Christopher Nolan takes on ‘The Odyssey’ for IMAX adaptation

12 hrs ago

Kennedy Felton Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer

By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Zachary Hill (Editor)

Christopher Nolan is adapting Homer’s sprawling tale, “The Odyssey,” into a groundbreaking IMAX film. Universal Studios described the project on X as “a mythic epic shot across the world using brand-new IMAX film technology.” The highly anticipated film is set for release on July 17, 2026.

Hollywood’s history with Homer

Homer’s epics has long intrigued Hollywood. Wolfgang Petersen’s 2004 film “Troy,” based on “The Iliad,” grossed $497 million globally but faced criticism for lacking authenticity. Lead actor Brad Pitt later expressed disappointment, stating that the experience shaped his focus on quality stories.

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The Coen Brothers took a different approach with “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” offering a loose, quirky adaptation. This year, “The Return” premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, focusing on the final chapters of Homer’s 24-book epic.

The challenge of filming “The Odyssey”

Homer’s “The Odyssey” presents unique challenges due to its episodic structure and mythical elements. Long considered “unfilmable,” the story follows protagonist Odysseus’ 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, an adventure filled with divine intervention and mythical creatures.

Nolan’s track record inspires hope

Despite these challenges, Nolan’s history of tackling complex projects inspires confidence. Films like “Dunkirk,” “Tenet” and “Oppenheimer” have achieved critical and box-office success. With a cast that The Hollywood Reporter says will include Matt Damon, Zendaya and Lupita Nyong’o, fans are eagerly awaiting the cinematic epic.

Tags: Entertainment, Hollywood, movies, Oppenheimer

[KENNEDY FELTON]

Director Christopher Nolan is setting sail on one of history’s most legendary tales – an IMAX adaptation of Homer’s “The Odyssey.”

In a post on X, Universal Studios describes the film as “a mythic epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology.” And mark your calendars – it hits theaters on July 17, 2026, as expectations are sky high.

This isn’t the first time Hollywood has tried to adapt the works of Homer. Several filmmakers have taken on the challenge, with varying degrees of success.

In 2004, Oscar-nominated director Wolfgang Petersen released “Troy,” based on Homer’s “The Iliad.” While the film, starring Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom, grossed 497 million worldwide, it received criticism for failing to capture the essence of Homer’s story.

Brad Pitt later told The New York Times he was disappointed by the film, adding the experience led him to focus on quality stories for the rest of his career.

Other attempts to tackle Homer’s work include the Coen Brothers’ “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” which offered a quirky, loosely based take on “The Odyssey.”

More recently, “The Return” is a drama film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival this year that explores the final sections of Homer’s 24-book epic.

But so far, no adaptation has fully captured the poem’s scale, making it a challenge to bring to the screen.

Even the editor in chief of “World of Reel” points out “The Odyssey” as a whole has been even been thought of as “unfilmable.”

While some fear Nolan may face similar challenges due to the epic’s vast scope and episodic structure, his track record suggests otherwise, and he’s known to take on complex projects.

His last four films, including Dunkirk, Tenet, and last year’s Oppenheimer, have dominated the box office, with each opening to over 20 million dollars. And fans trust him to deliver with “The Odyssey.”

The ancient Greek poem, believed to have been written by Homer between 725 and 675 BCE, tells the story of Odysseus as he spends 10 years trying to return home after the Trojan War, facing mythical creatures, divine interventions, and relentless obstacles along the way. Now, Nolan is taking this classic tale of adventure and resilience to IMAX.

With a cast The Hollywood Reporter says will include Matt Damon, Zendaya, and Lupita Nyong’o, he seems ready to tackle the legendary challenge, and we’ll see this summer if he can make cinematic history once again.