It’s hard to imagine Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey‘ being anything less than a cinematic juggernaut. Yet, despite the immense pressure of adapting Homer’s classic Greek epic on a grand scale, Robert Pattinson still found room for some behind-the-scenes chaos.
Playing the scheming Antinous, marking his second project with Nolan and third with Tom Holland, Pattinson recently revealed that his favorite pastime during the grueling shoot was relentlessly trolling Holland, who plays his on-screen stepson in the upcoming film.
How Robert Pattinson Tormented Tom Holland
Pattinson has once again joined forces with Christopher after the 2019 science fiction drama ‘Tenet.’ This time, he’s embodying Antunous, one of Homer’s most despicable characters. The character is convinced that Odysseus (Matt Damon) won’t return to Ithaca after the Trojan war.
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Besides his desire to take over Odysseus, Antunous has his eyes on his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), making him the ultimate arch-rival of the couple’s son, Telemachus, played by Holland. Pattinson joked that Telemachus must be furious, saying, “I mean, he’s just the worst stepfather you could possibly have.”
This movie reunites Pattinson with Holland for the third time, following ‘The Lost City of Z’ and ‘The Devil All the Time.’ The duo had the best time filming, with ‘The Batman’ actor teasing the Marvel star day in and day out.
“This is like the third time that we’ve done this snake thing with each other, and I don’t know why, but this was just a fun part to play: ‘I just want to be your daddy. I want to be your daddy. That’s all I want!'” Pattinson joked.
But beyond being a riot on set, Pattinson helped Holland cope with the stress of joining such a huge project. “Having a familiar face and someone that I could share the screen with was a real safety blanket for me,” Holland said.
“I’m always eager to share scenes with Rob, because he just brings the best out of everyone…I admire his ability to take big swings and make them feel like the perfect decision for that character,” the actor added. Meanwhile, Universal Pictures is taking a fresh approach ahead of the release.
Universal Pictures Is Taking An Unusual Approach
Scheduled for a theatrical release on July 17, ‘The Odyssey’ features Damon as Odysseus, Holland as Telemachus, Hathaway as Penelope, Charlize Theron as Calypso, and Pattinson as the conniving Antinous.
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John Leguizamo and Jon Bernthal will portray Eumaeus and Menelaus, while Zendaya will take on Athena, the Goddess of wisdom. As for the production itself, Universal Pictures has decided to approach its release in quite an unusual manner.
Unlike many big-budget productions, which traditionally hold early influencer screenings, ‘The Odyssey’ won’t receive any screenings for critics ahead of its world premiere in London on July 6.
The move reported by The Hollywood Reporter contradicts the recent trend of inviting various content creators and fan sites to share their impressions about a movie ahead of professional reviews. While it’s too soon to tell if this strategy signals a permanent shift in marketing, it is a fascinating gamble.
If ‘The Odyssey’ pays off at the box office, Universal may well bypass traditional promotional methods for future high-profile projects, relying entirely on a director’s reputation, star power, and audience anticipation.
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