Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is the director’s next big movie, set to be a cinematic reimagining of the legendary poem by Homer. With major additions to the cast being revealed over the past few weeks, the film has another huge ensemble (much like Oppenheimer‘s cast) that reunites Nolan with several actors he’s collaborated with before. The story of The Odyssey is mᴀssive in both scale and structure, so it’s not surprising that its cast is proving to be just as epic.

While the likes of Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, and Zendaya haven’t worked with the iconic director before, many of the film’s other cast members are recognizable from Nolan’s previous works. The filmmaker clearly makes an effort to reunite with actors whose work he appreciates, as proven by Cillian Murphy finally landing a lead role in Oppenheimer in 2023. The most recent additions to The Odyssey‘s cast are further evidence of this, with the majority of the confirmed ensemble having credits in Nolan’s previous films.

7

Matt Damon

Appeared In Interstellar & Oppenheimer

Matt Damon was among the first confirmed names for The Odyssey, and his involvement shouldn’t come as a surprise to anybody. The actor has previously appeared in both Interstellar and Oppenheimer, both times playing a supporting character who absolutely stole the show. The Odyssey is a story brimming with important supporting characters, some of whom only appear for single scenes, making it no mystery why Nolan has brought Damon back for this project.

6

Anne Hathaway

Appeared In Interstellar & The Dark Knight Rises

It’s been over 10 years since Nolan collaborated with Anne Hathaway, so it’s hugely exciting to see the pair working together again. Although she’s best known for her lead role in Interstellar, the actress also appeared as Catwoman in The Dark Knight Rises. Incidentally, this new project should be vindicating for Hathaway, as many audiences believed that her character was wasted in The Dark Knight Rises, and she wasn’t given enough to do. This is the perfect opportunity for Nolan and Hathaway to finally capitalize on their shared talent, hopefully giving her a more substantial and memorable role.

5

Robert Pattinson

Appeared In Tenet

Though Robert Pattinson has only worked with Nolan once, his supporting role in Tenet was arguably the best part of the film. In a project that received mixed reviews, Pattinson’s performance was widely praised for his eccentric personality and effortless command of Nolan’s complex dialogue. He clearly understood the bold storytelling of Tenet in a way that many audiences didn’t, proving that he works efficiently alongside the director. It was disappointing to see Pattinson omitted from Oppenheimer‘s huge ensemble, so it’s a mᴀssive relief to find him here.

4

Elliot Page

Appeared In Inception

Inception is widely regarded as one of Christopher Nolan’s best movies, and Elliot Page was a huge reason for the Best Picture nominee’s success. His character is among the most relatable and understandable figures in an otherwise confusing and complex narrative, which couldn’t have been easy to pull off. His return for The Odyssey is extremely promising, not just because of his undeniable talent and charm, but also because the inclusion of a trans actor in this otherwise ancient story proves that Nolan is trying to move away from the parts of this mythos that haven’t aged particularly well.

3

Himesh Patel

Appeared In Tenet

Another recent collaborator of Nolan’s filmography, Himesh Patel appears only briefly but memorably in Tenet as the fixer Mahir, as the one responsible for crashing the plane into the airport and causing a diversion for Neil and the Protagonist. Patel’s role was small, but he clearly made an impression on Nolan, given that the director has also brought him back for The Odyssey.

2

Bill Irwin

Appeared In Interstellar

Although he’s not as well-known as some of The Odyssey‘s more A-List names, Bill Irwin’s involvement in the upcoming epic is hugely exciting. The actor previously voiced the character of TARS in Inception, the intelligent robot who helps charter a course for the astronauts; mission. It’s worth noting that Irwin is also known for his work as a comedian and clown, which could point towards a unique role in The Odyssey.

1

Benny Safdie

Appeared In Oppenheimer

Benny Safdie plays the role of Edward Teller in Oppenheimer, a very understated but crucial character whose conflicts with Cillian Murphy’s protagonist push the story forward in dynamic ways. Safdie has a very solemn and serious style of acting, which could mean he plays one of the more important (potentially villainous) characters in The Odyssey. Nolan has promised to make more large-scale movies after the success of Oppenheimer, and the inclusion of all these fascinating character actors is a clear sign that he’s doing exactly that.