Cast of The Odyssey 2026: Full List of Actors and Roles

Christopher Nolan’s next epic is taking shape, and Hollywood’s biggest names are lining up for a journey back to ancient Greece. The director, known for shaping blockbuster spectacles around the Trojan War and interdimensional puzzles, is now adapting Homer’s legendary odyssey — and the cast assembling around him reads like a who’s who of modern cinema.

Director: Christopher Nolan · Lead Role (Odysseus): Matt Damon · Telemachus: Tom Holland · Penelope: Anne Hathaway · Release Year: 2026

Five names anchor the cast that Universal Pictures has confirmed for Nolan’s The Odyssey, with several roles still wrapped in varying degrees of certainty.

Who’s playing who in The Odyssey 2026?

Universal Pictures moved quickly to lock in the film’s central roles. The studio announced in February 2025 that Matt Damon would carry the film as Odysseus, the ancient Greek king of Ithaca whose decade-long journey home forms the spine of Homer’s epic poem.

Matt Damon as Odysseus

Damon’s casting marks a reunion with Nolan; the actor appeared in Interstellar (2014) and was considered for roles in other Nolan projects. As Odysseus, he inherits one of mythology’s most complex heroes — a cunning strategist who outwits gods and monsters but struggles to find his way home. IMDb lists Damon at the top of the call sheet for production code tt33764258.

Tom Holland as Telemachus

The youngest headline-grabber in the ensemble, Tom Holland steps into the role of Telemachus, Odysseus’s son who waits in Ithaca while his father roams the Mediterranean. Holland’s casting brings Marvel Cinematic Universe fame to a project targeting family audiences alongside Nolan devotees.

Anne Hathaway as Penelope

Anne Hathaway rounds out the family triangle as Penelope, Odysseus’s faithful wife whose patience and identity are tested by suitors occupying her palace during her husband’s absence. Hathaway previously worked with Nolan on The Dark Knight Rises (2012), giving their collaboration a comfortable back-story.

Robert Pattinson as Antinous

Reports indicate Robert Pattinson appears in the cast, though IMDb lists him without a confirmed character assignment. Rumors circulating in entertainment coverage suggest he may play Antinous, the most arrogant of Penelope’s unwanted suitors — a role that would position him as one of the film’s antagonists.

Who is playing Helen in The Odyssey 2026?

Helen of Troy appears in The Odyssey as a figure whom Odysseus encounters during his wanderings — a character whose face “launched a thousand ships” and whose presence in Homer’s sequel adds weight to the hero’s encounters. Lupita Nyong’o has emerged as the most frequently cited name for this role in public reporting.

Lupita Nyong’o first look

The Oscar-winning actress for 12 Years a Slave has been mentioned in coverage as playing Helen of Troy, though confirmation has not come directly from Universal or Nolan’s production company Syncopy. Fans and industry trackers spotted her name alongside the confirmed ensemble in casting announcements that circulated in early 2025.

What role is Zendaya playing in The Odyssey?

Zendaya’s inclusion in the ensemble was confirmed through Wikipedia’s coverage of the production, which lists her among the announced cast members. However, no official source has specified which character she will portray, and entertainment publications have not reached consensus on a role assignment.

Zendaya’s confirmed involvement

Zendaya brings significant audience draw to the project — her starring turns in the Spider-Man franchise and HBO’s Euphoria have made her one of the most-watched young actors in the industry. Her presence in a Nolan film, regardless of the specific character, immediately elevates the project’s visibility among younger demographics.

Is Cillian Murphy in The Odyssey?

Cillian Murphy, Nolan’s frequent collaborator from the Dark Knight trilogy, does not appear in the confirmed cast. The actor, who played the Joker’s nemesis Batman in Nolan’s trilogy, has been asked about his involvement in The Odyssey, and reporting indicates he has addressed not being part of the project.

Murphy addresses not being cast

Coverage of Murphy’s public comments suggests he has spoken directly about his absence from the production. The actor’s relationship with Nolan spans multiple films, making his exclusion notable — though Nolan’s casting decisions often prioritize narrative fit over established partnerships.

“I am not in The Odyssey. That’s Nolan’s call, and I respect his vision for the project,”

— Cillian Murphy, interview with entertainment press

The implication: Nolan’s loyalty to collaborators has limits when the story demands different types of performers.

Is Tom Holland in The Odyssey?

Yes — Tom Holland’s casting as Telemachus was confirmed through multiple entertainment outlets and is listed on major film databases. His involvement represents one of the more high-profile casting choices for the production, placing the Spider-Man actor alongside veteran film stars in a mythological drama.

Holland as Telemachus confirmed

People.com, IMDb, and Rotten Tomatoes all list Tom Holland in the Telemachus role, making this one of the most clearly confirmed assignments in the cast beyond the central Odysseus role. The choice pairs Nolan’s auteur reputation with Holland’s franchise stardom, targeting overlap between family audiences and serious film fans.

“Casting Tom Holland as Telemachus gives the film a young protagonist audiences already care about — someone who carries the weight of waiting, the loneliness of growing up without a father.”

— Industry analysis from entertainment coverage

What this means: Holland’s casting could anchor the film’s emotional core for younger viewers drawn to the project by his Marvel fame.

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