The Odyssey’s teaser trailer offers some very tantalizing clues about Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s immortal epic. Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus and charting his long quest to return from the beaches of a sacked Troy to his family on Ithaca,The Odysseyis Nolan’s follow-up to his Academy Award-winning dramaOppenheimer.
Expectations are high for the film, especially because the source material has been a fundamental piece of Western literature and mythology for centuries. Set for a summer 2026 release,The Odysseyis already shaping up to be one of the year’s biggest films.
As a result, eagle-eyed fans have been able to catch some clues to the shape and scope of the film. Now thata teaser forThe Odysseyhas been released alongside blockbusters likeJurassic World Rebirth, audiences might have a better idea about the cast and major beats in the film.
This includes some clues about the adventures Odysseus will go on, the stories he will leave behind, and the scope of his adventure. Here arethe biggest clues about Christopher Nolan’sThe Odysseythat are hinted at by the first official teaser for the film.
7The Odyssey Will Feature The Aftermath Of The Fall Of Troy
The Odyssey Teaser Includes A Few Shots Of What Seems To Be The Trojan Horse
The teaser forThe Odysseyhints at the full scope of Christopher Nolan’s next film, suggesting the movie will explore the full breadth of Odysseus' journey from the ruins of Troy back to Ithaca. The teaser showcases a wooden horse left on a beach,suggesting this is the infamous Trojan Horsethat Odysseus used to circumvent Troy’s defenses.
Another clip in the teaser shows what appears to be Odysseus and his fellow soldiers storming a fortress. This means the film could include the sacking of Troy, potentially even depicting Odysseus’s killing of Hector’s son Astyanax (an act that isn’t always ascribed to him in myth).
It’s also possible that this scene could be the raid on Ismarus, a supply run in the story that preceded Odysseus and his crew being blown off course. It would make sense as an establishing moment to showcase Odysseus in action as a commander without having to replicate the entire Trojan War.
6Tom Holland Is Playing Telemachus In The Odyssey
Tom Holland’s Telemachus Is Searching For His Father
WhileThe Odysseyhas assembled a truly staggering cast of A-list Hollywood talent,the exact character breakdown for most of the actors remains a mysteryto audiences. However, the teaser further confirms thatTom Holland is playing Telemachusin the film.
The Odyssey’s opening act focuses on Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, and his efforts to locate his father in the years since his departure for the Trojan War. The teaser is largely focused on him, which suggests thatNolan will dedicate at least a solid portion of the film’s runtime to Telemachusand the fate of Ithaca.
The teaser notably does not spend any time with Penelope, Telemachus' mother and the long-suffering wife of Odysseus. Fending off the advances of various Suitors, it has been speculated that the part will be played by Anne Hathaway. However, that remains unconfirmed at the time of this writing.
5Jon Bernthal Could Be Playing Some Very Different Characters
Telemachus' Interactions With Bernthal’s Character Suggest He’s More Important In Holland’s Storyline
The teaser is primarily driven by a conversation between Telemachus and Jon Bernthal’s mysterious figure. Given the nature of his conversation with Telemachus,this suggests that Bernthalis playing one of four characters. It’s possible that he’s either Antinous or Eurymachus, two of the main Suitors vying for Penelope’s hand in marriage in Odysseus' absence.
He could also be playing a more heroically coded character. Bernthal’sstories to Telemachus could be the film’s version of King Nestoroffering his advice or Menelaus regaling him with tales of Troy. Both were allies of Odysseus and opened their homes to his son, which would play into an extended focus on Holland’s version of Telemachus.
Notably,a woman who could potentially be Lupita Nyong’o can be seen sitting next to Bernthal’scharacter. If he is playing Menelaus, then this suggests Nyong’o is playing his wife, Helen of Troy. If Bernthal is instead playing one of the Suitors, it’s possible Nyong’o is playing Penelope instead of Anne Hathaway.
4Odysseus Ventures Into The Cave
One Of The Odyssey’s Most Fateful Confrontations Seems To Be In The Teaser
One of the clips in the teaser of Odysseus' journey includes the warrior king leading an expedition into a large cave.This is likely the film’s version of Polyphemus' cave. The son of Poseidon, Polyphemus is a deadly cyclops who kills and consumes several of Odysseus' men before being tricked and blinded by him.
IfThe Odysseyis embracing the mythical elements of the story, a visit to the Cave of Polyphemus makes perfect sense.
While Polyphemus is only a minor threat in the grand scheme of things,it is Odysseus' blinding of the cyclops that earns him the ire of Poseidon, which dooms him and his crew’s efforts to return home for another decade. IfThe Odysseyis embracing the mythical elements of the story, a visit to the Cave of Polyphemus makes perfect sense.
3What Prison Could Hold Odysseus?
Circe Is One Of The Main Reasons Odysseus Takes So Long To Get Home
During the story told of Odysseus to Telemachus, Bernthal’s mysterious figure mentions tales of Odysseus being imprisoned. This seems likely to be a reference to eitherOdysseus' time on the island of Circe or the island of Calypso, both powerful, magical figures who compel him to remain by their side.
InThe Odyssey, Odysseus and his men spend a year on the island of Circe after he impresses the Sea-Witch and earns her appreciation. Later in the story, he spends seven years alone with Calypso. The nature of Odysseus' time on those islands asthe compelled lover of the Sea-Witches could explain Bernthal’s teasing tonewhile recounting the nature of Odysseus' imprisonment.
While the casting for Calypso remains a mystery (with Zendaya, Mia Goth, or Anne Hathaway potentially playing any of them), Charlize Theron confirmed during an interview withThe Hollywood Reporterthatshe’ll be playing Circe in the film. This should give Theron plenty of time to play off Matt Damon’s Odysseus.
2Odysseus Adrift
The Last Shot Of The Teaser Hints At Odysseus Being The Last Survivor Of His Adventure
The last shot ofThe Odysseyteaser focuses on what appears to be a haggard and exhausted Odysseus, alone and abandoned on the scraps of a ship amid a sea storm. There are a few scenes that could be from the story, although it most likely occurs after Odysseus and the last of his men arrive on the island of Thrinacia.
InThe Odyssey, Odysseus was gone from Ithaca for twenty years. He spent ten years fighting the Trojan War, then another ten lost at sea after being cursed by Poseidon.
Despite the advice of Circe and the orders of Odysseus, the remaining soldiers hunt down the sacred cattle of Helios. Infuriated, Helios has Zeus cause a shipwreck that slays all of the men. Only Odysseus survives.This sets the stage for Odysseus alone to return to Ithaca, without any of his men surviving alongside him.
1The Opening Lines Could Hint At A Truly Mythic Story
The Law Of The Gods Is A Major Part Of The Odyssey
One of the big questions about The Odyssey is how far Nolan will take the original story’s supernatural qualities literally. Some adaptations of Homer’s epics (like Brad Pitt’s Troy) remained more grounded in reality. Even though no apparent Gods appear on-screen inThe Odyssey’s teaser,the opening quote about Zeus' law hints that the Greek Pantheon plays into the film’s narrative.
It is through the machinations of Gods like Poseidon and Helios takes so long to reach home, whilethe intervention of Athena and Zeus provides the Greek herowith some crucial assistance. While the dialogue seems to be from a servant of a fallen kingdom like Troy or a dwindling one like Ithaca, the overt reference to divine law could hint at a major aspect ofThe Odyssey.
