by Maxine Ocampo
A few years after the release of his Academy Award-winning film, Oppenheimer (2023), Christopher Nolan’s next project has been revealed to be his interpretation of the famous Greek epic, The Odyssey. This work by Homer follows Odysseus, King of Ithaca, as he endures a difficult journey to return home to his wife and son after battling in the Trojan War ten years prior.
In a Tweet from Universal Pictures, details about Nolan’s film include being “shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology… bring[ing] Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and [will] open in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.” Multiple casting confirmations have also been dropped since this announcement, with renowned actors like Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway making the list. However, it hasn’t been revealed on who will be playing which character. This has led to many anticipating audiences predicting the character casting for this movie, myself included. Given the large ensemble of characters found within the original work, I wanted to share my predictions for the following main roles: Odysseus, Penelope, and Telemachus.
With Tom Holland being given the lead role for Nolan’s The Odyssey, there was backlash online about him not being the right fit for the titular role of Odysseus, as many inferred being the lead means being cast as the namesake of the story. However, I disagree with this. I believe Tom Holland won’t be playing Odysseus, but rather the character’s son, Telemachus. In the original poem, 20-year-old Telemachus, Prince of Ithaca, goes on his own quest to try and find his father after learning that he’s still alive. Based on this information and the reveal that Holland will be the main lead, I predict that Nolan’s take on this story will focus on Telemachus retracing the journey his father took, trying to piece any information together to figure out Odysseus’ current whereabouts. So instead of the film following Odysseus’ struggle to return home, I think it’ll focus on Telemachus trying to find his dad. A reverse Finding Nemo if you will. That’s why Tom Holland will play the lead role, because the lead role for Nolan’s interpretation is not Odysseus, but Telemachus.
So, if Tom Holland won’t be playing the King of Ithaca, who will? I believe that Matt Damon will be the one to take on the role. Given his extensive acting experience in both action and drama films, Damon would be a perfect choice for portraying Odysseus, an emotionally complex character that undergoes physically demanding battles and conditions for over 20 years all to get home to his son and wife.
This leads me to my last casting prediction, the Queen of Ithaca herself, Penelope. Ever since Odysseus left for war, Homer’s epic describes how Penelope waited for her husband, raised their son, and held down the kingdom as suitors plagued the castle to try and become the next king, all within those 20 years. I believe the perfect actress to depict the strength, poise, and loyalty needed for playing Penelope is none other than Anne Hathaway. Throughout her career, Hathaway’s acting versatility has shown her skill in understanding and embodying any character she’s given, and playing Penelope would be no exception.
To wrap up my predictions, I hope to see the Ithaca royal family portrayed by Tom Holland as Telemachus, Matt Damon as Odysseus, and Anne Hathaway as Penelope in Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey (2026).
*Disclaimer: This article was written on February 16th, one day prior to the announcement of who will portray Odysseus*
