Christopher Nolan is venturing into unfamiliar territory—this time, with a film adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. The Inception and Oppenheimer visionary director is tackling one of the greatest works of literature, and he’s doing it with a dream cast that seems plucked from Mount Olympus. Production has already begun in places such as Sicily, Morocco, and the UK, with a launch date set for July 17, 2026. These are the 10 cast members who are officially confirmed and causing all the buzz—and why their casting is making the rounds of Hollywood rumor-mill chatter.
10. Samantha Morton
Samantha Morton is no stranger to emotionally charged, layered roles. From Minority Report to The Walking Dead, she brings intensity and depth to every performance. Her role in The Odyssey is still a secret, but her presence alone has sparked fan theories—could she be playing a mortal queen, or maybe a mysterious deity? We’ll have to wait and see.
9. Elliot Page
Elliot Page is back in Nolan’s universe after their iconic role in Inception. Famous for playing intelligent, emotionally complex roles, Page is an exciting wild card in this big cast. Although the details of their part are not yet revealed, the rumors alone indicate how eagerly everyone is waiting for the reunion.
8. Benny Safdie
Benny Safdie caused ripples with his fire-and-brimstone performance of Edward Teller in Oppenheimer, and now he’s reuniting with Nolan. Prone to indie sensibilities and gritty performances, Safdie’s addition indicates that even in a mythic spectacle, Nolan is going to keep it close to the ground and character-centric.
7. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron has already proven herself in both action and drama, from Mad Max: Fury Road to Monster. She’s new to working with Nolan, and fans are already envisioning her as a force to be reckoned with—perhaps Circe, the wily sorceress, or an Olympian goddess with bite. Either one, get ready for Theron to make her mark.
6. Lupita Nyong’o
Oscar-winning Lupita Nyong’o is another thrilling first-time team-up partner with Nolan. Regardless of whether she’s playing an angel or a virtuous human, Nyong’o’s range guarantees her part will be one to remember. CBR has listed her as one of the brightest new additions to this already loaded roster.
5. Jon Bernthal
If any actor can lend gritty physicality to a mythological character, it’s Jon Bernthal. With his background of intense performances on The Punisher and The Walking Dead, Bernthal is reported—according to CBR—to be playing the Cyclops Polyphemus. With his rough-around-the-edges energy, that casting would be spot-on.
4. Robert Pattinson
Robert Pattinson keeps building his career as a serious dramatic actor, and he’s returning to Nolan after appearing in Tenet. There’s a voice in the teaser trailer that sounds suspiciously like his—so fans are guessing he’ll play a significant role, such as Telemachus or one of Penelope’s suitors. Whatever it is, Pattinson’s unpredictability is half the fun.
3. Anne Hathaway
The other familiar face in Nolan’s resume, Anne Hathaway, brings both star power and serious acting credentials. Her past work on Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises demonstrates her range. Here, she might play Penelope, a goddess, or even a dark takonas Circe. CBR speculates she would bring her skills to one of the more morally gray figures in the story.
2. Zendaya
Fresh from starring in Dune and Euphoria, Zendaya will make an appearance with her real-life fiancé, Tom Holland. Although the classic Odyssey lacks a lot of female parts, she has many fans waiting to see who she’ll play—perhaps Athena, Penelope, or Helen of Troy. As per CBR, she is one of the top picks for a godly role, though a human heroine is not out of the question either.
1. Matt Damon
Surrounding him all is Matt Damon, solidified as the iconic Odysseus himself. Universal unveiled a first-look image of Damon dressed in full heroic attire, solidifying him as the lead of the film. Having previously collaborated with Nolan on Interstellar and Oppenheimer, Damon’s casting feels like a natural choice—imparting gravity, charm, and the everyman wisdom that characterizes Odysseus.
With brand-new IMAX cameras cranking and sweeping locations such as Sicily’s Favignana and Morocco’s desert landscapes, The Odyssey is looking to be one of Nolan’s most ambitious films to date. And yet, despite the gargantuan scale, actor John Leguizamo has said the shoot felt like an indie production—giving credit to Nolan’s do-it-yourself, no-committee mindset.
From mythological beasts, eternal themes, and a cast of characters befitting the gods, Nolan’s Odyssey seems poised to take ancient legend to the big screen in a manner only he can. July 2026 can’t arrive soon enough.