15 July,2026 11:18 PM IST | Mumbai | Nascimento Pinto
A still from The Odyssey (Picture via Special Arrangement)
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey needs no introduction, being one of the most anticipated films of 2026. Director Christopher Nolan, the plot based on The Odyssey, and a star-studded cast featuring Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong'o together make for the perfect combination to draw the acclaimed filmmaker's fans to theatres for a cinematic take on one of Greek mythology's most enduring epics, traditionally attributed to Homer and reimagined through countless adaptations over the centuries.
If you're expecting Nolan's vision, you get just that, along with the judicious use of music. However, this feels like so much more from the director whose reputation has given us the likes of The Dark Knight Trilogy, Inception, Dunkirk, among others. It feels like Greek mythology needed Nolan as much as he needed Greek mythology to tell a story and showcase that storytelling doesn't have to be heavy or complex, even if one is not familiar with thousands of stories or concepts, without overwhelming the viewer.
Putting the famed warrior Odysseus, played by Damon, at the centre of the story, the film takes viewers on his journey back home over two decades after the Trojan War, which, as many know, is anything but simple. Aided by Holland, who plays his son Telemachus, and his wife Penelope, brought to life by Anne Hathaway, the story is about family, but not without Robert Pattinson portraying Antinous, one of her 108 suitors trying to win her hand in marriage and the throne while Odysseus is away. The story seems straightforward but unravels slowly with the passage of time, introducing viewers to Greek mythology through Odysseus' memories as he takes everybody on an adventurous journey over 172 minutes in what feels like a travelogue long before travelogues became popular, yet remains intriguing enough for the audience to wonder which Greek mythical character will come next to challenge man. At the same time, the plot reminds him that things are in his control if he wants them to be. It also gives a worldview of the current destructive times we live in, making you ponder the effects of war without sounding like a social message.
In all the films that Damon has worked on in his career, The Odyssey reminds us why he has more to offer as a main character in every sense that we know him. It also showcases a refreshingly evolved version of Holland, but not without making viewers wait to see Hathaway in such roles more often, especially at a time when Pattinson pulls off a great act as the antagonist and almost makes you forget his roles in Harry Potter and Twilight as he evolves into more challenging characters in his career. Charlize Theron's presence, playing Calypso, the sea nymph, highlights how much she can do with the screen time she has. But Zendaya deserved more, as her role felt like a cameo, especially considering the role she plays as Athena, Odysseus' protector, and her place in the lives of the King and Queen of Ithaca, which begs for another part. The audience will come for Nolan but can go back with so much more.
