Empire reveals Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' first-look images

A timeless chronicle of cunning and strength, Homer’s The Odyssey is one of the most foundational myths in history. The Greek tale follows Odysseus as he returns home after the Trojan War. On his decade-long journey, the hero encounters perilous challenges and mythic creatures. Empire’s cover gives us an exclusive look at Nolan’s rendition. Front and center stands Odysseus, in all his glory. The Trojan horse stands thunderously behind him (which is a real prop, by the way). This month’s subscriber cover shows warriors hauling the horse through the sand, shaded by the cover of night.

Nolan teams up with his wife, Emma Thomas, to produce the film. With a tale as titular as The Odyssey, it’s only natural for a legendary cast to follow. Matt Damon will portray the legendary hero Odysseus. Joining him is Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Mia Goth, Zendaya, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Samantha Morton, Ryan Hurst, Logan Marshall-Green, Lupita Nyong’o, Josh Stewart, Benny Safdie, Corey Hawkins, and Elyes Gabel.

In an interview with Empire, Damon praises Nolan’s vision, declaring that “without hyperbole, it was the best experience of [his] career.” Nolan confirms that the seismic story will be bigger that anything we’ve seen before, revealing to Empire that they shot over two million feet of film.

With what we know so far, The Odyssey may go down as Nolan’s most epic feat yet. Specifically designed for IMAX, the spectacle transforms the legendary tale in a way never seen before. The Odyssey makes its thunderous debut in theaters on July 17, 2026.