Experience the trailer for Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey in an unexpected way.

Christopher Nolan’s *The Odyssey* is shaping up to be a mythic action epic that fans have been eagerly anticipating since its announcement. Set to hit theaters in 2026, it’s one of the most talked-about films on the horizon. Just in time for the holiday season, a trailer has finally dropped, though it suffers from YouTube’s notorious compression — perhaps a reason why Nolan kept it exclusive to theaters until now.

The trailer gives us our first look at Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. In a poignant moment, Penelope asks Odysseus to promise he’ll return, to which he responds with a haunting question about what happens if he can’t. We also catch a fleeting, shadowy glimpse of Polyphemus, the cyclops whose sheep Odysseus and his crew steal during their desperate journey home.

Based on one of the cornerstones of Western literature, *The Odyssey* chronicles the legendary king of Ithaca, Odysseus. Following his triumph in the Trojan War, as depicted in *The Iliad*, Homer’s epic poem details his arduous journey back home. Throughout his travels, Odysseus faces numerous challenges and encounters mythical figures, including the cyclops Polyphemus, Circe — a witch-goddess who transforms men into pigs — and the treacherous Sirens. Despite these trials, Odysseus is determined to return to Ithaca to reunite with his wife Penelope and son Telemachus.

In addition to Damon, Holland, and Hathaway, the film features a stellar cast, including Charlize Theron as the crafty Circe, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.

*The Odyssey* has seen several adaptations over the years, from modern interpretations like Uberto Pasolini’s 2024 film *The Return* to Jean-Claude Gallota’s 1999 ballet *Ulysse*. It has even been transformed into a musical by Jorge Rivera-Herrans, titled *Epic: The Musical*, which is divided into a nine-part album series.

Fans have been waiting for an official trailer since the film’s initial reveal and a 70-second teaser featuring Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal, which was exclusively shown in theaters before screenings of *Jurassic World Rebirth*. That teaser eventually leaked online shortly after.

For a clearer look at *The Odyssey*, the trailer shared on the film’s official social media account might be worth checking out.

*The Odyssey* is set to premiere in IMAX theaters on July 17, 2026.