Matt Damon’s look as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ unveiled

Matt Damon will play Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic “The Odyssey”. He will appear alongside an expansive cast including Tom Holland, Mia Goth, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo.

Damon’s role was revealed yesterday through the film’s official X account. The post included a photo of him in character and read, “Matt Damon is Odysseus. A film by Christopher Nolan, #TheOdysseyMovie is in theatres on July 17, 2026.”

“The Odyssey” follows the Greek champion Odysseus on his tumultuous journey home after the Trojan War. The story was first scribed by the ancient Greek poet Homer over 2,000 years ago and is one of the oldest stories still enjoyed by modern readers.

Universal, a long-time Nolan collaborator and the film’s distributor said in December that “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.”

Nolan penned the script and serves as director and producer. His wife, Emma Thomas, will also produce under the pair’s Syncopy banner.

In January, Variety exclusively reported that “The Odyssey” will be partially filmed in Sicily, the setting of Odysseus’ wanderings in the original text. Production, which is set to begin in the spring, will start on the Island of Favignana, colloquially known as “goat island.” It is believed to have been where Homer imagined Odysseus would land with his crew.

“The Odyssey” marks the third collaboration between Nolan and Damon. “The Departed” star previously had a supporting role as Leslie Groves in the seven-time Oscar winner “Oppenheimer” and played a small role in Nolan’s sci-fi epic “Interstellar”.

LondonGBDESK//