The master of cinematic grandeur is back, and this time, Christopher Nolan is diving into the depths of ancient myth. With the release of the first teaser for ‘The Odyssey’, fans got a glimpse at what might become one of the most ambitious adaptations in movie history.
In the teaser, Matt Damon‘s Odysseus is alone, battered, and adrift on a piece of debris in the vast ocean. Not a word is spoken. However, his loneliness and desperation are clear.
‘The Odyssey’ Will Focus On More Than Just Odysseus’ Battles
Based on Homer’s timeless epic, ‘The Odyssey’ follows the return of Odysseus to Ithaca after the Trojan War. It’s a voyage plagued by divine wrath, monstrous creatures, and moral reckoning. In true Nolan fashion, the film promises to deliver more than a straightforward retelling. This is not just the tale of a hero returning home. It’s the emotional core of human endurance and the cost of survival.
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The trailer opens with Odysseus drifting through endless blue, a lone figure in a sea of myth and memory. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his son Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, listens to whispers and legends about his missing father. This dual narrative (of the father lost and the son searching) sets the tone for a deeply emotional story. Though the trailer doesn’t reveal what caused the shipwreck, Homer’s original poem holds the answers.
After his crew recklessly slaughters the sacred cattle of Helios, the sun god, Zeus punishes them with a violent storm that annihilates their ship. Odysseus alone survives. It’s a cruel mercy granted by the gods. This moment is one of the poem’s most heartbreaking turns, where divine punishment meets human weakness. If this is the moment depicted in the trailer, then Nolan is clearly setting the stage for a tale of guilt, isolation, and the struggle to remain human in a world ruled by gods. It’s a raw, vulnerable starting point that allows Nolan to explore the depth of Odysseus, not just as a warrior, but as a man.
Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ To Start Selling IMAX Tickets A Year Before The Film’s Release
As if the trailer’s quiet power wasn’t enough to stir anticipation, Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros. have made a groundbreaking move: ‘The Odyssey’ is opening ticket sales a full year in advance. According to Variety, select IMAX 70mm showtimes will go on sale this Thursday, July 17, exactly one year before the film’s official 2026 release date. This strategy is highly unorthodox.
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However, it speaks volumes about the studio’s confidence in the film’s potential to become a true event. In today’s age of streaming and last-minute digital releases, very few films can pull off such early presales. Yet Nolan’s track record (Interstellar, Dunkirk, Oppenheimer) has proven that he is one of the rare directors who can transform a film into a global moment.
Additionally, the presales are limited to IMAX 70mm. Nolan has long been a champion of the IMAX format, using it not as a gimmick but as an immersive storytelling tool. There’s a practical upside as well. These early ticket sales will help build buzz and drive up the film’s projected box office haul. By the time ‘The Odyssey’ actually releases, it may already feel like a cultural phenomenon in motion.
