Matt Damon has been revealed as the lead in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming Greek epic The Odyssey. Universal Pictures unveiled the first image of the actor in ancient Greek attire, confirming his role as Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca and hero of Homer’s epic poem.
This marks Damon’s third collaboration with Nolan, following notable roles in Interstellar and Oppenheimer, though it is his first time taking the lead in a Nolan-directed film.
Speculation about the film’s lead had been swirling, given the star-studded ensemble cast, which includes Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o, Elliot Page, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, and Will Yun Lee.
The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his perilous ten-year journey back home after the Trojan War, facing gods, monsters, and temptations at every turn. The film has been described as “a mythic action epic” shot across the globe using groundbreaking IMAX film technology. It is set to release on July 17, 2026.
This epic tale of Odysseus, his wife Penelope, and son Telemachus has been retold across centuries, with various adaptations, including the 1954 film Ulysses starring Kirk Douglas and the Coen Brothers' O Brother, Where Art Thou?
Nolan directs, writes, and produces the film alongside his wife Emma Thomas. The Odyssey will be Nolan’s follow-up to his hugely successful Oppenheimer, which won seven Oscars and grossed nearly $1 billion at the global box office.
Source: Entertainment Weekly