Christopher Nolan to Adapt Homer’s Odyssey in Next Film

Greek Reporter ^ | December 24, 2024 | Luis Mendoza

[nickcarraway]

Universal Pictures has announced on X that acclaimed director Christopher Nolan’s next film will be an adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. The British director’s next project is tipped to be a “mythic action epic” and will be shot with cutting-edge IMAX films. It will be released in theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026.

The film’s cast is star-studded, as Nolan has assembled an all-star roster to do justice to one of the most influential writings in human history. Cast members for this project include Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron.

This will be Nolan’s and Universal’s follow-up for the award-winning Oppenheimer. Production on the movie is set to begin in the first half of 2025. The director is also set to write and produce with Emma Thomas.

Homer, an ancient Greek poet, wrote the Odyssey, one of the most renowned epic poems still read and studied by audiences to this day. He is also credited with writing The Iliad, another of his works that is foundational to Western literature.

Remarkably, not much is known about Homer’s life. In fact, some have even disputed his very existence, believing instead that Homer is more of a symbol for an entire ancient group of oral poets.

Grecian Delight supports Greece

The Odyssey recounts the ten-year journey back home of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, at the conclusion of the Trojan War. On his journey home to his wife Penelope, he faces numerous obstacles and challenges. The Odyssey is characterized by the exploration of themes such as heroism, loyalty, and the struggle against adversity. To say that Odysseus was unlucky during his journey would be an understatement.

This epic poem also features some of the greatest characters of Greek mythology, including gods and monsters such as Poseidon, Athena, the Cyclops, Sirens, and Scylla, a six-headed monster.

Tom Holland signed on to work with Christopher Nolan without knowing they were adapting the Odyssey Following his appearances as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Tom Holland has become one of Hollywood’s main A-listers and a name that studios would break the bank to have on their projects.

Last week, however, Holland admitted that he signed on to the project without a clear idea as to what Christopher Nolan’s production would entail. “To be perfectly honest, I don’t really know what it’s about,” admitted Holland in an interview with The Dish podcast. He also revealed that he had met with Nolan and described his pitch for the film as “awesome.”

Now, both Christopher Nolan and Tom Holland will gear up to produce what could be a once-in-a-lifetime movie, as they aim to do justice to one of the single most noteworthy works of literature ever written.

[1ScrappyArmyMom]

Zendeya is a lousy actress.
She’s not even pretty.
Freaking ruined Dune 2.
Tom Holland doesn’t have the physique, but I guess he could pump it up.

[virgil]

The Odyssey is my favorite story. I thought the TV series wasn’t too bad, actually. Are they going to have Penelope slaying the suitors in this version? I get a bad feeling this one’s going to be a stinker.

[nopardons]

BTTT

[nopardons]

BTTT

[Nateman]

...The cyclops scene would be amazing.

Who is hurting you?

Nobody is hurting me!

[Tallguy]

Theron is probably too old to be a love interest in this flick. Might be the Goddess Athena, however.

[military cop]

Cast members = all the usual suspects.

I sweat there’s only about 20-25 pretenders in Hollyweird that act in about 90% of the movies that come out.

[BenLurkin]

She isn’t too old to be my love interest.

:>)

[Tallguy]

I hear ya! The problem isn’t so much Charlize, it’s the “leading man” that looks like a skinny kid.

[mware]

Well the suitors of Penelope could be Russell Crowe, Sean Bean, and Gerard Butler

[Salamander]

Same.

Hard pass.

[left that other site]

I Understand.

(((HUGS)))

[Salamander]

One of the stupidest things I ever did was watch A Dogs Purpose right after my Bubby suddenly dropped dead of a lethal arrhythmia.

That was 7 1/2 years ago and I’m still hurting from it.

Dumb thing to do.
Really spectacularly dumb.

:’(

[left that other site]

I love Dostyevsky...but the second time I read The Brothers Karamazov, I was about halfway in and I remembered from 50 years earlier, THE DOG.

And I STOPPED reading.

[Captain Peter Blood]

This film is unnecessary and I already hate the cast in it. Armand Assante’s TV miniseries was very good. I predict a flop before one reel of film has been shot.

[Captain Peter Blood]

While we are on films, I just saw that Columbia Pictures wants to do Men In Black 5. Will Smith needs a hit but the snag is he wants his toxic wife in the new film.
Also Sony is talking about paying him over $100 Million to star and Tommy Lee Jones $45 Million. How will that thing even make any money when you have $145 Million in Salary cost before anything else, your talking about probably spending over $400 Million before marketing costs.

The rumor is Will Smith is causing so many problems for Columbia, including wanting his wife they may cancel the whole thing. I would say there is nowhere else to go with the story and Tommy Lee is getting too old to play Agent K anyway.

[SunkenCiv]

The Samuel Butler and Trojan War keywords, sorted:

• Does King Priam of Troy Appear in Hittite Records? [06/21/2024]
• Odysseus and the Most Loyal Dog in Greek Mythology [06/11/2024]
• The Mystery of the Trojan Horse | Documentary [10/24/2023]
• The Life of Heinrich Schliemann, the Discoverer of Troy [09/21/2023]
• What Happened to Achilles After the Iliad? [08/26/2023]
• The Trojan War: History or Myth? [06/19/2023]
• Was Homer Real? [03/13/2023]
• Great Battles: Was there a Trojan War? Recent Excavations at Troy [01/04/2023]
• Circe, the First Witch of Greek Mythology [01/03/2023]
• Stone Giant Unearthed Among God Heads At Aizanoi [12/31/2022]
• Incredibly 'rare' Roman mosaic depicting the Trojan War is found in Syria [10/13/2022]
• Did the Romans Know How Old the Pyramids Were? [08/14/2022]
• Latest find in Turkey's Ayasuluk Hill links Hittites to Ephesus [07/09/2022]
• In an America full of craven Parises, be an Agamemnon [02/03/2022]
• 1,500-year-old Roman mosaic depicting battle from Homer's Iliad that was found by chance in a farmer's field is revealed to be the FIRST of its kind in UK [11/24/2021]
• Did archaeologists find the Trojan Horse? [08/11/2021]
• Did Archaeologists Find the Trojan Horse? [08/11/2021]
• Mediterranean silver likely traded during the Trojan War, the founding of Rome [07/19/2021]
• David Rohl : Greek Dark Age, Hyksos Invasion and Sea Peoples [04/14/2021]
• New Evidence Supports Modern Greeks Having DNA of Ancient Mycenaeans [06/28/2020]
• Who are the Luwians? [07/16/2019]
• Archaeological evidence shows Minoans used violence and were prepared for war [03/06/2019]
• 6 Amazing Artifacts with Ancient Greek Mythology Scenes Discovered in Bulgaria [01/07/2019]
• New BBC TV series "Troy: A Fall of a City" shows Achilles as African [12/28/2018]
• Greek Authorities Say Lost Ancient City of Tenea Located [11/13/2018]
• Traces of Iron Age wars found on double-skin wall [09/23/2018]
• Homer Odyssey: Oldest extract discovered on clay tablet [07/11/2018]
• New study finds: Ancient Mycenaean civilization might have collapsed due to uprising or invasion [04/15/2018]
• Famed Archaeologist 'Discovered' His Own Fakes at 9,000-Year-Old Settlement [03/19/2018]
• 'Homer can help you': War veterans use ancient epics to cope [03/14/2018]
• The First English Translation of 'The Odyssey' by a Woman Was Worth the Wait [11/17/2017]
• Why Vessey Turned Two Swedes Into Hittites [08/26/2016]
• Throne of Homer's hero is unearthed [06/18/2016]
• Devastating 'World War ZERO' destroyed ancient civilisations and plunged Europe into a dark age [05/15/2016]
• World War Zero brought down mystery civilisation of 'sea people' [05/13/2016]
• Archaeologist Claims to Have Unlocked Phaistos Disk Mystery [again] [12/20/2015]
• Grave of 'Griffin Warrior' at Pylos Could Be a Gateway to Civilizations [10/27/2015]
• Archaeologists discover secret tunnel in ancient Hittite castle [10/21/2015]
• Archaeologists making exciting discoveries in Laconia [08/28/2015]
• Ancient Greek palace unearthed near Sparta dates back to 17th century BC [08/27/2015]
• Symbols of Hittite goddess of sexuality found on 4,000-year-old tablet discovered in central Turkey [08/15/2015]
• Splendid Strength (Review: The Iliad, Translated by Peter Green) [06/07/2015]
• The Cult of Amun [ancient Egypt and Nubia] [05/08/2015]
• Author Says a Whole Culture -- Not a Single 'Homer' -- Wrote 'Iliad,' 'Odyssey' [01/05/2015]
• The Minoans were Caucasian [07/12/2014]
• Archaeologists Excavate Lower City of Mycenae [06/06/2014]
• Archaeologists Excavate for Archaic Greek City of Tenea [05/25/2014]
• The Greek Age of Bronze -- Middle Helmets [04/24/2014]
• Ancient Palace's Painted Floors Display Bronze-Age Creativity [01/06/2014]
• Minoan Frescoes at Tel Kabri: Aegean Art in Bronze Age Israel [07/21/2013]
• Spat between Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin over German treasure [06/21/2013]
• Incredible, Epic Genes: Dating The Iliad [03/01/2013]
• Bust of Memnon: Images of Blacks in Ancient Greece [01/05/2013]
• Ancient city of Troy rebranded itself after war [12/24/2012]
• Archeologists unearth extraordinary human sculpture in Turkey [ Suppiluliuma ] [07/30/2012]
• New Indo-European Language Discovered [06/21/2012]
• Rare Cuneiform Script Found on Island of Malta [12/24/2011]
• Lost city found in Turkey: It is older than Troy [09/27/2011]
• Bulgarian Archaeology Finds Said to Rewrite History of Black Sea Sailing [09/14/2011]
• Archaeologists uncover 3,000-year-old lion adorning citadel gate complex in Turkey [08/09/2011]
• Is an Eclipse Described in the Odyssey (and does it date the return of Odysseus to Penelope) [07/08/2011]
• The War that Killed Achilles by Caroline Alexander [reviews] [12/23/2010]
• Project Troia -- Bronze Age Troy Just Keeps on Growing [10/08/2010]
• Two tumuluses found in Turkey's ancient Daskyleion [09/24/2010]
• Greek Archaeologists Claim They Discovered Odysseus' Palace [08/25/2010]
• Greece. They found the palace belonging to one of the Heroes of the Iliad? [Egyptian artifact, 2006] [07/30/2010]
• Ancient Greek town from where ships were launched for Troy unearthed [07/16/2010]
• Has the Sarcophagus of Paris, Prince of Troy, Been Found? [07/16/2010]
• Ancient Chronography, Eratosthenes and the Dating of the Fall of Troy [abstract] [07/14/2010]
• Diggers discover Phoenician army complex in Cyprus [ Trojan War connection ] [06/18/2010]
• 'Palestine existed in Syria, Turkey' [inhabited by Philistines] [05/11/2010]
• In the footsteps of the Bronze Men [ the Carians in Egypt ] [04/06/2010]
• Could museum's gold be from ancient Troy? [02/02/2010]
• Two-and-a-Half Millennia Don't Change Much [01/29/2010]
• Excavations in Ancient Tegea [12/04/2009]
• 5,000-year-old Venus figure found in Canakkale [10/02/2009]
• "The Catastrophe" What the End of Bronze-Age Civilization Means for Modern Times [09/28/2009]
• Archaeologists find suspected Trojan war-era couple [09/22/2009]
• Archaeology meets mythology in Mycenean Pylos (King Nestor) [09/11/2009]
• University of Toronto archaeologists find...cuneiform tablets in 2,700-year old Turkish temple [08/10/2009]
• Phaistos Disk: Greek or Luwian? [06/25/2009]
• Ancient Greece's 'global warming' [05/08/2009]
• Darwin's illegitimate brainchild [03/25/2009]
• Ancient Group Believed Departed Souls Lived in Stone Monuments [11/18/2008]
• Trojan arrows and unique seals from Perperikon stand out in archaeological summer '08 [11/03/2008]
• Grog of the Greeks [ barley beer, honey mead, retsina wine ] [10/20/2008]
• 'The Odyssey' and 'The Iliad' are giving up new secrets about the ancient world [10/03/2008]
• Defences at Troy reveal larger town [ news finally reaches UK ] [09/19/2008]
• Who Were the Hurrians? [06/25/2008]
• Scientists calculate the exact date of the Trojan horse using eclipse in Homer [06/24/2008]
• Ancient Eclipse Found in "The Odyssey," Scientists Say [06/23/2008]
• Ancient Tomb Found On Greek Island [03/05/2008]
• Sick Rams Used As Ancient Bioweapons [11/29/2007]
• Troy Story [The Straight Dope] [07/18/2007]
• 2,700-Year-Old Fabric Found in Greece [05/10/2007]
• Mycenaean and Hittite Diplomatic Correspondence: Fact and Fiction [ PDF file ] [05/03/2007]
• Classical Treasures, Bathed in a New Light [ Met Museum, NYC, Roman and Greek classics ] [05/02/2007]
• Engineers To Help Find Homer's Itacha [03/27/2007]
• Lessons Of 'The 300' [03/26/2007]
• French Explorer's Bad Luck In Syria Avenged At Last (Hittites) [10/17/2006]
• Drill hole begins Homeric quest [10/11/2006]
• Schliemann's search for the 'first city' [09/30/2006]
• Greek Archaeologists Confirm Authenticity Of 'Theseus Ring' [08/03/2006]
• Archaeologists Seek Hints On 4,000-Year-Old (Thracian) Civilization In Tekirdað [07/19/2006]
• An epic battle on Homer's gender [07/02/2006]
• Virgil's Demi-God City 'Found' [04/07/2006]
• Odyssey's End? The Search for Ancient Ithaca [04/02/2006]
• Archaeologist Links Ancient Palace, Ajax [03/29/2006]
• Palace Of Homer's Hero Rises Out Of Myths [03/28/2006]
• Ancient coffin with scenes from Homer's poems unearthed in Cyprus [03/20/2006]
• Archaeologists say the Urartians failed to overcome harsh winter conditions [03/03/2006]
• Helen Of Troy Existed? [10/18/2005]
• Helen of Troy: Goddess, Princess, Whore [10/09/2005]
• Search Locates Homer's Ithaca [09/29/2005]
• Archeologists make historic discovery (Tomb of Odysseus) [09/23/2005]
• Bulgarian Archaeologists Uncover Treasure Of Thousands Of Golden Ornaments [08/17/2005]
• Unlocking the Power of Myth [08/12/2005]
• Where Did The Etruscans Come From? [08/06/2005]
• Archaeologists Unearth Part Of 3,500 Year-Old Gold Mask (Orpheus) [06/24/2005]
• Research To Investigate Links Between Ancient Greeks And Modern Science Fiction [06/08/2005]
• Mycenaean Port of Athens Found? [04/29/2005]
• Mycenaean Port Of Athens Found [04/28/2005]
• Papyrus Reveals New Clues to Ancient World (New Sophocles, Lucian: More) [04/28/2005]
• Russian Culture Official Suggests Legendary Gold Collection From Troy Unlikely be Returned Germany [02/27/2005]
• In Search of the Real Troy [02/20/2005]
• The Warriors Of Paros [12/19/2004]
• Arzawa [11/26/2004]
• Quarry, Setting and Team Marks: The Carian Connection [10/08/2004]
• The Linear B Tablets and Mycenaean Social, Political, and Economic Organization [08/29/2004]
• Laocoön and His Son [08/28/2004]
• The Argonaut Epos and Bronze Age Economic History [08/25/2004]
• Amazon Warrior Women [08/04/2004]
• Was There a Trojan War? [07/29/2004]
• Non-Attic Characters [07/18/2004]
• Inscription in Carian and Greek [07/17/2004]
• Troy the Movie [05/25/2004]
• Victor Davis Hanson: The Ancient Greeks -- Were they like us at all? [05/04/2004]
• The Truth About An Epic Tale Of Love, War And Greed (Troy) [03/25/2004]
• Etruscan Demons, Monsters Unearthed [11/05/2003]
• Geologists investigate Trojan battlefield [02/07/2003]
• Geologists Show Homer Got It Right [01/29/2003]
• Was Troy a Metropolis? Homer Isn't Talking [10/21/2002]
• Dig Unearths Mycenaean 'Homeric Capital' [04/17/2002]
• Recent Finds Prove That Homer's Stories Were More Than Myth [02/24/2002]
• So Who Is Buried in Midas's Tomb? [12/24/2001]

[Biblebelter]

I wasn’t yet a teenager when I saw the Kirk Douglas version on television.

I still remember Kirk throwing that axe.

I read Homer in a college lit class, I think it was the Richard Lattimore translation.

I certainly don’t remember the movie well enough to know how closely it stuck to the text.

I suspect it was commercial fare as “swords and sandals” was big in the fifties and early sixties with those Steve Reeves Hercules movies.

[Salamander]

Skipped that one

[left that other site]

Wise Move.