The Odyssey’s Star Power Could Be Its Achilles’ Heel

Christopher Nolan doing Homer is already a big swing. Now add a cast list that reads like three different red carpets and, yeah, I get why everyone is buzzing. But there is one obvious question with 'The Odyssey': when you pack this many stars into one movie, does the story get lost in the crowd?

What Nolan is cooking

'The Odyssey' is written and directed by Nolan and based on Homer’s ancient Greek epic. Universal is releasing it in U.S. theaters. The film is set right after the Trojan War, so we’re firmly in the sandals-and-ships era. One note on timing: despite some chatter about 'this summer,' the studio has it dated for July 17, 2026.

The cast, because wow

• Matt Damon as Odysseus
• Tom Holland
• Anne Hathaway
• Robert Pattinson
• Lupita Nyong'o
• Zendaya
• Charlize Theron
• Jon Bernthal
• John Leguizamo
• Himesh Patel
• Mia Goth
• Elliot Page
• Travis Scott
• Bill Irwin
• ...and more

The potential snag

The story is Odysseus’s, which means Matt Damon is likely front and center most of the time. Beyond that, plot details are locked down, so it’s hard to predict how much everyone else gets to do. The concern is simple: when you stack this many recognizable faces, every new scene can turn into a quick game of 'spot the celebrity,' which pulls focus from the actual movie. In a period piece, that effect can be even stronger if the famous faces don’t disappear into their roles.

Why this feels familiar

Nolan likes big ensembles. Sometimes it pays off in a big way. Robert Downey Jr. fully vanished into Lewis Strauss in 'Oppenheimer' and walked away with an Oscar. The flip side is also in that same movie: actors like Rami Malek and Dane DeHaan pop in for very brief stretches. It didn’t sink 'Oppenheimer' at all — the film still rules — but there are moments where the cameos are more about recognition than impact.

So will the cast help or hurt?

This could go either way. If Nolan uses the bench the way he did with his best ensembles — specific roles, meaningful moments, not just drive-by appearances — the star power becomes texture, not distraction. If it turns into a relay race of three-minute guest spots, especially in an ancient-world setting, the movie risks feeling like a highlight reel instead of a cohesive journey.

All that said, Nolan has pulled off this balancing act before. If he can get these actors to disappear into Greeks, gods, monsters, and sailors — and keep the focus on the long, weird trip home with Odysseus — 'The Odyssey' could be both epic and sharp. We find out July 17, 2026.