Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey is already shaping up to be one of 2026’s biggest cinematic events, with IMAX 70mm tickets reportedly sold out a full year ahead of release. After the global success of Oppenheimer, Nolan’s name has become its own franchise, drawing crowds even without capes, sequels, or multiverse gimmicks. Now he’s tackling one of the oldest and most difficult stories ever told—Homer’s Odyssey.
Bringing ancient Greek legends to the screen isn’t easy. Casting actors as characters like Odysseus and Circe means putting familiar faces on cultural symbols that are thousands of years old. These figures aren’t just historical or literary—they’re elemental. The wrong fit can throw the whole thing off, which makes Nolan’s casting choices worth watching closely.
As of now, not every role in The Odyssey has been confirmed, but one name stands out: Matt Damon. Damon, who’s worked with Nolan before, appears as Odysseus, the cunning Greek king best known for dreaming up the Trojan Horse. Myth describes Odysseus as a blend of courage and vanity, a man whose hubris creates as many problems as it solves. Damon, usually known for his all-American leads, proved in The Last Duel that he can handle a historical epic. This time he’ll need all that restraint and sharp edge to make Odysseus believable.
Tom Holland also appears in the first teaser trailer. The 29-year-old British actor has had trouble finding success outside his Spider-Man role, but The Odyssey might change that. He reportedly plays Telemachus, the son Odysseus left behind when he went to war. Telemachus grows up longing for a father he’s never met and defending a mother surrounded by vultures. Holland’s youth and earnestness could serve him well here, if he can bring more grit than Marvel ever asked of him.
Charlize Theron confirmed she will play Circe, the dangerous goddess and sorceress who turns men into pigs. She’s one of the obstacles Odysseus faces on his journey home. In many modern retellings, Circe is less villain and more tragic figure, a misunderstood power. Theron, who’s built a career on equally fierce and human performances, seems meant for the part.
A Greek news outlet reported several other possible castings, though Universal hasn’t confirmed them. Anne Hathaway—who starred in Nolan’s Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises—is rumored as Penelope, the faithful wife of Odysseus. Benny Safdie, who impressed in Oppenheimer, might play Agamemnon, the ill-fated king murdered by his wife Clytemnestra—possibly to be played by Lupita Nyong’o. Zendaya is said to appear briefly as Athena, the goddess who backs Odysseus through his trials, a smaller role but one audiences won’t forget.
Other guesses include Bill Irwin as Laertes, Odysseus’s aging father, and Samantha Morton as Anticleia, his mother’s ghost. Jon Bernthal could play Eurylochus, the tough, argumentative second-in-command who causes problems on the voyage. Mia Goth might be Calypso, the nymph who traps Odysseus for years, while Corey Hawkins could appear as Hermes, the fleet-footed messenger god. John Leguizamo is a strong bet for Eumaeus, the loyal friend protecting Odysseus’s home in Ithaca. Robert Pattinson’s name has floated around too, possibly as Antinous, the worst of Penelope’s suitors—and a perfect chance for Pattinson to chew some scenery before inevitably being skewered by the king’s returning spear.
The cast list continues with familiar names like Elliot Page (aka Ellen Page), Himesh Patel, Josh Stewart, Ryan Hurst, Jesse Garcia, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Jimmy Gonzales, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, and Anthony Molinari. If nothing else, Nolan’s Odyssey looks set to be the kind of star-packed epic Hollywood hasn’t made in years—provided it actually lives up to its name and makes the journey worth watching.
