Cillian Murphy reacts to not being cast in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Scheduled to be released on July 17, 2026, the upcoming period epic has an all-star cast that features many of the director’s previous collaborators, including Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, Bill Irwin, Himesh Patel, and Samantha Morton.

Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron are joining The Odyssey‘s cast as new additions. Adapted from Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem of the same name, the 2026 IMAX film follows Greek hero Odysseus’ ten-year journey home after the Trojan War.

While talking to Variety during Toronto International Film Festival, Murphy, who is one of Nolan’s frequent collaborators, talked about not being included in The Odyssey‘s cast. The actor jokingly shared that he’s relieved not to be in it, though he “can’t wait” to watch the movie. Read his comment below:

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What This Means For Cillian Murphy And The Odyssey

Murphy has starred in six Christopher Nolan films. The Dark Knight director first spotted Murphy in a pH๏τograph from Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. Impressed by the actor’s striking presence, the director invited Murphy for a screen test for Batman Begins. While Murphy didn’t get the part of Batman, he was cast as Scarecrow, which marked the beginning of their long-lasting work relationship.

The 28 Days Later actor starred in all three movies of the Dark Knight trilogy. He also starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in the director’s 2011 Inception and the 2017 Dunkirk. The pair’s latest collaboration is the 2023 Oppenheimer, in which Murphy starred in the тιтle role.

In the past, Murphy has opened up about his admiration for the director’s work, calling himself a Chris Nolan fan. Nolan has previously named the actor as one of the greatest talents of his generation. At TIFF, Murphy again spoke very highly of the director, and it sounds like The Odyssey is a project the star could enjoy without the pressure of playing in it.

Our Take On Cillian Murphy Not Starring In The Odyssey

In a 2024 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Cillian Murphy explained why he was glad that he wasn’t part of The Odyssey‘s cast. The actor stressed that it means he can “go to the cinema and really enjoy it” without looking at himself, which is something he didn’t like to do.

Referring to his experience watching Interstellar, a movie he “really enjoyed,” the actor hoped that he could have a good time watching the next Christopher Nolan epic. So far, a large portion of The Odyssey‘s cast has been confirmed, but the specific details are still under тιԍнт wraps.