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Christopher Nolan Calls 'The Odyssey' the 'Marvel of Its Day' with Original Superheroes

Christopher Nolan describes his upcoming film 'The Odyssey' as rooted in the origins of superhero storytelling, comparing Homer's epic to modern Marvel and DC franchises. He praises Tom Holland's performance as Telemachus and reunites with Anne Hathaway for the film. The star-studded cast includes Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, and Zendaya, with a July 17, 2026 release date. Nolan notes the film will have a shorter runtime than his previous epic 'Oppenheimer'.

Key Points: Nolan's 'The Odyssey' Praises Tom Holland, Rooted in Superhero Lore

  • Nolan compares 'The Odyssey' to modern comic book franchises
  • Tom Holland praised as "incredible talent" for Telemachus role
  • Film features ensemble cast including Matt Damon and Anne Hathaway
  • Runtime shorter than Oppenheimer's, releasing July 17, 2026
3 min read

Christopher Nolan says 'The Odyssey' has "original superheroes", praises Tom Holland

Christopher Nolan compares 'The Odyssey' to modern Marvel, praises Tom Holland, and discusses adapting Homer's epic with a star-studded cast including Matt Damon.

"The thing about Homer, it is the Marvel of its day. - Christopher Nolan"

Los Angeles, May 5

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan has described his upcoming film 'The Odyssey' as rooted in the origins of superhero storytelling, likening the ancient Greek epic to modern comic book franchises, according to Variety.

During an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Nolan spoke about the influence of Homer and drew comparisons to contemporary cinematic universes.

"Even comic book culture, whether you're talking about Marvel or DC or all the rest, a lot of it comes directly from the Homeric Epics," Nolan said, according to Variety, adding, "The thing about Homer is, nobody knows if that was a person. Homer, in a way, is the sort of George Lucas of his time."

He added, "The thing about Homer, it is the Marvel of its day. It's very directly this desire for us to feel or believe gods could walk amongst us, and I think the modern comic book is kind of our expression of that."

Nolan also praised actor Tom Holland, who plays Telemachus in the film. "He's amazing. I've not worked with him before, but I would love to work with him again. I mean, he's just an incredible talent. He's so, so great," he said, according to Variety.

The director further spoke about reuniting with actress Anne Hathaway, who plays Penelope in the film. Speaking about his recent project, The Devil Wears Prada 2, Nolan said, "I watched it last night. It was fabulous. With Emily Blunt as well. Terrific."

The Odyssey features an ensemble cast led by Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page and Benny Safdie.

The film is among the most anticipated releases of the 2026 summer season. Nolan's previous film, Oppenheimer, was released to widespread acclaim and ran for three hours.

Speaking about adapting the classic epic, Nolan acknowledged the challenges involved. "Anyone taking on 'The Odyssey' is taking on the hopes and dreams of people for epic movies everywhere and that comes with a huge responsibility," he said, according to Variety.

"What I learned from making 'The Dark Knight' trilogy is that what people want from a movie about a beloved story, a beloved set of characters, is they want a strong and sincere interpretation. They want to know that a filmmaker has gone to the mat for it," he added, as per the outlet.

Nolan also noted that while The Odyssey remains an epic, its runtime will be shorter than Oppenheimer's.

The film is slated for release on July 17.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Sneha F
Tom Holland as Telemachus? Interesting choice! I've only seen him as Spider-Man, but Nolan's casting has always been inspired. Just hope he doesn't make it too dark – The Odyssey is about adventure and homecoming, not just brooding. Also, Anne Hathaway as Penelope is perfect casting – patient, clever, and regal.
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Rajesh Q
Finally a Hollywood director acknowledging that superheroes didn't start with Marvel or DC! Growing up in India, we had stories of warriors blessed by gods, demons with boons, and kings who could lift mountains. Nolan's comparison makes me appreciate both our ancient epics and modern cinema. But where is the Indian mythological epic in Hollywood? Bollywood should take notes!
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David E
As someone who read The Odyssey in school, I'm cautiously optimistic. Nolan's meticulous approach should serve the epic well, but I worry about the runtime being shorter than Oppenheimer. Some stories need time to breathe. However, if anyone can make Greek mythology feel fresh and intellectually engaging, it's Nolan. The cast is a dream team!
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Priya S
The fact that Nolan said "what people want is a strong and sincere interpretation" really resonates. In India, we've seen too many adaptations of our epics that either modernize too much or get stuck in tradition. A filmmaker who respects the source material while bringing their own vision is what we need. Also, Matt Damon as Odysseus? Yes please! 💪
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Kavya N
I respect Nolan's vision, but I wish he'd acknowledge non

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