Tickets for ‘The Odyssey,’ Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of Homer’s epic starring Matt Damon as Odysseus (photo) and Tom Holland as his son Telemachus, are selling out more than a year ahead of its 2026 release.
Filmgoers around the world are already clamoring for tickets to “The Odyssey,” the hotly anticipated new project by Oscar-winning director Sir Christopher Nolan – a full year before the film hits cinemas.
As The Times of London reported this week, “95 per cent of seats were reportedly snapped up within an hour” when tickets went on sale last month at 26 IMAX cinemas worldwide. The film, due to premiere on July 17, 2026, is already generating record-breaking buzz – and creating a rare cinematic event twelve months out.
The announcement of “The Odyssey” surprised even seasoned industry insiders. Following the critical and commercial triumph of “Oppenheimer” (2023) – which earned seven Oscars and nearly $1 billion at the box office – Nolan’s next move was expected to lean further into cerebral storytelling (think “Inception,” “Interstellar,” and the mind-boggling “Tenet”). Instead, he’s gone ancient: tackling Homer’s epic tale of shipwrecks, monsters, meddling gods, and homecoming.
Reflecting on the unprecedented anticipation, Phil Clapp, chief executive of the UK Cinema Association, told The Times: “I can’t think of anything like this. Typically, films go on sale one to two months early so this speaks to the anticipation there is for a Nolan film. Also, I’m not saying a film about a nuclear physicist is the easiest sell, but a movie based on a Greek fable is probably even tougher – so this gets people talking.”
Starring Matt Damon as Odysseus and Tom Holland as his son Telemachus, the film also features Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron – rounding out an ensemble cast that suggests Nolan is going all in on scale and star power.
Though plot details remain tightly guarded – how closely will Nolan stick to the original source material, composed sometime in the 8th BC – a brief teaser shows Holland saying: “I have to find out what happened to my father,” with a companion replying: “Who has a story about Odysseus? Some said he perished. Some said he’s imprisoned.”
Notably, parts of the film are being shot on location in Greece, including in Messinia, further linking the modern cinematic spectacle to its ancient roots. This continues a long tradition of filmmakers turning to Greek mythology for inspiration – from “Jason and the Argonauts” (1963) and “Clash of the Titan” (1981) to “Troy” (2004), and now, in Sir Nolan’s typically enigmatic and visually bombastic fashion, “The Odyssey.”
Yet as excitement grows, so does scrutiny. A Reddit-fueled debate has emerged around historical authenticity, prompted by leaked stills showing Damon in stylized armor. Some online commentators have raised concerns – but author and essayist Daniel Mendelsohn, who has recently published a new translation of “The Odyssey,” cautions against over-literal readings.
“I want to be super-emphatic about this,” he told The Times. “The Odyssey was composed over generations and so to complain about its accuracy is to show a profound lack of understanding of what it is… There are films that got all the details right, from clothes to hairstyles, like Oliver Stone’s ‘Alexander,’ but completely missed the point of the story they were telling. I just want a movie that feels like ‘The Odyssey’.”
With Nolan still filming – and only a teaser released – the cinematic journey is far from over. But if early indicators are anything to go by, “The Odyssey” promises to be one of 2026’s most talked-about releases. And with Greece playing a starring role both on-screen and in spirit, it’s a reminder that Homer’s legacy continues to inspire.