Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey premieres in London on July 6, with a wide theatrical release in the United States and the United Kingdom following on July 17. The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and is the first narrative feature ever shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras. Nolan used over 2 million feet of IMAX film across 91 days of photography in six countries.

The cast also includes Tom Holland as Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Zendaya as the goddess Athena, Charlize Theron as Circe, and Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. It is one of the most expensive and technically ambitious films Universal Pictures has ever put into production.

The Scale of the Shoot

Nolan shot in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and at the Falls Lake water tank at Universal’s lot in California. The choice to shoot entirely in IMAX 70mm means every frame carries four times the visual information of standard 35mm. The result, based on early previews, is a visual texture unlike anything currently in cinemas.

A new behind-the-scenes featurette released this week gives the clearest look yet at the Trojan horse sequence, with Pattinson prominent in the footage. A separate teaser debuted in cinemas today, attached to preview screenings of Jurassic World: Rebirth, and has already generated significant early-morning social media response.

What Classics Scholars Are Saying

CNN reported on June 28 that classics scholars and educators across several universities are preparing for a surge in student interest in ancient Greek literature once the film opens. Some have already updated their syllabi in anticipation. It is an unusual kind of cultural moment: a summer blockbuster prompting people back to a 2,700-year-old poem.

The film’s budget is estimated at $250 million. The score is by Ludwig Göransson, who collaborated with Nolan on Oppenheimer. US ticket pre-sales opened earlier this month and are already among the strongest advance numbers for any Universal release in recent years.

After Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture in 2024. The bar Nolan now carries into every new project is extraordinary. Early word from the CinemaCon presentation in April was strongly positive. Whether The Odyssey can reach that level remains to be seen.

The London premiere on July 6 will be the first public screening for general press. Wide release in the US and UK follows on July 17 in standard and IMAX formats.

If Nolan’s track record means anything, seats will go fast once the London reviews land on July 6.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)

When does Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey come out?

The world premiere is in London on July 6, 2026. The film opens wide in the US and UK on July 17, 2026, in standard, IMAX, and premium large format cinemas.

References

CNN. (2026). Classics nerds are frantically prepping for Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey. Published June 28, 2026.
Universal Pictures / Rotten Tomatoes. (2026). The Odyssey: Release Date, Cast, Trailers. Published 2026.