Nolan Ties Odyssey to Lost Troy Directing Chance

Christopher Nolan has revealed that his upcoming epic adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey" stems from a career detour more than two decades ago, when Warner Bros. initially hired him to direct the 2004 film "Troy" before handing the project to Wolfgang Petersen. Nolan shared these details in a recent interview, explaining how the experience ignited his enduring fascination with ancient Greek mythology.

Set for release on July 17, 2026, from Universal Pictures, "The Odyssey" marks Nolan's return to the studio after his Oscar-winning "Oppenheimer." The film, written and directed by Nolan and produced by Emma Thomas, follows Odysseus on his perilous journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. Matt Damon stars as the clever hero Odysseus, with Tom Holland portraying his son Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope. Zendaya plays the goddess Athena, while Robert Pattinson takes on the role of Antinous, the arrogant suitor who leads efforts to seize Odysseus's throne and plots against Telemachus. The ensemble cast also includes Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Jon Bernthal as King Menelaus, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Himesh Patel, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Bill Irwin,...