Christopher Nolan’s next movie is a big-budget adaptationof the epic Greek poemThe Odyssey, and it will continue a mini-trend afterOppenheimerthat also includes some of Nolan’s past movies.The Odysseyboasts an impressive castthat is on par with the sheer scale and scope of the movie, and will theoretically follow the major plot lines of the ancient literary work of the Greek poet Homer. Set after the Trojan War and the other events chronicled in Homer’sThe Iliad,The Odysseyfollows the hero Odysseus (rumored to be played by Matt Damon) on his 10-year journey home.
Christopher Nolan has evolved into one of the film industry’s most-awarded and celebrated directors, and his movies famously involve complex stories, well-developed characters, and mind-melting higher concepts. Asmany of Nolan’s moviesinvolve metaphysical themes, it seems likely that there will be some alterations to the story told inThe Odysseyin his hands, as opposed to just a visual portrayal of the story on the page. Regardless of how Nolan handles the screenplay,The Odysseywill share a related commonality withOppenheimer.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Update Confirms It Will Be Even More Ambitious Than His $974 Million Oscar-Winning Hit
A recent update from The Odyssey’s production indicates that it could be even more ambitious than his most recent award-winning blockbuster.
Christopher Nolan Is Once Again Adapting A Pre-Existing Work After Oppenheimer
While Nolan Will Write And Direct, There Is Existing Source Material
Some of Nolan’s most famous works are original, written and directed by the man himself. While theDark Knighttrilogy obviously had its roots in the Batman comic books,Tenet,Interstellar, andInceptionwere all completely original screenplays with influences from other works. However,The Odyssey, likeOppenheimer, will be based on a pre-existing work.The Odysseywill, of course, have its basis in a classic piece of literature, while Oppenheimer was largely based on the 2005 biographyAmerican Prometheusby Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin.
The Odyssey, and its companion work,The Iliad, are considered to be two ofthe oldest literary works that are still widely read and studied by the public and modern scholars. The epic poem is divided into 24 books, and follows the Greek hero Odysseus on his meandering journey from Troy to his home in Ithaca by way of modern-day Africa and Southern Europe. It’s widely agreed that it was originally composed in the 8th century BCE by the Greek poet Homer, but given that it was passed down orally over the ages, it’s difficult to definitively know its origins.
The Odyssey Is Vastly Different From Anything Nolan Has Done So Far
The Fantasy Elements At Play Will Be New Ground For Nolan
Assuming that Nolan sticks with the actual story depicted inThe Odyssey, there will be significant fantasy elements, which would be relatively new territory for the accomplished director. While Nolan has played with science fiction at length,his films are typically grounded in science and realism, even if some of the higher concepts surrounding time and memory are counterfactual. He has also done great work stepping outside the modern time frame, with some of his strongest movies (ex.Dunkirk,The Prestige,Oppenheimer) invoking a historical setting.
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Epic Fantasy (unconfirmed)
The Odysseywill allow him to flex his muscles again when it comes to creating an environment from the past, but with fantasy elements mixed in.The Odysseyheavily involves several of the Greek gods, like Athena, Poseidon, and Zeus, and sees Odysseus and his crew clash with monsters from across the Mediterranean. It wouldn’t be surprising to see Nolan infuse sci-fi into the narrative somehow, but one of the most exciting prospects of the movie isseeing what Nolan does with something that truly challenges his own thematic norms and tendencies.
Oppenheimer Was Not Christopher Nolan’s First Movie Based On A Book
The Legendary Director Has Adapted Existing Works Before
TheDark Knighttrilogy notwithstanding, Christopher Nolan has notably adapted written works beforeOppenheimerandThe Odyssey. His 2000 psychological thrillerMemento, starring Guy Pearce,was adapted from a short story written by Nolan’s screenwriter brother, Jonathan Nolan. After serving as the basis for the movie, the short story titledMemento Mori(Latin for “remember that you [have to] die”) was formally published in 2001, so technically the movie did come before the “book” in that instance.
Technically, Nolan’s first feature was the 1998 neo-noir crime thriller Following, which was made as cheaply as possible; it had just a $6,000 budget and a 70-minute runtime, so it typically is not included in most of Nolan’s major filmography lists. Elements of the award-winning movie made it intoInception, including a serial burglar character named Cobb.
Another Nolan psychological thriller,The Prestige,was directly adapted from a book, in this case the 1995 novel of the same name by Christopher Priest. While the general notes from the novel are retained, like the concept of the story being told through dueling diaries, Nolan obviously put his own fingerprints on the story and visuals. Something similar should happen withThe Odyssey, where most of the major plot points are stuck to, but Nolan puts his own slant on the themes at play and the overall aesthetic.
The Odyssey
Cast
The Odyssey is a 2026 film adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, chronicling Odysseus’s treacherous journey home from the Trojan War. The narrative explores his encounters with mythical creatures such as Polyphemus, the Sirens, and Circe, culminating in his reunion with his wife, Penelope.
