From Tom Holland to Matt Damon and Zendaya, Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey has some impressive stars in its cast

Christopher Nolan’s take on Homer’s Greek mythological epic The Odyssey has finally arrived with an A-list cast.

The fantasy action movie is released in cinemas across the USA and the UK tomorrow (July 17) and the film has already garnered positive reviews from the critics.

The Times has hailed it a “masterpiece in every way”, while the Guardian said Christopher Nolan’s film is a “breathtaking epic”.

The Odyssey is a re-telling of Greek writer Homer’s poem and follows the legendary king of Ithaca, Odysseus as he tries to make his way home to his wife Penelope and his son Telemachus after fighting in the Trojan War.

On his perilous journey home, Odysseus faces several obstacles stopping him from returning to Ithaca, including the Cyclops Polyphemus and the witch Circe.

Filmmaker Nolan studied several translations of The Odyssey as he embarked on making his blockbuster.

Much like Oppenheimer, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and Dunkirk, The Odyssey boasts an impressive cast.

Here’s a look at the stars and where you’ve seen them before.

Who is in The Odyssey 2026 cast?

Odysseus - Matt Damon

Critically-acclaimed writer and director Matt Damon takes on the lead as Odysseus after previously working with Nolan on Oppenheimer and Interstellar.

Telemachus - Tom Holland

Spider-Man actor Tom Holland stars as Odysseus’ son Telemachus after roles in the likes of The Impossible and Cherry. His wife Zendaya, with whom he’s shared the screen in the Spider-Man movies, also has a role.

Penelope - Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is Odysseus’ dutiful wife and queen of Ithaca Penelope, who is waiting for her husband to return despite a multitude of suitors now occupying the palace in the hopes of marrying her.

Hathaway most recently appeared in The Devil Wears Prada and The Idea of You. She’s also starred as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises.

Antinous - Robert Pattinson

Twilight and The Batman actor Robert Pattinson is sleazy suitor Antinous, who is trying to win Penelope over.

The role reunites Pattinson with Zendaya after the pair starred together in The Drama and Dune: Part Three recently, while Pattinson appeared in Nolan’s Tenet previously.

Helen of Troy & Clytemnestra - Lupita Nyong'o

Oscar winner Lupita Nyong'o of 12 Years a Slave, Black Panther and Us fame has a dual role in The Odyssey as Helen of Troy and also Helen’s sister Clytemnestra.

Circe - Samantha Morton

Acclaimed British star Samantha Morton plays Circe, who wishes Odysseus to remain her eternal husband.

She is known for her roles in Minority Report, The Serpent Queen, The Walking Dead and Harlots.

Athena - Zendaya

Euphoria and Spider-Man star Zendaya takes on the role of Greek goddess Athena, who protects Odysseus on his journey.

Calypso - Charlize Theron

South African star Charlize Theron stars as the nymph Calypso after starring in Monster, Mad Max: Fury Road and Atomic Blonde.

Agamemnon - Benny Safdie

Oppenheimer and The Curse star Benny Safdie is the Greek King of Mycenae and Clytemnestra's husband.

Menelaus - Jon Bernthal

The Punisher, The Walking Dead and The Bear’s Jon Bernthal plays Menelaus, the brother of Agamemnon and king of Sparta.

Eumaeus - John Leguizamo

John Leguizamo from Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! fame is Eumaeus.

Polyphemus - Bill Irwin

Interstellar and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit star Bill Irwin plays cyclops Polyphemus.

Eurylochus - Himesh Patel

Former EastEnders actor-turned-Hollywood star Himesh Patel is Eurylochus, Odysseus's second-in-command and brother-in-law.

Patel counts credits in the likes of Yesterday, Tenet, Station Eleven, and The Franchise.

Polybus - Corey Hawkins

The Walking Dead, 24: Legacy and BlacKkKlansman star Corey Hawkins is Polybus, one of Penelope’s suitors from Ithaca.

Melantho - Mia Goth

Mia Goth from Frankenstein, Infinity Pool and Pearl plays Melantho, a disloyal maidservant to Penelope and Odysseus.

Sinon - Elliot Page

The Umbrella Academy and Juno star Elliot Page stars as Greek soldier Sinon, who fought alongside his cousin Odysseus in the Trojan War.

Other cast members include Altered Carbon and The Good Doctor’s Will Yun Lee as one of Odysseus's shipmates, rapper and actor Travis Scott as a bard, Logan Marshall-Green as Melanthius, Jimmy Gonzales as Cepheus, Andrew Howard as Polites, James Remar as Tiresias, and Elyes Gabel as Elatus.

Further casting includes Jesse Garcia, Rafi Gavron, Shiloh Fernandez, Nick E. Tarabay, Maurice Compte, Michael Vlamis, Iddo Goldberg, Josh Stewart, Ryan Hurst, Anthony Molinari, Jovan Adepo, Sean Avery, and Ian Casselberry.

The Odyssey will be released in UK cinemas on July 17