The Odyssey (2026 film) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Odyssey (2026 film)
Teaser poster
Directed by	Christopher Nolan
Produced by	Emma Thomas Christopher Nolan
Screenplay by	Christopher Nolan
Starring	Matt Damon Tom Holland Anne Hathaway Zendaya Lupita Nyong'o Robert Pattinson Charlize Theron Jon Bernthal
Music by	Ludwig Göransson
Cinematography	Hoyte van Hoytema
Studio	Syncopy Inc.
Distributed by	Universal Pictures
Release date(s)	July 17, 2026 (2026-07-17)
Country	United Kingdom United States
Language	English
Budget	$250 million

The Odyssey is an upcoming movie that mixes epic adventure, action, and fantasy. It is written and directed by the famous director Christopher Nolan. The movie is based on the ancient Greek story, the Odyssey, which was written by a poet named Homer thousands of years ago.

The film stars Matt Damon as the hero Odysseus, a Greek king from the island of Ithaca. The story follows his dangerous and exciting journey home after the famous Trojan War. All he wants is to get back to his wife, Penelope. The movie has a large cast of famous actors, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson. It is being made by Nolan's company, Syncopy, and will be released by Universal Pictures.

Story of the Movie

The Odyssey follows the legendary Greek king Odysseus on his long and difficult journey home to Ithaca after fighting in the Trojan War.

Along the way, he must face many challenges and mythical creatures. These include the giant one-eyed Cyclops named Polyphemus, the Sirens whose songs can trap sailors, and the powerful witch-goddess Circe.

Cast

The movie features a large group of well-known actors.

Making the Movie

Getting Started

Writer and director Christopher Nolan teamed up with Universal Pictures again for The Odyssey.

After the success of his movie Oppenheimer, director Christopher Nolan began writing his next film. In October 2024, it was announced that he was working with Universal Pictures again. Nolan wrote the script and produced the movie with his wife, Emma Thomas.

Matt Damon, who worked with Nolan on other movies, was the first star to join the project. Soon after, more famous actors were cast, including Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, and Charlize Theron.

In December 2024, the movie was officially announced as The Odyssey. The studio called it a "mythic action epic." With a budget of $250 million, it is set to be the most expensive movie of Nolan's career.

A promotional picture of Matt Damon as Odysseus. The armor design was discussed by historians.

In February 2025, the first picture of Matt Damon in costume as Odysseus was released. At first, some people thought Tom Holland might play the main hero, but it was later confirmed he would play Odysseus's son, Telemachus. Some historians noted that the armor in the picture was not exactly like what a real Greek hero would have worn long ago.

Filming Around the World

Filming, also known as principal photography, began on February 25, 2025. The movie's cinematographer, Hoyte van Hoytema, used special IMAX film cameras to shoot the entire movie. This is the first big blockbuster movie to be filmed completely this way.

The movie was filmed in many beautiful and historic places around the world.

• Morocco: Filming started in Aït Benhaddou, a historic site in Morocco.
• Greece: The crew filmed for three weeks in Greece, the home of the original story. They used locations like Pylos, Methoni Castle, and Nestor's Cave for scenes with the Cyclops.
• Italy: The team moved to the Aeolian Islands in Italy, including Favignana and Lipari. These islands are mentioned in Homer's poem.
• Scotland and Iceland: Filming also took place in remote parts of Iceland and at castles and forests in Scotland, like Findlater Castle and Culbin Forest.

Parts of the film were shot near Dakhla in Western Sahara.

In July 2025, some scenes were filmed near the city of Dakhla in Western Sahara. This region has a long and complicated history, and there is disagreement over how it is governed. Because of this, the choice to film there caused discussion and debate among different groups.

Getting Ready for Release

In July 2025, a short teaser trailer was shown in movie theaters before the movie Jurassic World Rebirth. The trailer gave audiences a first look at the film, featuring Tom Holland as Telemachus.

The Odyssey is scheduled to be released in theaters in the United States on July 17, 2026. On July 17, 2025, exactly one year before the release, special IMAX theaters around the world began selling tickets for the movie's opening week.

See also

In Spanish: La Odisea (película de 2026) para niños

• List of IMAX films