There are directors who simply tell stories—and then there are those who dare to wrestle with myths themselves. Christopher Nolan firmly belongs to the latter category. Each of his projects is never just a cinematic release but a cultural event. So the news that he’s tackling Homer’s Odyssey has unsurprisingly sparked global fascination and sky-high expectations.
New images released by Entertainment Weekly offer the first tantalizing glimpse into Nolan’s ambitious vision, a world where ancient myth collides with contemporary blockbuster storytelling. In the stills, Anne Hathaway emerges as Penelope, one of literature’s most iconic female figures.
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Penelope is far more than a faithful wife waiting at home; she embodies resilience, intelligence, political acumen, and quiet strength. Casting Hathaway seems no accident—her dramatic range and ability to inhabit complex, multilayered characters align perfectly with Nolan’s direction, which is less about spectacle and more about existential depth.
Tom Holland takes on the role of Telemachus, moving away from his familiar blockbuster persona into the interior, emotional world of a son growing up in the shadow of absence, grappling with identity.
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Opposite him, Robert Pattinson inhabits Antinous, the most arrogant and dangerous of Penelope’s suitors. Early images hint at a dark, ambitious character—an ideal fit for Pattinson’s increasingly mature body of work.
At the center of it all stands Matt Damon as Odysseus, King of Ithaca. Portraying a decade-long journey home, moral trials, the wear of time, and obsession with return, Damon faces one of the most demanding roles of his career. Nolan appears intent on exploring Odysseus not just as a warrior but as a profoundly human figure.
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The ensemble cast is nothing short of luminous, including Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Mia Goth, Charlize Theron, Benny Safdie, Elliot Page, and more.
With Anne Hathaway as Penelope and a cast that balances power and sensitivity, the film seems poised to stake a claim not only at the box office but in contemporary cinematic mythology. Audiences can mark their calendars: the premiere is set for July 17, 2026.
