July 17 is the release date for Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” and a newly published character guide lays out the film’s main roles to help general audiences navigate Homer’s story.
Nolan said the adaptation is designed for viewers ranging from classics experts to people who know nothing about the poem, framing it as an accessible take on a foundational text.
Matt Damon leads as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway as Penelope and Tom Holland as Telemachus, whose search for his missing father gives the film a parallel coming-of-age arc.
Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, the main homefront antagonist among Penelope’s 108 suitors, while Zendaya appears as Athena and Lupita Nyong’o takes dual roles as Helen and Clytemnestra.
The wider ensemble and production details — from Charlize Theron’s Calypso to a Cyclops inspired by Goya — underscore Nolan’s emphasis on the human cost of war and myth made relatable.