Universal Unveils New Footage for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey
Universal Pictures presented new footage and details for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming IMAX film The Odyssey during events in Las Vegas, including the CinemaCon trade show. The film, an adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem, is scheduled for release in IMAX theaters on July 17.
Plot and Source Material
The film follows the journey of King Odysseus of Ithaca as he attempts to return home after the Trojan War. Nolan described the story as one that “has fascinated generation after generation for 3,000 years.”
Footage shown included depictions of the Trojan Horse strategy, which leads to the end of the war; Greek soldiers emerging from the horse to launch a night attack; and Odysseus and his crew navigating a storm at sea. Other sequences featured Odysseus and his soldiers confronting the Cyclops Polyphemus.
Cast and Characters
The cast includes:
- Matt Damon as Odysseus
- Tom Holland as Telemachus
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope
- Charlize Theron as Calypso
- Robert Pattinson as Antinous
- John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
- Jon Bernthal as Menelaus
- Zendaya as Athena
- Benny Safdie as Agamemnon
- Himesh Patel as Eurylochus
- Mia Goth as Melantho
- Jimmy Gonzales as Cepheus
- Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra
- Will Yun Lee in an undisclosed role
Nyong’o’s casting as Helen of Troy drew criticism from some public figures, including Elon Musk. In an interview with Elle, Nyong’o stated she supports Nolan’s vision for the story and that the cast reflects the diversity of the world. She declined to engage extensively with the criticism.
Production and Technical Details
Nolan wrote the screenplay and produced the film with Emma Thomas. The project was announced in December 2024 and is Nolan’s 13th directorial feature. The budget is reported to be $250 million.
Nolan stated the film was shot entirely using IMAX cameras—including dialogue scenes—without shifting aspect ratios. He described this as a “long-held dream,” noting prior attempts dating back to The Dark Knight.
Filming took place in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, and Scotland. Anne Hathaway stated that cast members stayed in budget accommodation on a small island in Sicily to keep costs down.
Nolan explained that he chose not to cast actors as the gods of Mount Olympus. Instead, he said he wanted the gods’ presence to be felt through nature and the characters’ beliefs, using IMAX to immerse audiences in storms and turbulent seas.
The production was described by Nolan as challenging but he added that the crew “had an amazing time doing it” and that the film is “almost finished.”
Marketing and Release
Universal released a teaser in July 2024, a prologue shown before IMAX screenings of Avatar: Fire and Ash, and a teaser trailer online in December 2024. A full trailer was later released.
A source reported that tickets for 70mm screenings were made available a year in advance in July 2024. Universal declined to hold word-of-mouth influencer screenings for the film, a departure from common industry practice. Instead, after the film’s global premiere in London on July 6, it began screening for film critics.
The film is scheduled for release on July 17. Its opening weekend was concurrent with Sony’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day.
Box Office Performance
In its opening weekend, the film earned $264 million globally, according to Universal Pictures. This includes:
- North America: $124.5 million, the third-largest opening of 2025 behind Toy Story 5 ($159 million) and The Super Mario Galaxy Movie ($131 million).
- UK & Ireland: £12.9 million ($17.4 million), the top international territory.
The opening surpassed the unadjusted global debut of The Dark Knight Rises ($249 million in 2012, approximately $362 million adjusted for inflation). It also exceeded the opening weekend of Nolan’s 2023 film Oppenheimer ($975 million total over its run).
The film was released in 73 markets, over 12,800 locations, and 26,000 screens, including 440 IMAX screens. In North America, 53% of the box office came from premium large format screens.
Audience Demographics and Reception
- 56% male, 44% female in North America.
- Over 75% of buyers aged 25+.
- 50% of the audience aged 18–34.
- The film is rated R.
The film received strong reviews, with some critics calling it Nolan’s best to date.
Director’s Comments
Nolan stated that the success of Oppenheimer enabled him to make The Odyssey and said it will be “at least” three years before his next film, citing the challenges of production.
Nolan described Matt Damon as his “partner on this journey” and called his work “incredible.”