See Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Preview the Way It Was Never Intended to Be Seen.
Christopher Nolan's mythic action epic, The Odyssey, is a film audiences have been anticipating since its announcement. It firmly sits among the most hotly anticipated films of 2026. As a pre-Christmas treat, a preview has now been released, though it's hampered by YouTube's poor compression—perhaps explaining the director's choice to restrict the trailer solely for theatrical audiences.
The Initial Look of the Stellar Ensemble
The debut footage showcases Matt Damon in the role of Odysseus. We also see Tom Holland playing the son and Anne Hathaway depicting the loyal wife. During an emotional scene, the character pleads with her husband to vow his safe homecoming, to which he respond by asking what happens if he cannot. The trailer also offers a quick, obscured look of the mythical one-eyed giant, from whom sheep are are taken by the hero and his men on their treacherous voyage.
Adapted from a foundational pillar of Western literature, The Odyssey follows the lengthy quest of the legendary King of Ithaca. Following his victory in the Trojan War, which is depicted in Homer's Iliad, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous return to his homeland.
Mythical Encounters and a Star-Studded Lineup
Along his path, the hero encounters numerous obstacles and mythical beings. These include the witch-goddess Circe, who transforms men into swine, as well as the treacherous Sirens. Despite these trials, Odysseus vows to do whatever it takes to get back to Penelope and Telemachus in Ithaca.
The adaptation's cast is remarkably star-studded. Joining Damon, Holland, and Hathaway is Charlize Theron as the cunning Circe, together with Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.
A Tale of Many Adaptations
The classic poem has seen numerous adaptations throughout history. Examples include modern retellings to a 1999 ballet. It has even been adapted into a musical titled 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 short teaser clip which was initially shown exclusively in theaters. That teaser subsequently found its way onto the internet soon after.
To see a clearer version, the trailer posted on the film's official social channel might deliver a better, clearer look.
The Odyssey will debut in IMAX theaters worldwide on July 17, 2026.