Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is, mercifully, not quite the mystery it once was. As we near the film’s July 17 release date, we actually know quite a bit about its premise, formats, and general, sometimes controversial, adaptation and design choices. Perhaps most importantly, we finally know the film’s (mostly) full cast. Nolan has made a habit of stacking his movies with actors that could easily lead most other productions, and The Odyssey most certainly continues that trend.
In fact, between the truly stacked cast and the collection of characters you may or may not remember from The Odyssey (if they were indeed in the original story at all), it’s a little confusing to keep up with who is who in this movie. Of course, that’s probably why you’re here. So, here’s a breakdown of The Odyssey‘s cast with a little information about the characters themselves (pictures also available where possible/helpful).
Matt Damon – Odysseus
After appearing in Interstellar and Oppenheimer in memorable supporting roles, Matt Damon finally gets to lead a Christopher Nolan movie as the king of Ithaca himself, Odysseus.
The central figure of Homer’s story, Odysseus is simply trying to return home after helping the Greeks win the Trojan War (thanks in no small part to his idea for a giant wooden horse that is not quite what it seems). The Odyssey is ultimately the story of Odysseus’ decade-long journey back to his wife, child, and throne. Renowned for his intelligence and strategic thinking, Odysseus must rely on his craftiness to overcome the many gods and monsters that turn a weeks-long voyage into a 10-year epic. A complex literary figure, tales of Odysseus have survived throughout the years partially due to the character’s versatility as a storytelling device. He can be kind and cruel, noble or savage. He’s human, warts and all, rather than a blunt instrument of towering, mythical strength.
Fun Fact: You’re not alone if you grew up referring to Odysseus as Ulysses. The latter is the Latin translation of the former, which became increasingly popular over the centuries due to various translations and the cultural impact of author James Joyce’s 1922 novel, Ulysses, which emphasized the character’s association with a long journey.
Anne Hathaway – Penelope
Hathaway re-teams with Nolan after working with the director on The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar. Her appearance further solidifies 2026 as the year of Anne Hathaway, thanks to the actresses’ roles in this film, Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The End of Oak Street, and Verity.
Penelope is the wife of Odysseus who was famously beset by over 100 suitors during her husband’s absence. Her role in this story is historically defined by her attempts to ward off said suitors, largely by weaving a burial shroud she never seems to finish. Her efforts are stymied by gods and men, leading to her concocting a final challenge with a bow that demonstrates her own wit and resourcefulness.
Fun Fact: The phrase “Penelopean” is used to describe an often deliberate effort that makes little progress and is defined by repetitive actions. You may also know it as a day job.
Tom Holland – Telemachus
Tom Holland has hardly been able to contain his excitement over finally being cast in a Christopher Nolan film. The only person more excited than Holland may be Nolan himself, who calls the Spider-Man actor one of the great performers of his generation.
Holland will play the son of Odysseus and Penelope, Telemachus. A major character in the original text, Telemachus’s journey is a coming-of-age parallel to Odysseus’ story. His struggles with his mother’s suitors force him to voyage away from his once-happy home in order to learn the truth about his father and a lot more about himself.
Fun Fact: The first four books of The Odyssey are often referred to as the “Telemachy” since they almost entirely focus on the story of Telemachus.
Robert Pattinson – Antinous
Robert Pattinson continues his incredible post-Twilight career surge by appearing in The Odyssey as the “leader” of Penelope’s army of suitors, Antinous.
Antinous is, to use the parlance of our times, a lot. His lust and greed compel him to openly defy all traditions of hospitality in favor of tearing through Odysseus’s wealth and resources in the narrow-minded pursuit of Penelope’s favor. He is also determined to thwart Telemachus’ efforts to find his father at any cost.
Fun Fact: Antinous of Ithaca is sometimes confused with the real-life Greek figure Antinous who was famous for his beauty and became the eventual companion of the Roman emperor Hadrian. Following Antinous’ death, Hadrian founded a powerful cult in his name.
Lupita Nyong’o – Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra
Not since Us have we been gifted with the joy of watching two Lupita Nyong’o performances, but Christopher Nolan is nothing if not generous when it comes to casting.
Helen of Troy you likely know as perhaps the most famous figure of beauty in all of mythology. Though a much larger figure in The Iliad, Helen of Troy plays a role in Telemachus’ journey helps demonstrate what has happened to her character since The Trojan War.
Clytemnestra, meanwhile, is the wife of Agamemnon and Helen of Troy’s sister. Despite what the dual-casting may suggest, her role is actually more of a spiritual mirror to Penelope’s story. Unlike Penelope, Clytemnestra has…moved on from Agamemnon’s absence and begins to take matters into her own hands in an effort to solidify her new life.
Fun Fact: Some stories suggest that these two are actually half-sisters as their mother, Leda, was impregnated by both Zeus and her husband Tyndareus around the same time. Helen of Troy is believed to be Zeus’ child while Clytemnestra was born from Tyndareus. The details of the Zeus-Leda relationship are… less than fun.
Zendaya – Athena
The also-always-in-demand Zendaya joins the Nolan brigade as the goddess Athena: one of Odysseus’ only divine allies throughout The Odyssey.
As a goddess of wisdom and warfare, Athena recognizes a kind of spiritual connection to Odysseus’ plight that inspires her to aid him as best as she is able against some fairly powerful odds. She often appears in disguise to render aid and even assists Telemachus on his own journey of discovery. Tom Holland and Zendaya together? Can you imagine?
Fun Fact: Athena was born from Zeus’ forehead after Zeus ate Athena’s mother, Metis, upon learning that the child of Metis would grow to be more powerful than him. Zeus had his head cut open to address a headache, and fully-formed Athena clad in armor popped out. Despite the rocky start, they eventually got along quite well.
Benny Safdie – Agamemnon
Writer/Director Benny Safdie previously appeared in Oppenheimer (as well as Super Mario Bros. Galaxy, a story for another day) and teams up with Nolan again to portray the legendary warrior Agamemnon.
Agamemnon’s role in The Odyssey is actually relatively minor, though he serves as another important parallel to our major characters. Specifically, Agamemnon’s relationship with his wife and ultimate fate demonstrates a possible, far darker end for Odysseus himself. His role in Nolan’s The Odyssey looks to be slightly expanded.
Fun Fact: Agamemnon’s great-grandfather Tantalus seemingly cursed the House of Atreus when he tried to feed his son Pelops to the gods in order to test them.
Jon Bernthal – Menelaus
Jon Bernthal just feels like a natural fit for The Odyssey and the cast of a Christopher Nolan movie. The actor has this gravely gravitas that makes him both a standout addition to any ensemble and a pretty perfect choice to play Menelaus.
Menelaus is the king of Sparta and Helen of Troy’s husband. Though a major figure in Greek mythology, Menelaus is a supporting figure in The Odyssey best known for helping Telemachus discover the truth about his father. Depending on how deep the movie goes, you may hear a little more about Menelaus’ own long journey home.
Fun Fact: King Menelaus is sometimes portrayed with bright red hair (a sign of fiery courage), but early photos suggest that Bernthal will be bald.
Charlize Theron – Calypso
One of the greatest actors of her generation, The Odyssey finally gives Charlize Theron the chance to take the role she was born to play: an epically alluring entity.
Calypso is a nymph who traps Odysseus on the island Ogygia for seven long years. She desires to keep Odysseus as a lover in exchange for immortality, which causes Odysseus to have a bit of a breakdown and triggers an argument among the gods over the traveler’s captivity. Her relationship with Odysseus has long been one of The Odyssey’s most compelling plot points as the interpretations of its nature have shifted wildly over the years.
Fun Fact: Later retellings of Odysseus’ story suggest that he and Calypso actually had children together. Nausithous and Nausinous are most often described as the offspring of that captivity, though some stories suggest they had a third son.
John Leguizamo – Eumaeus
Eumaeus is a swineherd who tends to Odysseus’ livestock. He is sometimes described as one of the most loyal characters in literature, though he is also a doulos (slave) to the household, which admittedly complicates things through modern eyes just a bit.
Regardless, Eumaeus is indeed defined by his remarkable loyalty to Odysseus and his family. He is unwavering in his belief that Odysseus will return and demonstrates that his kindness extends to those in need rather than those in power.
Fun Fact: Leguizamo had to endure four hours of daily “old man” makeup to transform into Eumaeus. It’s one of the more intense design decisions in a movie filled with far larger SFX set pieces.
Himesh Patel – Eurylochus
There’s never a bad reason to cast Himesh Patel, though the rising star is particularly well-cast as Odysseus’ less-than-loyal second-in-command, Eurylochus.
Eurylochus’ mistrust of Odysseus’ leadership leads to an almost comical series of disasters that result in the crew just missing their return home, mutiny, and, ultimately, the deaths of many at the hand of vengeful gods. He’s a bit of a stinker so far as such things go, and he serves as a warning for the disloyal everywhere.
Fun Fact: Eurylochus is actually something of a nepo hire as he is married to Odysseus’s younger sister, Ctimene.
Elliot Page – Sinon
The announcement that Elliot Page will play Sinon in Nolan’s The Odyssey prompted some to ask “Wait, who is Sinon?” After all, the character does not overtly appear in the original version of the story.
However, later legends reveal that Sinon was the soldier who feigns a feud with Odysseus in order to convince the soldiers of Troy to accept the gift of the Trojan Horse. Based on what we know, that’s likely the version of the character we’ll see in Nolan’s The Odyssey, though it’s not clear if the character’s role will be further expanded from there.
Fun Fact: Sinon role was popuarlized in Virgil’s Aeneid, which grew the legend of the character as a false traitor who helps infiltrates Troy.
Mia Goth – Melantho
One of the servants of Odysseus’ household, Melantho is a relatively minor character in The Odyssey whose affections for the suitor Eurymachus causes her to commit betrayal. Interestingly, Eurymachus hasn’t been officially cast in The Odyssey, so it’s not clear how Melantho’s role will be affected.
Ideally, the re-imagined Melantho will get a little more to do and give the incredible Mia Goth the chance to showcase her considerable skills.
Fun Fact: Penelope actually helped raise Melantho, making her eventual betrayal that much more heartbreaking.
Travis Scott – The Bard
Travis Scott is playing a bard who regales soldiers with tales of historically heroic deeds in The Odyssey, though there is some debate as to whether or not his character is an entirely new creation or an expansion of an existing character.
There are actually a couple of bards in The Odyssey (Demodocus and Phemius), but it’s not been confirmed that Scott is playing either of those roles. If he is portraying an existing bard, Demodocus is the better bet. Generally speaking though, it’s believed he is meant to represent the poetic storytelling style of the time.
Fun Fact: Nolan cast Scott partially because of his belief that there is a strong historical relationship between oral poetry storytelling and modern rap.
Bill Irwin – Polyphemus the Cyclops
You won’t actually see much of Bill Irwin in The Odyssey, as his performance as the Cyclops involved a mix of voice work, puppetry, and CGI. Still, it’s pretty great casting for one of the story’s most memorable characters.
While Polyphemus the Cyclops is sometimes best remembered as a terrifying behemoth, it’s far more significant that he’s actually the son of Poseidon. The assault on Polyphemus triggers the wrath of Poseidon which, historically, is something you want to avoid.
Fun Fact: Virgil’s epic poem the Aeneid tells the tale of a hero named Aeneas who encounters one of Odysseus’ crewmembers on the island of Sicily and learns that the sailor has been trying to avoid the blinded, enraged giant.
Samantha Morton – Circe
You may know Samantha Morton from her roles in Minority Report or The Walking Dead, but she’s long been an undersung secret weapon on the indie scene capable of unleashing incredible performances out of apparent nowhere.
Circe is certainly one of Morton’s most substantial roles yet and an incredibly promising turn for the actor. She is a goddess who tricks Odysseus’ men and transforms them into pigs. A series of events and threats turns her into one of Odysseus’ unlikely allies, and one of the hero’s greatest temptations that delays his long journey home.
Fun Fact: Madeline Miller’s excellent 2018 novel Circe presents a re-imagined version of the Circe legend that expands upon the character’s sometimes subtextual portrayal as a figure caught between worlds and conflicts. Is this a book recommendation described as a fun fact? Why, yes it is.
Logan Marshall-Green – Melanthius
The casting of Logan Marshall-Green (who offered scene-stealing performances in The Invitation and Upgrade) as Melanthius at least suggests that Nolan’s The Odyssey is not going to entirely shy away from the most brutal elements of the story.
As one of Odysseus’ less-loyal servants, Melanthius almost gleefully betrays his former master in favor of siding with the suitors. While it’s doubtful that some of the more gruesome things that happen to Melanthius will be portrayed in The Odyssey, it’s safe to say that the betrayal does not sit well with Odysseus.
Fun Fact: Logan Marshall-Green replaced Cosmo Jarvis in this role after the latter had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts.
Ryan Hurst – Mentor
Ryan Hurst (who eternally looks like he belongs in every ancient epic of war) plays Mentor in The Odyssey, which probably sounds like a fairly generic role if you don’t quite recall the original text.
Mentor is actually a fairly fascinating character in his own right. He’s one of Odysseus’ most loyal friends and helped watch over his family after he heads off to war. Perhaps more importantly, Athena assumes the form of Mentor to convince Telemachus to search for his father.
Fun Fact: Yes, the meaning of the modern word “mentor” can be traced back to this character’s name in The Odyssey and his habit of offering wisdom and guidance to young Telemachus.
