‘The Odyssey’ Cast & Character Guide: Who’s Who In Christopher Nolan’s Epic?

Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, *The Odyssey*, is already generating huge excitement for its planned release in July 2022. After the massive success of *Oppenheimer*, Nolan is more popular than ever, and he has a reputation for making original, non-sequel films that perform incredibly well in theaters. This has led to tickets for *The Odyssey* in the immersive IMAX 70mm format selling out over a year ahead of time.

Homer is believed to have written *The Odyssey*, an epic poem that continues the story after the events of *The Iliad*. It follows Odysseus, a Greek king, on his ten-year struggle to return home after the Trojan War. Meanwhile, Odysseus’s wife, Penelope, and their son, Telemachus, are dealing with unwanted suitors who assume Odysseus is dead and want to marry Penelope.

Bringing such a well-known story to life means carefully choosing actors to portray iconic characters like Odysseus and Circe. It’s more complex than imagining what bread or the wheel would look like as a person. These characters are deeply embedded in our culture and history, and that creates a real challenge for filmmakers. It’s important to consider how the poem and other related stories originally present these characters to ensure an accurate and respectful portrayal.

Confirmed Actors in ‘The Odyssey’

Matt Damon as Odysseus

Universal Pictures

Currently, the full cast of *The Odyssey* hasn’t been revealed, so it’s mostly a guessing game as to which actors will play which roles. The biggest star confirmed so far is Matt Damon, and we’ve already seen him in costume as Odysseus, the Greek king.

As a film buff, I’ve always been fascinated by characters with layers, and Odysseus is a prime example. He’s famous as a really smart and resourceful king – a strong warrior, sure, but it was his brilliant idea for the Trojan Horse that *really* set him apart. Though, honestly, his biggest weakness – a kind of excessive pride – often landed him in trouble. Speaking of actors who can pull off complex roles, Matt Damon is usually known for playing very American characters, but I was genuinely blown away by his performance in *The Last Duel*. It proved he can absolutely handle a big, historical epic, and it was fantastic to see.

Tom Holland as Telemachus

Disney

The trailer for *The Odyssey*, released in July 2025, confirmed that Tom Holland is part of the cast. While the 29-year-old British actor is best known for playing Spider-Man in Marvel movies, this significant role in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film could be a turning point in his career.

Telemachus is the son of the legendary Odysseus, but he grew up without a father and constantly feels overshadowed by his father’s reputation. He’s a kind and brave young man determined to protect his mother, though he doesn’t quite possess the same power or commanding presence as Odysseus. Actor Holland, who often plays innocent and energetic characters, would be a great fit for this role.

Charlize Theron as Circe

Universal Pictures

Charlize Theron will play the role of Circe in the upcoming film adaptation of *The Odyssey*. Circe is a powerful goddess and witch known for turning her foes into pigs, and she holds Odysseus captive for over a year, hindering his journey home. While traditionally seen as a villain, recent interpretations, like the novel *Circe* by Madeline Miller, have explored her character with more depth and humanity. Many believe Charlize Theron is perfectly suited to bring this complex character to life.

Pairing Casted Actors With The Other Characters in ‘The Odyssey’

Semi-Confirmed Roles

United Artists Releasing

A Greek news source reported that four more actors have been cast in the film, according to information from OneMan, but Universal Pictures hasn’t officially confirmed these roles yet.

Anne Hathaway as Penelope – Anne Hathaway is the star of films like The Devil Wears Prada and Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and The Dark Knight Rises. She seems perfectly fit for the role of Penelope, the dignified, clever wife of Odysseus.
Benny Safdie as Agamemnon: Reuniting with Christopher Nolan after Oppenheimer, filmmaker and actor Benny Safdie will reportedly play Agamemnon, one of the most storied kings of Ancient Greek mythology. Agamemnon led the Greeks into the Trojan War, but was killed by his wife, Clytemnestra, upon his return. Odysseus meets Agamemnon’s spirit in the Underworld.
Lupita Nyong’o as Clytemnestra: Clytemnestra is the wife of Agamemnon, who, during the war, took a lover named Aegisthus. After learning that Agamemnon sacrificed their daughter, she conspired to kill him upon his return. This act of defiance has made her a favorite among readers, which is likely why the beloved Lupita Nyong’o is likely to play the character.
Zendaya as Athena: The final actor who has a semi-confirmed role is Zendaya. Having the ultra-talented young movie star on the roster adds box office potential for The Odyssey, but the actress may only play a brief supporting role. That said, it’s likely to be an unforgettable one. The Goddess Athena is one of Odysseus’s greatest supporters in the tale, and she’s also one of the most intelligent, admirable figures in Greek mythology.

Guesses For The Rest Of ‘The Odyssey’ Cast

Marvel Studios

Bill Irwin as Laertes – As the senior-most actor in The Odyssey’s cast, Bill Irwin seems all but guaranteed to be playing Laertes, the father of Odysseus. Laertes suffers in his son’s absence, succumbing to age at a farm in Ithaca.
Samantha Morton as Anticleia: Veteran actress and multi-Academy Award nominee Samantha Morton seems like the most likely star to play the spirit of Anticleia, Odysseus’s mother. Odysseus meets Anticleia in the Underworld, where she reveals that she has died in his absence, grieving for the son she thought to be dead.
Jon Bernthal as Eurylochus: Anyone who’s seen The Walking Dead knows that Jon Bernthal is the best option available for the right-hand man who’s sort of a problem. Eurylochus is Odysseus’s second-in-command, who is rather abrasive and stirs up problems in The Odyssey.
Odyseus’s Crewmates: Several male actors have been cast in various roles, and they’ll likely be playing the minor crew members on Odysseus’s ship or other suitors to Penelope. This includes Nick E. Tarabay,Maurice Compte, Logan Marshall-Green, Will Yun Lee, and more.
Mia Goth as Calypso: Mia Goth is one of Hollywood’s most recognizable young scream queens, best known for her work in the X trilogy. It seems likely that she’d play the nymph who keeps Odysseus on her island for seven years, and who is portrayed as an antagonist in The Odyssey.
Corey Hawkins as Hermes: Corey Hawkins only has a minor role in The Odyssey, so it seems possible he’ll be playing a character like Hermes. Hermes is the herald/messenger god known for delivering news around the Greek world with his winged sandals.
John Leguizamo as Eumaeus: Eumaeus is one of Odysseus’s few allies back in Ithaca who seeks to protect Penelope and Telemachus. For that reason, John Leguizamo seems like a likely option, as he’s one of the few male actors in the age range to have been Odysseus’s friend prior to him leaving for the Trojan War. The veteran actor is known for roles in films like Romeo + Juliet.
Robert Pattinson as Antinous: Robert Pattinson is a massive star, making the curiosity regarding his role a major X-factor for The Odyssey. Antinous is the most vile of Penelope’s suitors, a role that would be perfect for an actor like Pattinson to sink his teeth into, yet brief enough not to interfere with his schedule.

The cast of *The Odyssey* also features Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Josh Stewart, Ryan Hurst, Jesse Garcia, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Jimmy Gonzales, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, and Anthony Molinari.

2025-10-18 19:26