Anticipation is already sky-high for Christopher Nolan’s next epic, The Odyssey, and now the hype has an influential seal of approval from someone who knows his work best. Jonathan Nolan, the filmmaker behind Fallout and Christopher Nolan’s younger brother, has revealed that he’s already seen the film and he’s calling it nothing short of spectacular.
Speaking with CinemaBlend, Jonathan said he had the rare opportunity to watch The Odyssey ahead of its highly anticipated July 17 IMAX release, even though he wasn’t directly involved in the project. His reaction was unfiltered praise. He described the film as phenomenal and a true cinematic achievement, adding that both The Iliad and The Odyssey fascinated him growing up. According to Jonathan, those shared childhood obsessions led to many deep conversations with his brother about how the ancient story could be brought to life on screen, and he insists the final result delivers in a massive way.
Christopher Nolan has also opened up about what drew him to adapt Homer’s legendary epic. In an interview with Empire, the Oscar-winning director explained that he’s always searching for new cinematic territory, and mythology felt surprisingly underexplored at a truly epic scale. While he grew up loving classic mythological films like those by Ray Harryhausen, Nolan felt modern cinema had never fully captured the weight, realism, and emotional gravity these stories deserve, especially with the power of large-format IMAX filmmaking.
The Odyssey follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he embarks on a harrowing 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, battling mythical creatures, divine forces, and impossible odds in his quest to reunite with his wife, Penelope. The story is one of the oldest and most influential tales ever told, now reimagined through Nolan’s signature blend of scale, intensity, and spectacle.
The film also boasts a massive ensemble cast that reads like a Hollywood power list. Alongside Damon, the lineup includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Elliot Page, Himesh Patel, Bill Irwin, Samantha Morton, Jesse Garcia, Will Yun Lee, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Mia Goth, and more. With Nolan at the helm and early praise already pouring in, The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of the most talked-about releases of the year.
