Parijat Ghosh 
Christopher Nolan’s epic, The Odyssey, is starting to tease its massive ambitions. And, honestly, we are starting to feel the cinematic hype. The film, based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem, is slated for a July 17, 2026 release. While the film is still 9 months away, all it’s pre-tickets sales are houseful and even its first looks are generating more hype than most of the already released films. So far, we have only seen a teaser trailer for the film that too only in theatres before Jurassic World Rebirth and Fantastic Four: First Steps. When will the first trailer arrive? Leakers say with Avatar: Fire and Ash but before that arrives, here is a compilation of all first look images of every character revealed so far.
Matt Damon as Odysseus
The first still of the film was released way back early in the year and featured Matt Damon as the protagonist of the saga aka Odysseus. Fan were quick to pour their admiration of his stunning first look which seems to capture the valiance as well as wisdom of the character.
Odysseus and His Men
Next came the snippet of Odysseus and his men with whom he takes the legendary voyage. The first looks feature the men in full costumes, all with shields, swords, bows and arrows, and a silhoutte of battle. Of course, people are already criticizing “historically” inaccurate armor in a “mytho-fantasy” story but that shouldn’t bother fans. Now we still don’t know who’s who in the images but if you have answers, please share in the comments section below.
Anne Hathaway as Penelope with Mia Goth as Melantho
The earliest images shared by Empire and other outlets highlight Anne Hathaway as Penelope, the patient, royal wife of Odysseus. She’s dressed in a rich blue gown, clutching a bow — regal, steely, and clearly not someone to be underestimated.
Right behind her stands Mia Goth, cast as Melantho, one of Penelope’s maids. The contrast in their costumes speaks volumes: where Penelope is elegant and poised, Goth’s Melantho wears a simpler, earthier outfit.
Tom Holland as Telemachus
Then there’s Tom Holland, unveiled as Telemachus — the son of Odysseus and Penelope. In his first look, he wears armor and wears a determined, burdened expression, hinting at the pressures his character may face.
Robert Pattinson as Antinous
Another wave of images gives us our clearest look yet at Robert Pattinso in his role. Pattinson is revealed as Antinous, one of the suitors vying for Penelope’s hand in Ithaca. His ornate armor and the candlelit, textured surroundings suggest his Antinous will be more than a cardboard villain — Nolan seems to be leaning into his moral complexity.
Zendaya as Goddess Athena
On the divine side, Zendaya appears as Athena, the goddess of wisdom. In behind-the-scenes snaps, she’s shown in flowing, simple robes, standing beside Matt Damon’s Odysseus. Rather than a bombastic divine presence, she seems more like a quiet, guiding force — someone who observes and advises.
Jon Bernthal as Menelaus
Those who have seen the teaser trailer in theatres have already seen the first look of Jon Bernthal. But for those who couldn’t catch the trailer, the image above features the BTS of Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, who looks absolutely fearsome! Can he play Kratos? Something to think about Amazon.
John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
We also received the first look of John Leguizamo as Eumaeus who is said to be to The Odyssey, what David Krumholtz as Rabi was to Oppenheimer. Eumaeus, the son of king of Ctesius of the Island of Syra, is Odysseus’ doulos, swineherd, and friend.
Official Artwork
We also came across the official artwork for ‘The Odyssey’, illustrated by Paul Shipper. The artwork depicts the legendary figure of the giant Trojan wooden horse which aided the Greeks in sacking the city of Troy in the Iliad, just before the events of The Odyssey.
What These Stills Tell Us — and Don’t
Taken together, the revealed stills suggest Nolan is aiming for a grounded, human-scale epic. It is not just a mythological spectacle. Penelope (Hathaway) looks resilient, Telemachus (Holland) looks conflicted, Antinous (Pattinson) looks dangerous, and Athena (Zendaya) looks wise. The costumes, the lighting, and even the body language lean into lived reality more than fantasy.
Still, there are plenty of mysteries. We haven’t seen everything yet. Characters of Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliot Page, Cosmo Jarvis, Himesh Patel, Bennie Safdie, as well as creatures like The Cyclops, or the Sirens haven’t made their first-look debut in this round. And while the visuals impress, story details remain tightly under wraps.
Bottom line: These first images from The Odyssey do more than tease — they promise a high-stakes, emotionally grounded epic. Nolan is not just reimagining Homer’s tale: he’s building a world we can believe in, one practical battle, betrayal, and divine whisper at a time.
If you have any questions regarding The Odyssey, feel free to ask in the comments below. For more content, stay tuned. As usual, like, subscribe, and share our articles as we here are trying to build a community of people High on Cinema!
