic Interstellar opposite Matthew McConaughey
Over on The Odyssey’s official X account, users tweeted wisecracks about Damon’s lead role like ‘Alternative title: Good Home Hunting’
X user @DurdenLeodad also quoted a variation on Gus Van Sant’s 1997 math prodigy drama Good Will Hunting starring Damon, writing: ‘How do you like them olives?’
X user @hrivaths17656 tweeted: ‘Of course, because if there’s one thing Damon’s known for, it’s playing a guy who can’t find his way home whether it’s space, earth, or ancient Greece’
X user @hrivaths17656 commented: ‘Fantastic, get ready for a three-hour movie of him wandering around, bumping into gods, and trying to find his way home while Nolan bends time and reality just to make sure he stays lost’
Oscar winner Anne Hathaway is rumored to be playing Odysseus’ wife, Queen of Ithica Penelope, whom he’s eager to reunite with following a perilous journey back home (pictured October 19)
Rumor has it that Tom Holland (L, pictured in 2021) – whose famous fiancée Zendaya (R) also plays a mystery role – will take on the part of Odysseus’ son Telemachus
And Oscar winner Charlize Theron (pictured November 15) is said to be playing the witch goddess Circe in the 3K-year-old fantastical tale full of sirens and a cyclops
The Odyssey ensemble cast also includes Lupita Nyong’o (L), Robert Pattinson (M), Jon Bernthal (R), Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Will Yun Lee, and Mia Goth
X user @alexrodino complained: ‘Why are you using zero Greek actors for a Greek epic? How is that justified?’
X user @HarryT44979617 tweeted: ‘A movie about Greek mythology, with no Greek or Greek-American actors, not even one, in the main cast. It’s a travesty. And who’s gonna play Helen, Zendaya? Gimme a break. I like Matt Damon, I like Nolan’s movies, but casting decisions are disrespectful to Greece’s legacy’
Others had issues with the historical accuracy of Matt’s helmet in the teaser as it was reportedly written to be a felt-lined helm of hide featuring rows of white boar teeth and two gleaming tusks at the sides
X user @JimmyFoxhound lamented: ‘That is such a boring, standard take on the wardrobe/helmet. Was hoping they’d try something a little more inspired instead of that’
X user @alexrodino complained: ‘Why are you using zero Greek actors for a Greek epic? How is that justified?’
‘A movie about Greek mythology, with no Greek or Greek-American actors, not even one, in the main cast,’ X user @HarryT44979617 tweeted.
‘It’s a travesty. And who’s gonna play Helen, Zendaya? Gimme a break. I like Matt Damon, I like Nolan’s movies, but casting decisions are disresp
ectful to Greece’s legacy.’
Others had issues with the historical accuracy of Matt’s helmet in the teaser as it was reportedly written to be a felt-lined helm of hide featuring rows of white boar teeth and two gleaming tusks at the sides.
X user @JimmyFoxhound lamented: ‘That is such a boring, standard take on the wardrobe/helmet. Was hoping they’d try something a little more inspired instead of that.’
The Odyssey was last memorably adapted for the silver screen by the Coen Brothers in their 2000 satirical musical O Brother, Where Art Thou? starring George Clooney.
