Christopher Nolan to bring Universal pictures project with Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson
- Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey” is set to debut on IMAX screens worldwide on July 17, 2026.
- Nolan’s adaptation joins a long tradition of adaptations of “The Odyssey,” including “Ulysses” and “The Return.”
- Production is set to begin early next year, marking Nolan’s second collaboration with Universal Pictures.
Christopher Nolan is adapting Homer’s epic poem “The Odyssey” for his upcoming Universal Pictures project. The film will debut on IMAX screens worldwide on July 17, 2026. The star-studded cast reportedly includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and others.
Homer’s “The Odyssey”, divided into 24 books, stands as a cornerstone of Western literature. The epic narrates Odysseus’s perilous journey back to Ithaca after the Trojan War. It explores themes like heroism, loyalty, cleverness, nostos (return), wandering, xenia (guest-friendship), and the conflict between human will and divine intervention. Iconic moments include Odysseus’s encounters with the Cyclops, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, leading up to his reunion with his long-absent wife, Penelope.
Universal Pictures announced on X, formerly Twitter: “Christopher Nolan’s next film, “The Odyssey”, is a mythic action epic filmed across the globe using cutting-edge IMAX technology. The movie brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX screens for the first time and premieres in theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026.”
Nolan’s movie joins a long tradition of adaptations of “The Odyssey”. Notable versions include the 1954 Italian film “Ulysses”, starring Kirk Douglas, the 1997 miniseries with Armand Assante, and the recent film “The Return”, featuring Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche. The epic poem has also inspired literary classics such as James Joyce’s “Ulysses” and Margaret Atwood’s “The Penelopiad”, among many others.
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation will showcase an ensemble cast featuring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. Universal will begin production early next year, marking Nolan’s second collaboration with the studio following the critically acclaimed “Oppenheimer”.
