Universal Pictures thrilled film enthusiasts by announcing that British-American filmmaker Christopher Nolan will direct a cinematic adaptation of The Odyssey, a mythic action epic.
The announcement came this week on X, with Universal Pictures sharing that the film will open in theaters on July 17, 2026.
“The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026,” said Universal Pictures in a post.
They also added that the film will be shot on a new IMAX technology, a camera that introduces cutting-edge advancements. It is said to be 30 percent more quiet, making it ideal in capturing dialogues and enhancing the sound mix in post production.
The Odyssey is one of the two major Greek epic poems by Homer (the other was Illiad). It was believed to be written in 8th Century B.C. and serves as one of the foundational literature of Western culture. It tells the story of Odysseus and the challenges he faced on his way home to his kingdom Ithaca after the fall of Troy.
Several big names and award-winning actors surfaced to have ties with the film. Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Oscar-winners Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and Matt Damon were reportedly set to star in the Nolan project.
Other details on the project were scarce but Holland spoke about signing onto the project during The Dish podcast. He said that Nolan “loosely pitched” the project to him, and that they haven’t yet begun shooting.
Nolan—the director of Oppenheimer, Oscar’s 2023 Best Picture— also directed other big films such as Inception, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, and Tenet. He is known for his complex storytelling and use of innovative practical effects in his films.
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