[BREAKING] Odyssey, But Not in Space: Christopher Nolan's Next Film Finally Revealed

It’s been known for a while that Christopher Nolan’s next directorial project will hit theaters in the summer of 2026 following the seven-time Oscar-winning Oppenheimer. Now, Universal Pictures has unveiled that the mysterious film will be an adaptation of one of the oldest and greatest classics of world literature—Homer’s The Odyssey. The legendary filmmaker will bring the epic tale to life on the big screen using the latest IMAX technology.

Tom Holland is reportedly cast as Odysseus, a role seemingly perfect for the actor, given that the central theme of the ancient Greek story—returning home—was also a key motif in his MCU Spider-Man trilogy.

The action epic will also feature Holland’s real-life partner, Zendaya, who is speculated to play either Penelope, the faithful wife of the Ithacan king, or the beautiful nymph Calypso, who shelters Odysseus after a shipwreck during his long and arduous journey. While the official cast list has not been confirmed, the film will reportedly star Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron alongside the star couple.

“Christopher Nolan’s next film, The Odyssey, is a mythical action epic that will utilize brand-new IMAX technology during its global production. The film will bring Homer’s seminal work to IMAX screens for the first time and is set to premiere worldwide on July 17, 2026,” Universal Pictures announced on X. Nolan previously collaborated with Universal for Oppenheimer after parting ways with Warner Bros.

Not much else is known about the film, but the studio’s announcement suggests that the story will remain faithful to its ancient setting rather than taking a modernized approach. Nolan has tackled historical narratives before: The Prestige was set in late 19th-century London, Dunkirk depicted a pivotal moment in World War II, and Oppenheimer focused on the key events of the atomic scientist’s life. However, the era of the Trojan War is uncharted territory for the director, whose past projects include his own “space odyssey” in the form of Interstellar.

Nolan has long been a pioneer in leveraging IMAX technology, and he recently hinted at using new innovations developed by the film-tech company for his next project. “They have an incredible technical team doing extraordinary work. It’s wonderful to see that innovation in the world of celluloid film remains at the highest level,” said the British filmmaker, who was knighted earlier this year. Production for The Odyssey is scheduled to begin in 2025.