Christopher Nolan’s new The Odyssey trailer: 5 moments we need to break down

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Okay, summer movie season is officially upon us, and there’s a ton coming out – everything from Spielberg’s new film to the latest Toy Story. But honestly, all eyes are on Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. It’s the one everyone’s been waiting for, and I think it’s going to be the biggest hit of the summer.

Following the massive success of Oppenheimer and its many Academy Awards, anticipation is incredibly high for Christopher Nolan’s next film. Combining his directing skills with a fantastic cast and a classic story suggests it’s likely to be a hit.

We just got a much closer look at the movie with the release of a new trailer.

The new footage offered exciting previews of the film’s action, including a cyclops and battles with massive soldiers. It also suggested complex political drama unfolding back in Ithaca, and showcased Robert Pattinson’s portrayal of the manipulative Antinous. There’s a lot to analyze and get excited about in the preview.

Watch the complete trailer here, and find our 5 main takeaways further down the page.

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5 moments to break down from The Odyssey trailer

Odysseus’s interaction with Calypso

The trailer opens with a weary and disheveled Odysseus, portrayed by Matt Damon, speaking with the nymph Calypso, played by Charlize Theron.

“What do you remember?” she asked him. He responded with, “A wife, a son…” She urged him on, “And then what happened?”

He told us they had won the war, and we caught brief, difficult images of his experiences fighting. Then, with a clear sense of longing, he pleaded, “Please, help me get home.”

Watching this performance, it’s immediately obvious Nolan isn’t just focusing on Odysseus’s physical journey. He’s really getting into the character’s mind – the weight of everything is visibly crushing him. Honestly, he comes across as a man completely on the edge, like he’s about to break. It’s a powerfully internal portrayal.

Antinous’s scheming back in Ithaca

Although Odysseus’s travels are the most exciting part of the movie, the story also spends a significant amount of time in Ithaca, focusing on what’s happening with his son, Telemachus (played by Tom Holland), and his wife, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), while he’s away.

This part of the story focuses on the group of men competing for Penelope’s marriage after Odysseus’s disappearance, and their leader, the manipulative Antinous, played by Robert Pattinson.

In the trailer, he says this palace feels empty, like it’s waiting for its ruler. He directly asks someone to choose him. When Penelope mentions the king of Ithaca will return, he dismisses the idea, stating simply, “He’s not.”

He later tells Telemachus that he’s grieving for a father he barely knew, and insults him with a harsh and demeaning remark.

This scene has a subtly threatening atmosphere, and Pattinson appears perfectly cast. It promises to be a captivating contrast to the film’s more action-focused moments.

The cyclops

We all know Odysseus encounters many dangers during his journey – mythical creatures and harsh landscapes – and the cyclops is certainly one of the most famous threats he faces.

The trailer offers a quick glimpse of the Cyclops, and Odysseus guesses it’s sleeping just before it’s revealed to be very much awake – a massive hand suddenly reaches for him.

Right now, we’re only getting brief looks at the creature, which is understandable given the studio’s approach. However, even these small glimpses are building excitement for what appears to be a major action sequence in the movie.

The giant soldiers

One memorable challenge Odysseus faces is a battle against an army of giant soldiers, all clad in shining silver armor.

This is a particularly striking scene in the trailer. We see the imposing fighters march into view and quickly overwhelm Odysseus’s army, violently throwing soldiers against trees and easily beheading others.

We’re eagerly anticipating how this scene unfolds, and we’re especially curious to see how Odysseus manages to escape this predicament.

Where is Zendaya’s Athena?

The trailer showed us a few things, but a lot is still being kept secret. One of the biggest surprises is that Zendaya, who plays the goddess Athena, wasn’t featured in it.

In the movie, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and war, will be a key helper to Odysseus as he tries to return home. Right now, the only official image released of her shows what she looks like in human form.

We’re still expecting to see a few more cast members revealed, but the trailer has done a great job of showing us enough to get excited about while still holding back plenty of surprises.

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The Odyssey will be released in cinemas on 17 July 2026.

Authors

Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer

Patrick Cremona writes about movies for TopMob, covering new releases in theaters and on streaming platforms. He’s been with the site since October 2019, and during that time has interviewed many famous actors and reviewed a wide variety of films.

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2026-05-05 15:35