Christopher Nolan isn’t holding back with his next movie. Adapting Homer’s The Odyssey is a huge task, and it seems Nolan is making sure the budget matches the scale of the project.
The film is expected to cost $250 million, according to reports. Only two of Nolan’s 12 films, Tenet ($200 million) and The Dark Knight Rises ($250 million), had budgets that high. This shows just how big the project will be, which makes sense for a film based on Homer’s epic story.
Not much is known about the movie yet, except its premise and release date. Universal shared that Nolan’s The Odyssey will be a massive action film shot around the world using new IMAX technology. It will be the first time this classic story is shown in IMAX, and it will hit theaters on July 17, 2026.
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Nolan’s film follows Ridley Scott’s Gladiator sequel, which tried to bring back the “sword and sandals” style of movies. The first film to explore Greek mythology was a silent short from 1911 called The Fall of Troy, which showed Homer’s The Iliad.
This led to many adaptations, like Helen of Troy (1956), Jason and the Argonauts (1963), and Medea (1969). Later films like Troy (2004), Clash of the Titans (2010), Immortals (2011), and Wrath of the Titans (2012) also brought Greek myths into modern movies. While Greek gods haven’t appeared in Nolan’s films, his stories, like Memento, Tenet, Interstellar, and Inception, still explore themes of fate and choice.
Nolan has shared his thoughts on why superhero movies have become so popular, saying they’ve taken the place of classical myths in today’s culture.
Superheroes fill a gap in pop culture, much like Greek mythology did, There isn’t really anything else that does the same job today. For me, Batman is the one who feels the most real. He’s not from another planet, and he doesn’t have powers from radiation. Superman might be like a god, but Batman is more like Hercules. He’s just a human, with flaws, but he still bridges the gap between normal and extraordinary.
he told The Guardian in 2005
Superhero movies had a huge success at the box office, mostly thanks to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While Nolan appreciates the impact Marvel films have had on cinema, he’s choosing to stay away from making superhero movies. Christian Bale shared that he and Nolan made an agreement about it.
We said, ‘Let’s make three films [The Dark Knight Trilogy], if we’re lucky enough. Then, let’s walk away and not keep going,’ In my mind, it would be amazing if Chris Nolan ever decided he had another story to tell. If he wanted me to be part of it, I’d be in.
Bale told Screen Rant in 2022
The cast of The Odyssey includes actors like Robert Pattinson, Matt Damon, Tom Holland, and Zendaya, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Christian Bale joined the team too.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will be released in theaters on July 17, 2026.
Source: Puck