Christopher Nolan's Odyssey Cast: Who Plays Who?

Film director Christopher Nolan surprised the world with the news that he would direct an adaptation of Homer's epic Greek poem, The Odyssey, for his next project with Universal Studios. Like Christopher Nolan's latest film, Oppenheimer, The Odyssey is shaping up to be another epic, star-studded Hollywood blockbuster. The story follows the warrior king Odysseus as he travels home after the Trojan War, facing several dangerous and mystical obstacles along the way.

At this point, it's unknown exactly how Nolan will adapt. The Odyssey to theaters, meaning it's unclear exactly how many characters from the source material will appear in the film. Although some A-list stars have already been cast in the filmtheir roles in the film were not revealed. However, given the actors' ages and previous acting experience, it's easy to predict which character each confirmed cast member will play in Christopher Nolan's film. The Odysseyas well as some other actors who may star in the film.

Matt Damon as Odysseus

Matt Damon is perfect to play the hero of the Odyssey

Matt Damon is known for portraying heroic characters in several of his films. Considering your age, It seems likely that the 54-year-old actor will play the wise King Odysseuswho is typically seen and portrayed as a middle-aged monarch in this classic Greek tale. Damon playing Odysseus is even more likely due to the fact that The OdysseyThe story takes place over 20 years, as its appearance could more easily reflect the story's time jumps.

Damon only had supporting roles in Christopher Nolan's 2014 film Interstellar and the director's 2023 film Oppenheimer. However, just as actor Cillian Murphy landed a starring role in the latter, Damon may finally get the chance to star as the main hero in one of Nolan's blockbuster epics. Odysseus is an especially suitable role for Damon, given the character's similarities to the selfish and self-righteous knight Damon portrayed in the 2021 medieval drama. The Last Duel.

Anne Hathaway as Penelope

Anne Hathaway could reign supreme as the Queen of Ithaca

Wife of Odysseus and queen of Ithaca, Penelope spends 20 years in The Odyssey trying to avoid marriage to her many suitors while awaiting her husband's return from the Trojan War. Such a role requires an actor who can best convey the determination and struggles of Penelope's character as a lonely woman trying to lead her kingdom, raise her son, and fend off the persecutions of greedy men.

Anne Hathaway is qualified to play such a majestic character, having done so with great success in The Princess Diaries franchise and 2010 Alice in Wonderland. Hathaway's Oscar-winning performance as a struggling single mother in 2012 Les Misérables could also translate well to Penelope's character in The Odyssey. In the end, it wouldn't be a surprise if Hathaway played Penelope in Nolan's film, especially since She played prominent supporting roles in two of his previous films: The Dark Knight Rises and Interstellar.

Tom Holland as Telemachus

Tom Holland should play a younger character, like Odysseus' son

The Odyssey marks Tom Holland's first collaboration with Christopher Nolan, and the capable Spider-Man actor deserves a sizable role in this next blockbuster. Given the age of the Netherlands, he's likely to play one of the youngest characters in Nolan's film. Specifically, Holland would be perfect like Telemachus in The Odysseyone of the central characters in Homer's epic story.

In The OdysseyTelemachus is the son of Odysseus and Penelope, who grows into adulthood in his father's absence and helps fight his mother's suitors for most of his life in Ithaca. In the story, Telemachus is portrayed as a young adult, aged 20 when Odysseus returns, making it an ideal role for the 28-year-old Holland. Holland also looks a lot like Damon, making it even more believable that he is the latter's son in The Odyssey.

Zendaya as Athena

Zendaya playing Athena would be a divine casting choice

Greek gods play an important role in The Odysseyas many of them try to kill Odysseus or support him and his family as he tries to reunite with them. One of Odysseus' divine allies is Athena, the goddess of war and wisdom. However, she spends most of The Odyssey accompanying Telemachus in his search for knowledge of his father, acting as his mentor and divine protector.

Zendaya has proven herself to be an A-list actress with her roles in Euphoria, Challengersand the Dune franchise, then a prominent role as one of the gods in The Odyssey would be more suitable for her. She was supposed to play Athena in the film, she would be a guiding hand in the unknown world of Telemachussimilar to her character Chani and her relationship with Paul in Dune: Part Two. Due to Zendaya's chemistry with Holland on and off the big screen, her playing one of Telemachus' closest allies would also lead to great performances from both actors.

Robert Pattinson as Antinous

Robert Pattinson is ready to play a villainous character like Antinous

Robert Pattinson proved he is fit to play one of Penelope's villainous suitors in Nolan's film. Although Penelope has several bad men pining after her The OdysseyAntinous is the worst and most prominent of them all. Antinous leads the other suitors in their dark schemes in Itica, which include attempting to assassinate the young Telemachus.

Antinous' enormous presence as a villain in the story makes him a suitable role for someone of Pattinson's caliber. Pattinson is also well-suited to playing dark, conniving characters like Antinous, having done so in films like Josh and Benny Safdie. Good time and Robert Eggers The Lighthouse. It also wouldn't be the first time that Pattinson and Holland's characters exchanged blows on film.having done so in the 2020 thriller The devil all the time. Because both actors know how to play off each other, they can create great tension as enemies in The Odyssey.

Charlize Theron as Circe

Charlize Theron is God's material in Christopher Nolan's film

In The Odyssey, Circe is the goddess and sorceress who seduces Odysseus when she arrives on his island of Aeaeaturning his soldiers into pigs with enchanted drugs and convincing everyone to stay on his luxurious island for a year. Theron has experience playing the charming and manipulative “fatal women” in various genres in cinema. Most notably, Theron portrayed the evil Queen Ravenna in Snow White and the Huntsman and Cipher in Fast and Furious franchise.

Theron's prior acting experience makes her an excellent choice to play a character like Circe. In the same way, She has worked with Damon in the 2000 film The Legend of Bagger Vance. Given that their characters in the film had a romantic relationship, Theron could rekindle some of that chemistry with Damon while Circe plays her romantic mind games on Odysseus.

Lupita Nyong'o as Calypso

Lupita Nyong'o could play a morally complex character like Calypso

Similar to Circe, The OdysseyCalypso's version is a nymph goddess who rules an island where Odysseus appears after surviving the sea beast Scylla on her journey back to Ithaca. However, Calypso falls in love with Odysseus and keeps him imprisoned on her island for several years, offering to give him immortality in exchange for his affection. Based on your actions and motives in the story, Calypso is neither good nor bad in The Odyssey. An actor would need to strike the right character balance to play Calypso well in Nolan's film.

Lupita Nyong'o had success playing both good and bad characters in the filmparticularly in his dual role in Jordan Peele's film Us. Nyong'o's acting experience should allow her to give an excellent performance of the morally complex Calypso. Her portrayal of Calypso would also continue a modern trend of black actors portraying the Greek goddess in film and television. This includes Naomie Harris' Tia Dalma in Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise and Vanessa Williams' Calypso in the 1997 TV adaptation of The Odyssey.

Unconfirmed Cast: Kenneth Branagh as Menelaus

Kenneth Branagh would play an excellent king in the Odyssey

Kenneth Branagh starred in three Christopher Nolan films: Dunkirk, Principleand Oppenheimer. As a result, it wouldn't be a surprise if this one brought him back for another role in The Odyssey. As for the character he was supposed to play, the Spartan king Menelaus would be an ideal role for the Shakespearean actor.

The Odyssey portrays King Menelaus as a wise and hospitable ruler who fought alongside Odysseus in the Trojan War. Hence, he is a significant character who supports young Telemachus in his search for Odysseustelling him about his father's exploits during the war. Branagh has portrayed real characters in films including Henry V and Hamlet, and the wisdom he imparts in many of his roles could effectively make him seem like a realistic leader and a helpful guide to Telemachus in The Odyssey.

Unconfirmed cast: Tom Hardy as Nestor

Tom Hardy would be the Assassin King in the Odyssey

Tom Hardy has been an important and recurring actor in Nolan's filmography, having acted in Start, The Dark Knight Risesand Dunkirk. He is also known for being tough, intimidating, and sometimes humorous in films. Although Hardy was not cast The Odyssey, he seems a likely choice to appear in Nolan's next project. His performance as survivor Max in Mad Max: Fury Road might make him a great fit for Odysseus, but he's also a great candidate to play Nestor, the king of Pylos and former military commander.

Like Menelaus, Nestor is a wise and welcoming figure who assists Telemachus in his search for Odysseus.having fought with the latter in the Trojan War. We could easily see Hardy as a former soldier after seeing his many roles in action films. However, Hardy can also bring wisdom and humor to a performance as Nestor, which could make him an especially intriguing figure in Telemachus' adventure.

Unconfirmed Cast: Andy Serkis as Polyphemus

Andy Serkis' experience playing CGI characters would make him a perfect Cyclops

The cyclops Polyphemus is one of the most notable characters in The Odyssey. Odysseus and his men face this powerful creature during their travels, and since Polyphemus is the son of Poseidon, their victory over him brings bad news. Bringing this mythical creature to life would require a lot of high-quality CGIand these characters are not usually seen in Nolan's more practical films. Polyphemus would be a bold new character for Nolan to create, but if anyone can play a computer-generated monster, it's Andy Serkis.

Having played several iconic cinema creatures such as Gollum, Caesar, Knull and Supreme Leader Snoke, Andy Serkis has a lot of knowledge and experience portraying motion capture characters to help Nolan make a CGI Polyphemus in his film adaptation of The Odyssey. It also helps that Serkis has worked with Nolan before, having starred in his 2006 film. The prestige.