Universal Pictures released the first official trailer for “The Odyssey” on December 22, marking Christopher Nolan’s latest cinematic venture following his Oscar-winning film “Oppenheimer”. The odyssey movie is scheduled for theatrical release on July 17, 2026.
The trailer showcases Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, on his perilous journey home after the Trojan War. The film follows the Greek hero as he travels the long and winding path back home after the Trojan War, according to Universal Pictures.
Star-Studded Cast and Epic Scale
The odyssey christopher nolan features an ensemble cast including Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, John Leguizamo, and Robert Pattinson. Nolan wrote the script and produced the film alongside his wife, Emma Thomas, through their production company Syncopy.
The two-minute trailer reveals Odysseus and his soldiers facing shipwrecks, mythical creatures, and treacherous ocean voyages. Footage includes scenes inside the Trojan horse and glimpses of monsters lurking in shadowy caves. The trailer opens with Damon’s voiceover: “After years of war, no one could stand between my men and home. Not even me.”
Watch: The Odyssey | Official Trailer
IMAX Technology
With an estimated budget of $250 million, the film is the most expensive of Nolan’s career and his first to be shot entirely on IMAX’s 70 mm film cameras, according to production details. The odyssey 2026 used over two million feet of IMAX 70mm film during production, making it the first narrative feature filmed entirely in this format.
Universal said last December that the film would be shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, Nolan’s longtime collaborator, utilized newly developed lighter and quieter IMAX cameras specifically created for this production.
Principal Photography and Locations
Principal photography took place from February to August 2025 across multiple international locations, including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, and Western Sahara. The production wrapped nine days ahead of schedule after 91 days of filming.
Filming locations included the Aït Benhaddou village in Ouarzazate, Morocco, which depicted ancient Troy. Additional scenes were shot in Essaouira, Marrakesh, and the White Dune near Dakhla.
Early Audience Reactions
A six-minute prologue featuring the Trojan horse sequence screened exclusively before IMAX 70mm presentations of “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” in December. The reaction to the IMAX teaser was overwhelmingly positive with viewers claiming they were stunned and calling the sequence a staggering achievement in modern cinema.
Box Office Expectations
The highly anticipated movie has already sold out 70MM IMAX tickets at AMC and Regal cinemas, demonstrating strong advance interest. IMAX 70mm tickets went on sale nearly a year before the film’s release, an unprecedented move in cinema history.
At CinemaCon, Universal Pictures executive Jim Orr described the film as a visionary, once-in-a-generation cinematic masterpiece that Homer himself would quite likely be proud of.
About the Story
Homer’s “The Odyssey”, composed around the eighth century BCE, chronicles Odysseus’ decade-long journey home following the Trojan War. The hero faces mythical challenges, including encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, the witch-goddess Circe, and other legendary creatures, while his wife Penelope and son Telemachus defend their kingdom in Ithaca.
Nolan began writing the screenplay in March 2024 after winning Academy Awards for Best Picture and Best Director for “Oppenheimer”. The project was set up directly at Universal Pictures, which had successfully distributed “Oppenheimer” to seven Oscar wins in 2024.
“The Odyssey” will be released in IMAX, IMAX 70mm, and premium large formats worldwide on July 17, 2026.
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