MOVIE NEWS – Two of Hollywood’s biggest stars gear up for a legendary journey in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming fantasy epic. New set photos from The Odyssey show Matt Damon and Tom Holland ready to bring Homer’s classic tale to life.

Oscar-winning director Christopher Nolan is stepping into the realm of ancient myth with The Odyssey, a massive swords-and-sandals fantasy that features one of the most star-studded casts in recent memory. Newly released images show Matt Damon in full costume, bearded and battle-ready, as he films in Favignana, Italy, where he portrays the legendary Greek hero Odysseus.

Damon was spotted filming alongside Zendaya—reportedly playing the goddess Athena—in what appears to be a major scene from Nolan’s retelling of Homer’s iconic poem. The Odyssey chronicles Odysseus’ decade-long voyage home after the Trojan War, encountering mythical creatures, divine obstacles, and supernatural trials along the way.

Tom Holland Looks the Part as Telemachus

Matt Damon, 54, has undergone a remarkable physical transformation for his role as Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, “The Odyssey.”

Photos from the set in Favignana, Italy, reveal Damon shirtless, showcasing a chiseled physique, long gray beard, and brown pants,… pic.twitter.com/GYFxldePG9

— backgridus (@BackgridUS) March 27, 2025

Tom Holland, best known for his role in the MCU, has been cast as Odysseus’ son Telemachus. Seen in full armor alongside Ryan Hurst (of Sons of Anarchy fame), Holland looks every bit the young warrior as he stands among a battalion of soldiers during filming in Favignana. Dressed in a breastplate and arm guards, he brings a heroic presence to the battlefield.

The visuals from the set hint at the epic scale and commitment to practical effects that have become Nolan’s trademark. Known for grounded action films like The Dark Knight, Inception, and Dunkirk, Nolan’s foray into fantasy promises a striking blend of realism and myth.

NEW LOOK AT TOM HOLLAND ON THE SET OF CHRISTOPHER NOLAN’S ‘THE ODYSSEY’! pic.twitter.com/30SyKMJ8oR

— best of tom holland (@thollandrchive) March 27, 2025

Legendary Cast Joins the Quest

In addition to Damon, Holland, and Zendaya, the ensemble includes Anne Hathaway (Penelope), Charlize Theron (Circe), Benny Safdie (Agamemnon), and Lupita Nyong’o (Clytemnestra), though these roles haven’t been officially confirmed. The cast also features Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Corey Hawkins, Jon Bernthal, Cosmo Jarvis, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Will Yun Lee, and many more.

Despite the blockbuster scope and stacked cast, John Leguizamo recently described the production as shockingly intimate for a film of this magnitude: “He’s got a crazy budget, it’s not small, but he runs it like an indie film… He’s not doing it by committee. He’s like an indie filmmaker, but with crazy money.”

The Odyssey is scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, 2026.

Source: People