r/GreekMythology • u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator • Dec 27 '25
Movies | The Odyssey The Odyssey (2026) | (Pre-Release) Megathread
This megathread has been replaced by the ''Release'' megathread
A temporary floodgate is in effect regarding the topic of the 2026 movie The Odyssey
This megathread will serve as the only place to discuss the 2026 movie The Odyssey - any other new thread about the movie will be removed as long as this floodgate is up.
⚠️ Remember to properly report rule-violating content
EDIT - Posting pictures (including animated GIFs) in comments is now enabled for the community, should definitely help conveying ideas and spicing up any discussion now!
Do note that there seems to be a limit of 1 picture per comment set by Reddit and we cannot modify this feature at this time - feel free to post different comments if you need to post multiple pictures, but remember not to fall within a ''spam''-like posting pattern and not overdo it
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u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator Dec 27 '25
Very little conversation at this time ahahaha!
I'll just share my own quick thoughts from the very little we've seen yet - these are of course personal preferences so they may echo yours or not
THE GOOD
- Some of the cinematography looks nice (but not all of it...)
- It would seem Nolan has kept some of the more mythological elements, as we seem to see Polyphemus in the trailer
THE BAD (my minor nitpicks)
- Some of the cinematography/choreography looks off... (The sword through arm scene makes it very obvious the blade is nowhere near the arm)
- Everything looks overly dull and overly dark - not just in design, but in photography, lighting and all
- Would've loved to see more unknown actors and more Mediterranean heritage actors
THE UGLY (my major nitpick)
- I understand creative license but the fact they seem to use largely inaccurate details about many things (the outfits, the ships) irks me a little - I understand they're going for spectacle, but I'm confident you can still make a big spectacle while being relatively accurate to the core material - I find it ironic that one of the most popular stories of the bronze age seems to not contain bronze-related stuff! Also seeing drakkar-like ships when there were Trireme or Penteconter (likely the type of shp Odyssey would've used in his time) is weird. Also if I remember correctly, some elements are described in detail in Homer's Odyssey, such as some armours worn and such
Cautiously optimistic about this one, though I am unsure if I'll see it at the theatres or wait until its home release
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u/HikikoMortyX Dec 28 '25
Yeah, that sword thing is typical Nolan in not even fixing simple action errors in POST, picking some terrible takes and avoiding an R rating in his action films.
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u/achilles_cat Mar 20 '26
What are you basing your understanding on Odysseus having access to penteconters? I've always understood that ship design to have started to exist in Homer's time, but not back into earlier ages when the Trojan War would have taken place. Triremes are even newer. Or are you saying that Homer would have placed Odysseus on ships on his [i.e. Homer's] time? [the type of anachronism that exists throughout Homer] I'm not sure there were Triremes for either Homer or Odysseus.
For example, some discussion of the scholarship of dating penteconters here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/223h3k/what_type_of_ship_would_theseus_have_had/
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u/SnooWords1252 Jul 14 '26
Countdown to the replacement of this post with the "The Odyssey (2026) | (Release) Megathread"
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u/LibertineDeSade Dec 27 '25
I was wondering what would happen once the movie was released. There are already SO MANY posts and we are months out. I'm glad there is a single space for this, because I really was getting tired of the convo.
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u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator Dec 27 '25
There will 100% be a dedicated ''Release Megathread'' when it releases 😉
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May 10 '26
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u/Bakkughan Jul 11 '26
This scene is the prime example of everything that’s wrong with the movie and it isn’t just the anachronistic, dull, cheap looking armor, it’s the lighting as well. Why is EVERYTHING so bright? Where are the shadows? Where’s the dust and dirt and grit? They are in a forest yet the lighting is giving sterile Amazon warehouse
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u/infinity_archival Apr 08 '26
i think that nolan getting rid of half the mythological elements is stupid because wdym it's the odyssey and we'll barely see any magical things happening? like, if they make polyphemus blind in one eye and freakishly tall for a human and completely get rid of his cyclopes characteristics, it's going to be terrible. from the trailer alone, i can't really make anything out BECAUSE ITS SO DANG DARK??? but he just looks tall and scary so.
also nolan being outspokenly anti-cgi is a bit concerning for me with this one because i don't get how he can preserve the magical world homer painted without using cgi?? i guess he could use practical effects or whatever but idk man. i just hope it's going to be good.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 01 '26
Just half is pretty good for Hollywood.
Dark is in in Hollywood and not showing the monster in the trailer is also a thing.
Nolan has used a lot of CGI in his films, he just avoids it for realism when he thinks practical effects are better.
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u/Louis_Cyr Dec 27 '25
It's impossible that Nolan didn't realize that Agamemnon's helmet looked like Batman. Therefore it stands to reason that it was an intentional choice. I think he's making a statement about how the Odyssey is the foundational text for all hero stories in the western canon including Batman.
Since Nolan is so closely linked to Batman, the helmet symbolizes the debt he owes to Homer.
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u/Cynical-Rambler Dec 28 '25
If he hold that opinion, he is either pretentious or clueless.
I don't think it is any intentional choice. Nolan like that dark color scheme and he want a dark helmet to go with it.
That it is look like the Batman helmet is simply due to that color.
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u/HikikoMortyX Dec 28 '25
He's not pretentious enough to give us some out there scenes, pacing and visuals like some of his heroes.
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u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator Dec 28 '25
That and all other creative choices were just that - choices (that to me are quite questionable)
I understand and support the rule of cool but I think filmmakers underestimate it? Like others have said, I'm very confident the production team would've managed to make more accurate designs look cool
Some choices are baffling to me - going for a drakkar-like ship is definitely one of them
The additional issue I have with too much ''creative freedom'' is how many many people actually ''rely'' on pop culture to have an idea of mythological or historical elements - so by using inaccurate designs, it simply reinforces an inaccurate view of how things were described or were, and this is increasingly obivious with mythology...
So many people think ''gods become weaker with fewer believers'' or that ''ichor is gold'', etc.
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u/Terrible_Day1991 Dec 29 '25
I don’t understand why on one hand there is clearly some fantasy and even overt the top less immersive like the helmet and then he tries to stay more “grounded” with the cyclops. I personally would rather prefer more grounded immersive armor and more over the top fantasy creatures. Also yeah it’s a bit too dark even tho you can show drama and scary scenes in a colourful scenery. At least in my opinion.
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u/Duggy1138 Dec 30 '25
Agamemnon is ancestor to the Atreides family in Dune (Alia even communicates with him).
A couple of military characters in the later have personal servants (using the archaic term "batman")
He connection seems clear to me.
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u/Glittering-Day9869 Dec 27 '25
Im just eager to see how they will handle Circe.
I will most likely base my entire enjoyment of the film on her portrayal. I'm unbelievably unapologetically biased toward her.
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u/Super_Majin_Cell Dec 29 '25
Both Circe and Odysseus are softened nowdays. He will be the man wanting to return home at all costs while his crew will be the complete fools that hindered him, and she will be a tragic goddess (or just a regular woman?) targeted by men that is now suspicious of all men so she was defending herself. Altrough seeing Nolan and his commentaries, I doubt people will be turned into pigs because is too fantastical (he said that gods were only in the "elements" the exception will be Athena, that I don't doubt she will be part of Odysseus imagination or some shit like that).
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u/MisogenesXL Dec 27 '25
I need to make sure I re-read the Iliad and Odyssey before the release so my opinion is dialed in.
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u/pulchritudinous_s Apr 22 '26
I just recently finished reading The Odyssey so I have ALL the details down lol. I'm excited for the movie but I also think that it will be a semi-realistic adaptation at most, so re-reading the books may be pointless.
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Apr 05 '26
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u/SnooWords1252 May 01 '26
Yes, and if you don't mention the upcoming film, this could be a post of its own.
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May 12 '26
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u/SnooWords1252 May 13 '26
It's to be expected. Gods on the page are easy. Gods on the screen are hard.
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May 13 '26
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u/SnooWords1252 May 13 '26
Could be... and this is a guess only... combining the Hermes and Athene roles made the script flow better.
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May 13 '26
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u/SnooWords1252 May 13 '26
I mean, even if Athene and Hermes roles are combined we won't why they made the choice.
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u/Zenk2018 May 13 '26
Oh my gods why? Why?
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u/Cynical-Rambler May 29 '26
Black actress, (never seen her, can't speak for her acting skills), may add the urban market (Hollywood-speak so that they can't be call racist) butts on seat. $$$.
A ready made excuse for if the movie fail. Can't blame the executives. Have the investors blame the audience for not being progressive enough. Or have the audience blame the activists for forcing progressivism. This is standard practice for big blockbusters for over a decade now.
You've got whiners about woke-casting. They act as free publicity. You also got anti-anti-woke who may go see it as protest against the antiwoke.
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u/ThatOnePallasFan May 17 '26
She is a great actress. She will do great.
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u/No-Yoghurt-7716 May 17 '26
Look up Helen of Troy and understand who she is and what she actually looks like.
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u/chasing_fiction May 18 '26
Looked her up, she was hatched from an egg and she doesn't look like anything because she's not real
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u/Cloud_Retainer_2424 May 21 '26 edited May 22 '26
While I'm a hater of everything we've seen far I'll defend the Zendaya and Lupita casting cuz for me they're as miscast as everyone else. But holy shit, the costume design truly makes everyone lose aura so much. I hope Zendaya acts the hell out of this role because she looks bland af in that crap tunic and veil.
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u/Mythnomer101 Apr 01 '26
Just finished Stephen Fry's The Odyssey, hyped for the movie! For he classicists, I expect a public flogging lol
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u/SnooWords1252 May 09 '26
Charybdis...
Is this underwhelming, great realism, or just the whirlpool not Charybdis yet?
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u/Red_Monkey23 Jul 08 '26
Why is there so much hate around this movie? Especially when some of the complaints weren't a problem in EPIC the musical. Stuff like non-Greek casting or the use of the word "daddy". Black Helen isn't any less accurate than Puerto Rican Odysseus.
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u/NightHunter909 Jul 11 '26
Most of the hate is actually from racists. Not all of it, but most of it that's online.
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u/Red_Monkey23 Jul 11 '26
Which is ironic, because Epic also has black actors in it, which had less hate. I guess it’s less obvious though in a concept album.
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u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator Jul 08 '26
There is hate and there is criticism
I think most critical people still understand creative license (I mean EPIC The Musical is a Musical, people understand the medium and creative approach)
I think Nolan is getting more criticism due to his reputation of trying to go for extreme accuracy in his movies (while still holding and showcasing some creative license) yet there are pretty blatant inaccuracies that is not really compatible with Nolan's own vision and style, so it kinda clashes with the expectations based on his own reputation and filmography.
I definitely think most criticism is definitely overblown though... I understand most of it and agree with some but not on that level.
But remember that this phenomenon ALWAYS happens on those type of movies - just remember when TROY (2003) was released, the exact same thing happened.
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u/Red_Monkey23 Jul 08 '26
Thanks for the reply.
It’s possible I’ve just missed internet drama on earlier stuff, so this feels unique. I was born in 2005, and so missed the whole Troy thing. I didn’t even know that movie existed till recently.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 05 '26
CinemaCon attendees learned Charlize Theron will portray Calypso, the nymph who detains Odysseus, in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. This revelation contradicts prior reports and Theron’s own earlier comments suggesting she would play Circe.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 20 '26
There's a constant probably that writers of historical fiction face - language.
Language changes over time and historical writers are caught between modern dialogue and era-appropriate.
And the problem isn't even what is or isn't historical, but what sounds historical.
I've seen writers used for using "corn" in a story set in Europe before America was discovered. Yes, corn wasn't available yet, but they used "corn" for other grains. But it pulled people out of their reading.
There are words like silohette that no one complains about being used, that come from a person in the 1700.
"Dad" sounds wrong. But English is "wrong." It's not in Ancient Greek.
If it pulls you out, it pulls you out, but it's a you issue, not a problem with the film.
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u/Cynical-Rambler Jun 10 '26
"corns" being used in Europe before Americas was discovered historically accurate. https://www.etymonline.com/word/corn. Indian Corn became what we called "corn" now.
My personal preference is less about accuracy and more about "coherence". I love surrealism. Not every writer is a historian, and history can changed according to the evidence. We can't expect perfect historical accuracy but we can expect a coherent believable tale. Historical fiction is still fiction.
"Dad" actually sound right to me. If it is the word being used common in the world of Nolan's Odyssey, it is fine. But from what I see of this film marketing, it had no coherent idea of what it want to be. It did not know if it want to be an "authentic", "historically accurate" ancient Greek film or a "timeless", story being told. But in Occam Razor, it just want to be a Hollywood blockbuster with big names actors and name recognition.
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May 16 '26 edited May 16 '26
[deleted]
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u/Duggy1138 May 16 '26
I'm getting fatigued hearing the same complaints over and over. People don't like the casting. It ain't gonna change.
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u/BeforeOrion Mar 10 '26
Will Christopher Nolan release a literary accurate Odyssey? www.youtube.com/live/-gnTJ5yV1e4
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Mar 29 '26
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u/pulchritudinous_s Apr 22 '26
I heard it explained that this movie is probably going to be bad from a friend of mine who's seen all of Nolan's films. He explained that Nolan has a lot of creative artistry and is good at deep-concepts, but when it comes to stories that already exist (the Batman and Superman films he's done) the storyline falls flat, and Nolan tries fo make up for it by adding in visual effects and overall filler. I should mention that this friend doesn't like Nolan's Batman and Superman movies because of this. As well as, he said the pattern of Nolan's movies getting prgressively more boring doesn't give him much hope for the Odyssey movie.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 01 '26 edited May 03 '26
On stories that already exist Nolan's done:
- True stories:
- Dunkirk
- Oppenheimer
- Comic Book based stories:
- Batman Begins
- The Dark Knight
- The Dark Knight Rises
- Novel based stories:
- The Prestige
Original stories:
- Following
- Memento
- Inception
- Interstellar
- Tenet
Unlike your friend I haven't seen everything he's directed (especially his Superman films since he hasn't directed one).
- Oppenheimer was considered an achievement. I felt it fell apart a little at the end, but whatever.
- The Batman trilogy. Usually loved. As a DC comics fan I had some issues with it. I also felt they were two or three films pushed together and the ends didn't fit the films. And the moral TDKR seemed to contradict moral of TDK. And he was Batman for less than a year?
- The Prestige, I enjoyed, a lot of people did. It's been a while since I've seen it to say much.
I have not seen Dunkirk.
Memento, Inception and Interstellar I've seen and liked. Interstellar, like others above seem to crash at the end. Tenet I watched, but my mind started to wonder, which is bad for that film.
I don't agree with your friend (based on the ones I've seen). But I do think his films feel like he's got a lot of ideas and ends up putting two films together (Oppenheimer being the story of the bomb, then it's about RDJ's revenge on Oppenheimer).
This will definitely be an issue with The Odyssey. A voyage home film and a revenge killing spree. But every version will have that issue. And others don't seem to have that issue with Nolan, like I do.
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Apr 22 '26
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u/pulchritudinous_s Apr 23 '26
Ahh I see. Actually tho wtf why are people hating it now before it's released. That's a new level of pessimism right there.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 05 '26
Second trailer:
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u/Joseon2 May 05 '26
Wondering who the guys in the weird silver armour are meant to be. If it's following the epic, the Kikonians seem the closest fit since they're fighting Odysseus' men. But maybe they're the Laistrygonians since they look sort of giant, but in that case Nolan would be skipping their cannibalism for a generic battle instead.
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May 06 '26
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u/SnooWords1252 May 06 '26
Rumors. Yay.
Still, he did spend his youth dressed as a girl.
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May 06 '26
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u/Academic_Paramedic72 May 07 '26
I'm starting to get afraid that Athena might be the only Olympian that we're getting. There are few actors who haven't had their roles detailed yet even though Hermes, Poseidon, and Zeus all appear physically in important points.
Maybe Nolan wants to keep "grittiness" and will only show Athena through her human disguises.
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u/Uno_zanni Dec 27 '25
This is great
May I suggest we allow the posting of pictures?
That would make it easier to discuss visual media (like a movie). Also, a few people here have physical books, so it may make it easier to quote sources
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u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator Dec 27 '25
May I suggest we allow the posting of pictures?
Oh boy thanks for reminding me! Forgot to turn off that feature years ago...
Should be available now!
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u/Individual_Plan_5593 May 05 '26
(Sorry, I was unaware of the megathread when I posted earlier. I've deleted, and I'll reiterate here) I could have sworn Charlize Theron was confirmed as playing Circe, but the recently released trailer really makes it seem like she's playing Calypso? Maybe they've merged them into one character? It wouldn't be the first time an adaptation has done that with Circe and Calypso.
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u/FUcKiFiiED May 12 '26
I just want to know which version to read before the movie is out !!!! lol any insight ?!?!!
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u/SnooWords1252 May 12 '26
This is a commonly asked question. It doesn't really need to be part of the Megathread.
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u/Duggy1138 May 13 '26
Christopher Nolan Defends ‘The Odyssey’ Armor and Casting Travis Scott After Online Backlash: ‘What Is the Best Speculation?’
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u/AncientMargins May 19 '26
Does anybody know how they are going to be pronouncing some of names? Are they going full on Greek style or more modern?
I can see them going more of a modern pronounce than the traditional but idk.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 19 '26
Greek pronounciation with English dialogue seems out of place. Like the Jimmy Smits SNL skit where the white characters pronounce all of the Spanish words correctly. You know, the one that inspired Deadpool's love of Chimichangas.
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u/AncientMargins May 20 '26
Yeah I see that.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 20 '26
I guess "Dad" is like that, too. Trying to get a balance between sounding "accurate" and not sounding "weird" is hard.
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Jul 15 '26
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Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
[deleted]
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Jul 15 '26
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u/Joseon2 Jul 15 '26
They already made him an idiot with that horse Design
What do you mean?
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Jul 15 '26
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u/Joseon2 Jul 15 '26
Oh I see. Yeah, if it can't even stand on its own and they're dragging it around, they'd hear and feel the weight of the men inside getting tossed around. And ancient sources normally said they needed a rope or ladder to descend from it, so it clearly wasn't supposed to be lying on the ground.
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u/Academic_Paramedic72 Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
I can expect cutting the Lotus Eaters and Aeolus, because even if they reinforce many themes, including ones Nolan seems to be incorporating in his adaptation, the movie is already lenghty and they don't offer much in plot progression. I expect the same for the Cicones, Theoclymenus, and Nestor.
However, it's simply unforgivable to cut the Nobody trick. It's the most famous part in the entire book, you can't have Odysseus without Nobody. Even Epic the Musical had it! I'm really hoping the reviewer missed or mistook the scene.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 09 '26
Casting: Matt Damon ~ Odysseus
Thoughts?
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May 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/SnooWords1252 May 09 '26
So if he hadn't made his career on an Irish-Bostonian identity it would be OK?
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May 09 '26
[deleted]
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u/SnooWords1252 May 09 '26
Fair enough. Everyone has people they can't see past the person or a specific role.
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u/Cynical-Rambler May 16 '26
Hollywood blockbuster castings are generally for what they potentially bring in the box office.
If Damon brings in money, he is good casting. Same reason why you got Anne Hathaway or insert-famous-black-actor.
There is little point in analysing it. Matt Damon would portrayed the Odysseus that he would hired to portray. The script would be written with Damon in mind.
This movie is Hollywood production first and foremost. Its objective is to make money. Everything else is just internet whinings to the people that make it.
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u/SnooWords1252 Jul 02 '26
Robert Pattinson Revelled In Taunting Tom Holland On The Odyssey Set: ‘I Want To Be Your Daddy!’
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u/Rex_Nemorensis_ Dec 27 '25
Why though? Because one dude made a post complaining about it?
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u/MarcusForrest ★ Moderator Dec 27 '25
Since the trailer's release, there've been a lot of threads about the movie, which is fine, until a certain point
Unfortunately a side effect of increased interest and visibility is that it also brings a lot of ''duplicate'' threads and also ''low effort'' threads, so you end up with a crowded frontpage that drowns other interesting topics and discussions
It is pretty common practice to introduce temporary floodgates and megathreads when something is announced or released
Also do remember that what you currently see in terms of visible ''The Odyssey (2026)'' threads is about 1/5 of what is posted - a LOT of duplicates, low-effort threads and rule-violating threads have been removed in the past days - imagine the frontpage having 5x more ''The Odyssey'' threads than it currently has!
The one thread about asking a ''ban'' definitely helped in the decision, but one thread is often many many voices, so it isn't just one person
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u/Rex_Nemorensis_ May 19 '26
Well guys, looks like all of us who are unhappy with the way the project has turned out are MAGA now apparently.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 19 '26
Only the racist ones.
Why are people always so eager to call themselves racist?
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u/chasing_fiction May 20 '26
MAGA is unhappy though. It's an accurate headline.
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u/SnooWords1252 May 22 '26
MAGA is unhappy with the Mando & Baby Yoda movie because someone who isn't in it made a shitty post.
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u/ashriekfromspace Jul 02 '26
looks like all of us who are unhappy with the way the project has turned out are MAGA now apparently.
That's not what it says tho? it's just talking about MAGA
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u/TheColtOfPersonality Dec 27 '25
Now where’s the megathread to discuss the 1997 miniseries starring Armand Assante as Odysseus