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the speculation may finally end. Universal took to social media on Monday to give movie fans everywhere a gift: the first official description of Christopher Nolan’s next movie. It is called The Odyssey that, yes, you are adaptation of Homer’s poem.
“Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey a mythic action epic shot around the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX movie screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026,” the statement read.
Homer wrote centuries before the birth of Christ, The Odyssey is the follow-up to The Illiad. It follows Odysseus, a Greek hero who travels home after the Trojan War. A sprawling adventure featuring mythical creatures, battles, and more, it’s a story adapted to seemingly every medium in seemingly every era. But, from Nolan, you can be sure that this is the biggest, most honest, and big adaptation yet. In addition, it is far from previous rumors about the film, such as the part about helicopter police or what this website reported that it will be a period film about vampires. Hey, at least it’s a period film.
Matt Damon, Charlize Theron, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o star although there’s no word on who’s playing. But let’s speculate a little. We think—and this is from my io9 colleague Sabina Graves—that it makes sense to see Matt Damon as Odysseus, Holland as his son Telemachus, Hathaway as Penelope, Theron as Athena, Pattinson as Poseidon (or the Cyclops) , Nyong’o as Circe , and Zendaya as Calypso. But, again, pure speculation.
And what is the “new IMAX film technology” that the studio prefers? Sounds exciting. But not as exciting as Nolan going for the biggest story of his entire career, and maybe his second Oscar.
The Odysseydirected by Christopher Nolans, opens July 17, 2026.
Want more io9 news? Check when to expect the latest wonders, Star Warsand Star Trek releases, what’s next for DC Universe in film and TVand everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
