See Christopher Nolan's This Epic Trailer the Way It Was Never Intended for Viewing.
Christopher Nolan's legendary action saga, The Odyssey, is a film audiences have been anticipating since its announcement. It easily ranks among the most hotly anticipated films of 2026. As a pre-Christmas treat, a preview has now been released, though it's hampered due to the platform's low-quality encoding—maybe illustrating the director's choice to restrict the trailer solely for theatrical audiences.
A First Glimpse at the Legendary Cast
This first look reveals Matt Damon in the role of the king of Ithaca. We also see Tom Holland as Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. During an emotional scene, Penelope asks her husband to vow his safe homecoming, only for him to look up and question what happens if he cannot. The trailer also offers a quick, obscured look at Polyphemus the Cyclops, whose flock Odysseus and his crew steal on their treacherous voyage.
Based upon a cornerstone of Western literature, The Odyssey follows the epic journey undertaken by the famed ruler. After his triumph in the Trojan War, which is depicted in Homer's Iliad, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous road home.
Mythical Encounters with an All-Star Cast
Along his path, the hero encounters countless challenges and legendary creatures. These include the enchantress Circe, who transforms men into swine, and the deceptive Sirens. Regardless of these ordeals, Odysseus vows to overcome anything to get back to Penelope and Telemachus in Ithaca.
This film's ensemble boasts an impressive lineup. Alongside the leading trio are Charlize Theron portraying the shrewd goddess, together with Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.
A Story Repeatedly Told
Homer's epic has seen many reinterpretations over the years. Examples include modern retellings to a 1999 ballet. There has even been a stage musical adaptation called Epic: The Musical, released in the form of a nine-album collection.
A full-length preview has been highly anticipated since the film's announcement and a brief teaser which was initially shown exclusively in theaters. That teaser later made its way online soon after.
To see a clearer version, the trailer posted on the movie's verified account might deliver enhanced visual quality.
The Odyssey is scheduled for release on global IMAX screens on July 17, 2026.
