Christopher Nolan released on Monday, December 22, the first trailer[1] of his long-awaited epic Odyssey, giving audiences worldwide the most extensive glimpse yet into the ambitious adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek poem. The trailer features Matt Damon as Odysseus, the legendary king of Ithaca, who sets out on a perilous journey home after the Trojan War.
First Trailer and Plot of the Film
In the trailer, Matt Damon’s voice is heard saying: “After years of war no one could stand between my people and home. Not even me”. This material marks the first official online premiere of the film Odyssey[11], whose theatrical release is set for July 17, 2026. Universal Pictures previously presented a six-minute prologue exclusively in IMAX theaters on December 12, and a shortened version was screened before the film Avatar: The Way of Water starting December 19.
Technological Innovations in Production
Odyssey breaks technical barriers as the first full-length feature film[4] shot entirely using IMAX 70mm film cameras. Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who won an Oscar for his work on Nolan’s Oppenheimer, employed a new “blimp” system that significantly reduces the IMAX camera noise. This advancement made it possible to film intimate dialogue scenes, which was previously difficult due to the equipment’s loudness.
Budget, Filming, and Cast
Christopher Nolan explained in an interview with Empire magazine[2], that this technology allows shooting from very close distances, even if actors whisper, while still capturing usable sound. The breakthrough came after Hoytema demonstrated the system’s capabilities by filming a child reciting David Bowie’s texts, which Nolan called an “electrifying” experience.
The Odyssey film budget is estimated at 250 million dollars[3], making it the most expensive project so far in Christopher Nolan’s career. The production used more than two million feet of film during 91 days of shooting, including four months spent at sea. This was a massive logistical and technical challenge for the entire film crew.
Market Reactions and Ticket Sales
The cast includes well-known actors such as Tom Holland as Telemachus, the son of Odysseus[12], and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, his wife. Supporting roles feature Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Circe, as well as Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, and John Leguizamo. This diverse and stellar cast raises expectations for the production.
Christopher Nolan emphasized in an interview with Empire magazine that as a filmmaker, he sought gaps in film culture and things that had not been done before. He chose to adapt the Greek epic, using modern resources and the immersive power of IMAX technology to create a unique cinematic experience. IMAX 70mm tickets for the opening weekend went on sale[9] as early as July 2025, and 95 percent of them sold out within an hour, generating about 1.5 million dollars in revenue.