Christopher Nolan’s Next Film Is an Adaptation of ‘The Odyssey’

It’s been known for a few months that Christopher Nolan would be announcing his “Oppenheimer” follow-up soon, but details on what that follow-up would be have been slow to come. But now, we know that the film will be a classical epic — quite literally.

Nolan’s next feature film will be titled “The Odyssey” and will be a direct adaptation of the ancient Greek epic poem, one of the oldest works of popular literature. Universal Pictures, the distributors of “Oppenheimer” and the studio producing the upcoming film, formally announced the news on December 23 via a post on X (formerly known as Twitter). In addition, the tweet also reconfirmed the already announced release date of July 17, 2026, and said the film will use “brand new IMAX technology,” though no further details were given.

“Christopher Nolan’s next film ‘The Odyssey’ is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology,” the tweet reads. “The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.”

Attributed to the Greek poet Homer, “The Odyssey” was written around the 8th century BC and tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus and his long quest to return home after the Trojan War and reunite with his beloved wife, Penelope. Featuring several iconic figures of Greek myth — from gods Athena and Posiden to nymph Calypso and sorceress Circe — the original story is one of the most iconic tales in literary history and remains widely taught and studied today.

Prior to the announcement, several stars had been announced to star in Nolan’s film, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, and Robert Pattinson. Who each star is playing in the adaptation of the epic poem has not been announced.

“The Odyssey” will be Nolan’s 13th feature film. His last, “Oppenheimer,” is one of his most acclaimed and successful, winning both Best Picture and Best Director, while grossing $976.8 million worldwide. Nolan’s adaptation of “The Odyssey” is one of many filmed versions of the story; this year saw the release of “The Return,” an adaptation of the poem by Italian director Uberto Pasolini.