Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Trailer Is Here, and Matt Damon Is a Shipwrecked King

Universal Pictures has just released the first official trailer for *The Odyssey*, Christopher Nolan’s epic follow-up to his Academy Award-winning *Oppenheimer*. The footage reveals Matt Damon as Odysseus, the wily King of Ithaca, ready to embark on the most treacherous commute home in history.

Adapted from Homer's foundational Greek epic, the film picks up after the Trojan War. Odysseus’s clever Trojan Horse ruse has just ended the decade-long siege, and all he wants is to return to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland). But the gods, it seems, have other plans.

The trailer is a visual feast, packed with sweeping ocean shots and riveting storm sequences that leave Damon looking like a drenched cat. The show-stopping moment, however, is the appearance of the Cyclops Polyphemus. Nolan reportedly used practical animatronics to bring the one-eyed giant to life, a stunning choice in a CGI-heavy world. The all-star cast also includes Charlize Theron as the enchantress Circe, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Zendaya.

"The film hits theaters July 18."

Can't wait that long? You're in luck. A special six-minute prologue of *The Odyssey* is now playing in IMAX theaters ahead of screenings for *Avatar: Fire and Ash*.

**PRISM Insight:** By reportedly using animatronics for the Cyclops, Nolan is doubling down on his commitment to practical effects. In an era where AI and CGI are becoming the default tools for blockbuster spectacle, his insistence on tangible, in-camera magic isn't just nostalgia; it's a statement about creating a more visceral, believable reality for the audience.