Watch the Director's The Odyssey Preview the Way It Wasn't Meant to Be Seen.
The acclaimed filmmaker's mythic action epic, The Odyssey, is a film audiences have been anticipating since its announcement. It easily ranks as one of the most awaited motion pictures coming next year. As a pre-Christmas treat, a preview has now been released, though it's hampered due to the platform's low-quality encoding—perhaps explaining the director's choice to restrict the trailer solely for theatrical audiences.
A First Glimpse at the Legendary Cast
This first look reveals Matt Damon portraying Odysseus. Audiences are introduced to Tom Holland as Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. During an emotional scene, Penelope asks her husband to vow he will return, to which he respond by asking what happens if he cannot. The trailer also offers a quick, obscured look of the mythical one-eyed giant, whose flock Odysseus and his crew steal on their treacherous voyage.
Adapted from a foundational pillar of Western literature, The Odyssey chronicles the epic journey undertaken by the famed ruler. Following his victory at Troy, as told within the companion epic, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous return to his homeland.
Legendary Obstacles and a Star-Studded Lineup
On his travels, the hero encounters countless challenges and mythical beings. These include the enchantress Circe, known for turning humans into pigs, and the deceptive Sirens. Despite these trials, Odysseus vows to overcome anything to get back to his wife and son in Ithaca.
The adaptation's cast is remarkably star-studded. Joining Damon, Holland, and Hathaway are Charlize Theron portraying the shrewd goddess, together with Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.
A Story Repeatedly Told
The classic poem has inspired many reinterpretations throughout history. These range from modern retellings and a late-90s dance production. It has even been a stage musical adaptation called Epic: The Musical, released in the form of a nine-album collection.
The official trailer was long awaited following the project's reveal and a brief teaser that previously played exclusively in theaters. That footage subsequently found its way onto the internet soon after.
To see a clearer version, the trailer posted on the movie's verified account may provide a better, clearer look.
The Odyssey will debut on global IMAX screens on July 17, 2026.
