Universal Pictures / Depositphotos
New footage from the set of Christopher Nolan’s «Odyssey» in Italy gives a detailed look at the characters of Zendaya and Matt Damon, as well as their interaction.
Zendaya is wearing a white toga in traditional Greek style, which corresponds to her previously announced role as the goddess of wisdom Athena, while Matt Damon, judging by the new images, has made efforts to transform his appearance — now the 54-year-old actor wears a beard and has a toned body.
pic.twitter.com/XV4JY6rlQN
— Christopher Nolan media (@ChrisNolanMedia) March 26, 2025
New Behind the Scenes Photos of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey featuring Matt Damon , Zendaya & Nolan Himself. pic.twitter.com/6HUdbo6Zz2
— The Film Nation (@thefilmnation) March 27, 2025
In the story of Odysseus, Athena acts as his divine protector during the hero’s 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. The photographs seem to reflect the interaction of the characters at a key moment when Odysseus wakes up on the shores of Ithaca, and Athena disguises the landscape so that he does not initially recognize his homeland. The goddess of wisdom appears as a young shepherdess before revealing her true identity and informing Damon’s character about the affairs in his domain and those who have occupied it, as well as planning revenge.
Other shots showed Tom Holland as the son of Odysseus — and him, In truth, he looked more like a hobbit than a Telemachus.
The roles of the rest of the giant star cast have not yet been revealed, but Anne Hathaway is expected to play Odysseus’ wife, Penelope. The cast also includes Mia Goth, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie, and a star «Shogun» Jarvis Cosmo.
Principal photography for «Odyssey» began in February and covered locations such as Morocco, the United Kingdom and the Aeolian Islands in Italy. It is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer, and then the film will go through a long post-production. The premiere is tentatively scheduled for July 17, 2026.
As a reminder, «Odyssey» should become the most expensive movie in Nolan’s career — with a budget of $250 million. Homer’s epic poem has been adapted for the screen many times before: in 1954, the movie «Ulysses» starring Kirk Douglas was released; «Odyssey» also inspired the Coen brothers’ film «Oh, Where Art Thou, Brother?» (2000); similarly, the story of the Trojan War appeared on the screens in the movie «Troy» (2004), where Brad Pitt played Achilles and Sean Bean — Odysseus (by the way, Nolan was among the candidates for the director’s chair).
