Christopher Nolan is one of the finest filmmakers of modern cinema, so it’s no surprise that every project he works on becomes a topic of discussion from the day it gets announced. Following the success of Oppenheimer, released in 2023, Nolan decided to deliver yet another masterpiece. This time, he will take the internet by storm by bringing Homer’s influential story, The Odyssey, to the big screens in July 2026. Here, we discuss the cast that will bring the film’s epic characters to life.
The Odyssey Cast Overview
Christopher Nolan does not play when it comes to casting actors for his movies, and when it’s a project as massive as The Odyssey, he has to be on his top game. This movie might just be the biggest collection of A-rated actors and below, you can find The Odyssey cast list below:
| The Odyssey Cast | Characters |
|---|---|
| Matt Damon | Odysseus |
| Tom Holland | Telemachus |
| Charlize Theron | Circe |
| Anne Hathaway | Penelope |
| Zendaya | Athena |
| Robert Pattinson | Antinous |
| Charlize Theron | Circe |
| Lupita Nyong’o | Calypso |
| Jon Bernthal | King Menelaus |
| John Leguizamo | Eumaeus |
The Odyssey Cast and Characters Explained
1. Matt Damon as Odysseus
Matt Damon will play Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca, on his way to his wife and son after the Trojan War. The trailer that was released on December 22, 2025, positioned him in the central role of the film, with fans calling him the anchor of the story. Several fans are also impressed by Damon’s look and the energy he brings to the role.
Matt Damon is widely renowned for the film Good Will Hunting. In addition, the actor has appeared in projects such as The Martian, the Jason Bourne series, Saving Private Ryan, and more.
2. Tom Holland as Telemachus
Tom Holland is a crucial part of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The English actor will take on the role of Telemachus. Now, you might wonder who exactly Telemachus is? Well, he is none other than King Odysseus’s son.
Tom Holland is an incredible actor who is known for playing Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Additionally, we have seen him in Uncharted, Spies in Disguise, The Devil All the Time, and several other projects.
3. Anne Hathaway as Penelope
Anne Hathaway is confirmed to play the role of Penelope, Odysseus’s faithful wife, who is forced to remarry since Odysseus had been missing for over 20 years and is presumed to be dead. In the original text, she is portrayed as a wise woman who uses her wit to delay her marriage and reject over 100 suitors to protect Odysseus’s wealth, power, and the throne of Ithaca.
Anne Hathaway is an incredibly talented actor who has bagged several awards for her performances across several projects. Over the years, we have seen Anne appear in movies such as Interstellar, The Dark Knight Rises, and Love & Other Drugs.
4. Charlize Theron as Circe
Charlize Theron’s fans may have been disappointed by her role in The Old Guard 2, but the legendary actress certainly won’t disappoint in The Odyssey. The actress will play Circe, a Greek Goddess, in the much-awaited film.
If you find the time to go through Homer’s text, you’ll find that in there, Circe drugged Odysseus’s men with a potion and turned them into pigs using her wand. However, she later fell in love with Odysseus, turned his men back to human form, and provided important advice on the underworld for his journey. So, her role in the movie could be crucial.
Over the years, Charlize has given us incredible performances; her notable projects are Mad Max: Fury Road, Atomic Blonde, and Prometheus. So, fans expect nothing but great things from her role in The Odyssey.
5. Zendaya as Athena
If there’s Tom Holland, then there must be Zendaya, right? Jokes aside, Zendaya is confirmed to appear as Athena, the Greek Goddess of war and wisdom, in The Odyssey. Athena acts as a protector and guide to Odysseus and his son Telemachus. In some instances, she also performs direct interventions to ensure that Odysseus and his men reach home safely.
It’s unlikely that you haven’t heard of Zendaya, but in case you haven’t, you might remember seeing her in Sony’s Spider-Man films. Additionally, the American actress and singer has appeared in Dune, The Greatest Showman, Euphoria, and several other successful projects.
6. Robert Pattinson as Antinous
Our very own Batman, Robert Pattinson, is an official part of Nolan’s The Odyssey. However, this time, he will not appear as a hero but as Antinous, Penelope’s most arrogant suitor. He wants Odysseus’s wealth desperately and even tries to murder Prince Telemachus. The most famous scene in the original text is one in which he throws a stool at Odysseus, who is disguised as a beggar. Antinous is basically the first one to die at the hands of the hero.
Beyond Matt Reeves’s Batman, Pattinson is known for his iconic role in the Twilight series, The Lighthouse, Mickey 17, and several other projects.
7. Lupita Nyong’o as Calypso
Lupita Nyong’o, who you might remember as Nakia from the MCU’s Black Panther movies, will appear in Nolan’s 2026 project as Calypso. Calypso carried Odysseus to her island after his ship was wrecked and held him captive, forcing the hero to fall in love with her. However, seeing Odysseus suffer, Zeus sent Hermes to command Calypso to release him at once. Left with no choice, she had to provide a boat and supplies to Odysseus to make his way back home.
Lupita is a talented actress who has made her name by doing incredible work in projects like A Quiet Place: Day One, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, 12 Years a Slave, and many more.
8. Jon Bernthal as King Menelaus
It seems like Christopher Nolan has gathered all superheroes for his upcoming project. Jon Bernthal confirmed to appear as King Menelaus in The Odyssey is one of the reasons for fans’ anticipation. His character is crucial to the story, as he tells Telemachus that his father is alive and trapped on Calypso’s island.
Jon Bernthal is a powerhouse who can shine in every role. Beyond his portrayal of Frank Castle, Jon Bernthal has impressed us with his roles in The Wolf of Wall Street, The Accountant, The Walking Dead, Ford v Ferrari, and numerous other films.
9. Elliot Page (TBD)
Elliot Page has also been confirmed as a cast member for Nolan’s The Odyssey, but we don’t yet know which character he will be playing. There are rumors that he will appear as Hermes, but we will have to wait for an official confirmation.
Over the years, we have seen the Canadian actor in several noteworthy projects, including X-Men: The Last Stand, The Umbrella Academy, and 2023’s Close to You. Also, like Anne Hathaway, Elliot is no stranger to the filmmaking of Christopher Nolan, as he also played a crucial role in Inception, Nolan’s popular science-fiction movie that won the hearts of millions in 2010.
10. John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
John Leguizamo will appear in The Odyssey as Eumaeus. He was Odysseus’ loyal swineherd and served him with every ounce of loyalty he had to offer. In the texts, he was also instrumental in Odysseus’ return and also aided him in the battle against the suitors.
John Leguizamo is best known for his role as Aurelio in the John Wick series. Apart from that, we have also seen the actor surprising us with his performance in The Counselor, Love in the Time of Cholera, and several other projects. Most importantly, John Leguizamo is the actor behind the voice of Sid the Sloth in the Ice Age franchise.
Other Confirmed Cast Of The Odyssey
We have already discussed some of the most popular members in The Odyssey cast. However, several other cast members have been confirmed for the upcoming movie; here you go:
- Himesh Patel
- Jesse Garcia
- Samantha Morton
- Mia Goth
- Nick E. Tarabay
- Bill Irwin
- Will Yun Lee
- Rafi Gavron
- Shiloh Fernandez
- Ryan Hurst
- Corey Hawkins
- Michael Vlamis
- Logan Marshall-Green
- Jimmy Gonzales
- Maurice Compte
- Iddo Goldberg
- Josh Stewart
- Anthony Molinari
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is confirmed to hit theatres on July 17, 2026. We are bound to get more details on the characters as we approach the official release. So, we will update this article as soon as we get more information on the cast or the characters they will portray in the movie.
No, The Odyssey is pure work of Fiction. Based on Homer’s epic Greek poem, the film follows Odysseus as he struggles to return to his wife, Penelope, and his son, Telemachus
No, The Odyssey isn’t Christopher Nolan’s first mythological film because his film, Inception, while being a science-fiction drew heavy inspiration from Greek Mythology.
Tom Holland is playing the role of Odysseus’s son, Telemachus.
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Ajith Kumar
Ajith Kumar
