The Odyssey: Zendaya As Athena, Lupita Nyong’o’s Dual Roles Confirmed - All You Need To Know

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Nolan is all set to return to the big screen with The Odyssey, one of the year’s most anticipated films. Adapting Homer’s legendary epic, Nolan transforms the classic tale into a sweeping fantasy action adventure featuring an ensemble cast. Matt Damon stars as Odysseus, with Tom Holland as his son Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o takes on dual roles, while Zendaya embodies the goddess Athena. The film also introduces Samantha Morton’s Circe and Robert Pattinson’s Antinous, alongside Travis Scott as a bard, highlighting Nolan’s creative approach to retelling the timeless mythology.

Lupita Nyong’o’s dual roles in The Odyssey

Speaking to TIME, Christopher Nolan opened up about Lupita Nyong’o and Zendaya’s roles. Lupita has been confirmed to play Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra in The Odyssey.

On the other hand, actress Zendaya will be seen portraying Athena, the goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, handicraft, and reason. In an unexpected twist, Nyong’o also embodies Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra, whose marriage to Menelaus’ brother Agamemnon (Benny Safdie) is fraught with hostility.

About other The Odyssey characters

Speaking about other characters, Odysseus will be played by Matt Damon, the King of Ithaca. He is described as a cunning, resilient warrior navigating a tumultuous journey after the Trojan War, with Damon's portrayal expected to emphasize the character's rage and mental struggle. Penelope, played by Anne Hathaway, Odysseus’s loyal wife, who holds the throne in Ithaca while resisting suitors. Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, is Odysseus’s son. He is depicted as a hopeful figure trying to restore his father's ruined household.

Antinous, played by Robert Pattinson, the primary antagonist and leader of the suitors vying for Penelope's hand, while Circe, played by Charlize Theron, is the sorceress who turns men into pigs. Apart from them, Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie, is the Trojan War leader, whose tragic homecoming serves as a parallel warning to Odysseus. Eumaeus, played by John Leguizamo, the loyal swineherd who helps a disguised Odysseus upon his return and Menelaus, played by Jon Bernthal, is the King of Sparta and brother to Agamemnon. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey unfolds across two intertwined timelines: Odysseus (Matt Damon) navigating perilous seas, and his son Telemachus (Tom Holland) struggling to protect Ithaca. The story blends classical mythology with psychological tension and high-stakes action, culminating in a fierce showdown against the suitors, led by Robert Pattinson. The film will hit cinemas globally on July 17, 2026.