PR in the Philippines

(SeaPRwire) –   Christopher Nolan redefined what a blockbuster could be with Oppenheimer. Although it was paired with Barbie as part of the Barbenheimer phenomenon, it also stands alone as a powerful example of grand-scale, epic filmmaking. The film reignited interest in large-format 70mm film, with screenings at the limited number of theaters offering this format selling out almost instantly.

Nolan is now returning to his passion for cinematic scale by adapting one of literature’s most legendary epics: The Odyssey, Homer’s ancient tale of Odysseus’s ten-year journey home following the fall of Troy. Featuring an all-star cast and produced entirely in IMAX, The Odyssey aims to push the boundaries of modern filmmaking even further. The newly released trailer debuted on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, offering fans their first detailed look at what awaits on the big screen this summer. Watch the trailer below:

“Tell me what you remember,” says Charlize Theron’s character Calypso to Matt Damon’s Odysseus. The trailer traces the span of his 20-year odyssey—from battles at Troy to perilous voyages across the wine-dark sea and clever escapes from life-threatening situations. While much of the narrative remains true to the original The Odyssey, a key difference emerges in how frequently the story returns to Ithaca, where Odysseus’s wife Penelope and son Telemachus have waited faithfully for decades. In traditional versions of the epic, the Ithaca storyline typically takes center stage only near the conclusion. However, this adaptation appears to give equal prominence—and possibly comparable screen time—to both Odysseus’s journey and the events unfolding back home.

This trailer arrives during the final weeks of The Late Show, which will conclude later this month. The Odyssey boasts an impressive ensemble cast, including Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as his devoted wife Penelope, Tom Holland as their son Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Penelope’s suitor Antinous, Zendaya as the goddess Athena, Charlize Theron as the enchantress Calypso, Jon Bernthal as Spartan king Menelaus, and Benny Safdie as his brother Agamemnon.

These are only the roles that have been officially confirmed so far. Additional casting includes a diverse range of talent such as Elliot Page (The Umbrella Academy), rapper Travis Scott, former NHL player Sean Avery, and beloved children’s entertainer Bill Irwin, who plays Mr. Noodle from Sesame Street.

The Odyssey has already sparked significant debate, particularly due to Christopher Nolan’s reliance on Emily Wilson’s contemporary translation of the ancient Greek text—a version that preserves the original meter but renders it in accessible iambic pentameter. The film’s unconventional release strategy has also drawn attention; dozens of 70mm screenings sold out more than a year before the premiere, prompting the construction of new large-format theaters. This trend echoes earlier films like Sinners, The Brutalist, and Frankenstein, all of which prioritized immersive, high-resolution viewing experiences.

Regardless of its final form, The Odyssey is poised to transform how audiences experience cinema. Just as the original story has endured for millennia, this ambitious adaptation may come to define the future of cinematic storytelling.

The Odyssey opens in theaters on July 17, 2026.