Christopher Nolan’s next movie finally confirmed as Greek ‘mythic action epic’ with unbelievable cast

The title and story of Sir Christopher Nolan’s next film has been announced (Picture: Getty/Rex)

Sir Christopher Nolan’s next movie has unveiled in an early Christmas present to us all as The Odyssey.

The 54-year-old filmmaker was known to be working on a mystery project with the likes of Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o for a 2026 release.

Now Universal have confirmed he is adapting Homer’s epic poem from over 2,600 years ago, which follows Odysseus’s 10-year journey home after the Trojan War.

The studio said in a statement shared on social media: ‘Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology.

‘The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theatres everywhere on July 17, 2026.’

The poem, divided into 24 books (chapters) is a foundation of classical scholarship across the world and follows Odysseus’s quest to return to his family and home in Ithaca. Along the way, he contends with the machinations of gods, monsters such as the Cyclops, giant sea snake Scylla and whirlpool Charybdis, as well as cannibals, Sirens and the witch Circe.

Universal shared that his new film is The Odyssey, alongside its release date (Picture: X)

Sir Christopher was knighted last week, alongside his wife and producing partner Dame Emma Thomas, for their services to film (Picture: Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)

For a filmmaker more often involved with futuristic stories, it will be interesting to see how Sir Christopher – who received his royal honour last week from King Charles III – handles an ancient setting with his adaptation.

He is coming off the back of Oscar-winning triumph with Oppenheimer last year, which won seven awards including best film and his first best director trophy.

Hathaway recently admitted it ‘fills [her] with so much joy’ to be working with Sir Christopher on his next movie after previously starring in both 2012’s The Dark Knight Rises as Selina Kyle, aka Catwoman, and 2014’s brain-bending space epic Interstellar.

She told Women’s Wear Daily: ‘I have so many feelings about it that I don’t even know how to articulate.

‘It fills me with so much joy … I love Chris and Emma Nolan so much, and to be invited into their world [is] one of the best places you can find yourself.

The Odyssey’s cast is stuffed full with top Hollywood talent, including returning collaborator Anne Hathaway for her third Nolan movie (Picture: Warner Bros Pictures/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)

‘Getting to be invited twice really felt like something, three felt like it would’ve been greedy, so I never let myself hope that that would happen, and that it has makes me emotional, to be perfectly honest. It makes me feel like I’m doing something right.’

Spider-Man star Holland has also shared that he is ‘honoured’ to be teaming up with Sir Christopher for his next movie, calling it the ‘phone call of a lifetime’ when he was presented with the opportunity to take part in the forthcoming film.

‘All I can say is that I’m incredibly excited, and obviously honoured, but that’s all I can say because, to be honest, that’s all I know,’ he revealed during an appearance on Good Morning America.

Asked if the garlanded filmmaker was the type of director Holland would say yes to ‘sight unseen’, he replied: ‘100 per cent, without a shadow of a doubt.’

The 28-year-old star added that receiving a call about the project was ‘reminiscent’ of signing up to star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Spider-Man, who he has portrayed for six movies.

‘It’s an amazing thing for me. I’m super proud and I’m really, really excited.’

Tom Holland and Zendaya have also been cast in undisclosed roles, with Holland describing it as ‘the phone call of a lifetime’ (Picture: Getty)

Challengers star Zendaya – Holland’s real-life partner – is also appearing in her first film for Sir Christopher, as are Nyong’o and Theron.

Meanwhile, Damon returns to collaborate again after featuring as General Leslie Groves in last year’s smash-hit Oppenheimer, and Pattinson is back after starring as co-lead with John David Washington in Tenet in 2020.

Nothing has been confirmed yet regarding casting, and in an interview with Metro last November, Sir Christopher kept things close to his chest after his wife and producing partner Emma Thomas told us he was‘already desperate to get back to work’ on his next project.

Matt Damon is back after his role in Oppenheimer last year for Sir Christopher (Picture: Universal Pictures)

Robert Pattinson has also worked previously with the director for Tenet (Picture: Melinda Sue Gordon/Warner Bros. Entertainment via AP)

However, he made it clear he was open to anything and not worried about following up Oppenheimer’s success and the pressure to do even better with the next movie.

‘I think you can’t worry too much about the relationship of one film and on to the next. I get bored very quickly, and I like to keep working, so it’s exciting to think about what’s next,’ he shared.

The Odyssey has been adapted multiple times over the years for the screen, notably with Ulysses, which starred Kirk Douglas and was released in 1954, while it inspired 2000’s O Brother, Where Art Thou? and shades of it can even be seen in Studio Ghibli’s Oscar-winning animation Spirited Away.

Ralph Fiennes has also just starred as the Greek hero in new movie The Return opposite Juliette Binoche. Sean Bean appeared as Odysseus too – often described as ‘wily’ for his intelligence and cunning ways – in 2004’s Troy, where he is the author of the Trojan horse plot.

The Odyssey will be released in cinemas on July 17, 2026.

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