Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic fantasy, “The Odyssey,” is as formidable because it will get. We obtained a brisk first trailer on the finish of final yr, which arrange excessive hopes for this creative retelling to come back. Extra not too long ago, official footage from the movie gave us a sneak peek into the toils of Odysseus (Matt Damon) who’s doing his utmost to return residence from the Trojan Warfare, with Anne Hathaway’s Penelope and Tom Holland’s Telemachus awaiting his return at Ithaca. A ton of different A-listers (Robert Pattinson! Zendaya! Charlize Theron!) are part of this momentous saga, alongside Lupita Nyong’o, who has been confirmed to play Helen of Troy — in addition to her twin sister, Clytemnestra.
Based on Time, Nolan is taking creative leeway within the portrayal of the connection (and reunion) between Helen and her husband, King Menelaus (Jon Bernthal). Deemed probably the most lovely girl on this planet, Helen’s otherworldly magnificence was held answerable for a struggle waged amongst males, triggered after her marriage to Paris of Troy. In Nolan’s model of “The Odyssey,” Nyong’o’s Helen is sister to Clytemnestra (additionally Nyong’o), whose marriage to Menelaus’ brother Agamemnon (Benny Safdie) is as rocky and poisonous because it will get. It is unclear as to how these adjustments will re-contextualize our understanding of the Trojan Warfare and the folks concerned in it, but it surely’s secure to say that Nolan has a grand imaginative and prescient in thoughts.
Helen’s notion inside the context of “The Iliad” and “The Odyssey” has all the time had misogynistic undertones. Equally, Clytemnestra’s characterization is complicated and divisive in Aeschylus’ “Oresteia” trilogy, which paints her as vicious and manipulative. These points enable Nolan to reinvent these characters via the lens of Odysseus’ return, with Nyong’o being the proper actor to convey the vary demanded by these twin roles.
Nolan’s Odyssey is right here to subvert expectations connected to an historical epic
Considerations surrounding “The Odyssey” have invaded on-line discourse because the venture’s announcement in December 2025. A number of the questions raised are legitimate, equivalent to the odd colloquialism that has crept up in a number of the dialogue featured within the trailers. There’s additionally the curious alternative of characters like Odysseus or Athena talking in American accents, which feels a bit jarring if we contemplate the literary context of Homer’s “The Odyssey.” That stated, Nolan’s mythmaking is rooted in artistry — the goal is not historic accuracy, however the complicated retelling of a narrative that has captured our imaginations because the eighth century BC.
“The Odyssey” is a sweeping story about Odysseus’ tumultuous 10-year journey residence, which additionally explores the tussle between free will and determinism. Odysseus’ arc is mirrored with that of his son, Telemachus, whose transition to maturity can also be rife with obstacles. This can be a marked departure from “The Iliad,” which facilities wars and its convoluted machinations whereas exploring the ideas of demise on the battlefield and heroic fame. If any inventive had been to dissect these epics via a contemporary lens, drastic adjustments could be crucial. This contains impressed anachronisms, which might assist make such an integral epic really feel much more common.
It is alright (wholesome, even) to be a tiny bit skeptical about such a extremely anticipated retelling of “The Odyssey.” Nonetheless, Nolan’s astonishing skills converse for themselves, as does the involvement of such an extremely stacked solid. The movie is gearing as much as be the summer season blockbuster. All we are able to do is hope that it will be a roaring good time.
“The Odyssey” hits theaters on July 17, 2026.
