3 Key Takeaways From Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey New Footage Showcased At CinemaCon 2026

Christopher

Nolan's The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the biggest films of 2026 and its CinemaCon 2026 showcase only made the excitement bigger. At CinemaCon in Las Vegas, Nolan appeared during Universal's presentation and shared brand new footage from the film. The footage gave a thrilling look at some of the most iconic moments from Homer's ancient Greek epic and Nolan's words on stage gave the audience even more reasons to be excited about the July release.

What All Did The New Footage From The Odyssey Reveal?

1 - The emotional core of the film is familyThe footage opened with Matt Damon's Odysseus, a bearded and tired king of Ithaca, speaking with Calypso (Charlize Theron), who has kept him on her island for seven years after the Trojan War. A lost and broken Odysseus asks her how long he has been there and whether he had a wife, children, or a son.Nolan confirmed at CinemaCon that the film is 'first and foremost about this idea of family, this idea of homecoming,' with Tom Holland as his son Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope forming the emotional heart of the story.2 - The Trojan Horse sequence is jaw-droppingMost of the new footage revolved around the famous Trojan Horse attack, the Greeks using the giant wooden structure as cover to enter the city of Troy at the end of the war. The massive wooden horse is seen washing up on the beach, with thousands of men pulling it out of the water before wheeling it into the city. Led by Damon and Jon Bernthal, the men launch their nighttime attack once inside.3 - The Odyssey is the first film shot entirely on IMAXThe Odyssey is the first motion picture ever to be shot entirely on IMAX film, thanks to the development of new, quieter cameras, fulfilling a dream Nolan said he has had since he was 16 years old. Nolan also shared that despite the film being an 'absolute nightmare to make in all the right ways', the team had an amazing time and the film is almost finished.

Nolan received a standing ovation at CinemaCon after a tribute video of his past work was played. He joked that he would have brought the entire cast to the event but 'the massive weight of extraordinary talent would have collapsed the stage'.

The Odyssey Cast And Release Date

The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as his wife Penelope, and Tom Holland as their son Telemachus. Zendaya plays goddess Athena, while Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, one of Penelope's suitors. Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, Ryan Hurst, and Travis Scott also feature in the film.The Odyssey is Nolan's first feature since Oppenheimer, which won Best Picture and Best Director at the Oscars in 2024. Produced by Universal Pictures and Syncopy, the film was shot across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, and Scotland. It arrives in theatres and IMAX worldwide on July 17, 2026.