A first-look image from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey confirms Matt Damon’s role as filming begins on the epic set for release in 2026. Nolan’s next movie is an adaptation of the epic Ancient Greek poem by Homer that follows Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, and his arduous journey home after fighting in the 10-year-long Trojan War. Nolan’s film once again features an all-star ensemble that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and many more.

Now, as filming begins, the @odysseymovie account on X, formerly Twitter, has shared the first look at Matt Damon as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Check out the image below:

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The post simply reads, “Matt Damon is Odysseus. A film by Christopher Nolan, #TheOdysseyMovie is in theaters July 17, 2026.”

What The Odyssey Image Means For Christopher Nolan’s Movie

Matt Damon Is Officially Odysseus

The first-look image from The Odyssey provides the first official confirmation that Matt Damon is playing Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s movie. There were rumors that Tom Holland might be taking on the role of the mythic hero, though it is indeed Damon who will be playing Odysseus. The movie marks the actor’s third collaboration with Nolan following 2023’s Oppenheimer and a small part in Interstellar, though this will be the first time that Damon is starring in the lead role for the director.

The first-look image also provides the first official confirmation that The Odyssey has started filming, in February 2025, just as expected. It’s unclear where this image of Damon as Odysseus was taken, though The Odyssey will reportedly be filmed in the United Kingdom, Morocco, and the Aeolian Islands in Sicily, especially Favignana, where Odysseus and his men are believed to have visited. With a reported budget of $250 million, Nolan’s most expensive movie yet, The Odyssey will be sH๏τ in numerous locations around the world using brand-new IMAX film technology.

Our Take On The Odyssey Image Of Matt Damon Of Odysseus

He’s A Great Choice For The Lead Role

Matt Damon is a far more fitting choice for Odysseus than Tom Holland since the character is around middle-aged in the poem, as he is already a seasoned warrior who fought in the Trojan War for 10 years before beginning his long journey home. Damon, at age 54, better embodies the weariness and resilience of a battle-hardened leader, whereas Holland would have lacked the gravitas of a middle-aged warrior. Damon’s Odysseus, wearing a weathered bronze helmet with a striking red plume, appears as a hardened but noble king – certainly looking the part in The Odyssey.

Source: @odysseymovie/X