Director Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of Homer's "The Odyssey" is designed to resonate with a modern audience, regardless of their familiarity with the ancient Greek epic. Nolan stated that his goal was to make the film accessible to everyone, from those with a deep knowledge of the text to those who have never encountered it.
The film, scheduled for release on July 17, centers on the arduous journey of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, as he strives to return home after the Trojan War. His absence, spanning two decades, leaves his wife Penelope fending off over 100 suitors vying for her hand and the throne, while their son, Telemachus, grows up without his father.
Actor Matt Damon, portraying Odysseus, described the protagonist as a complex and human character who grapples with the consequences of his actions. "He's certainly not perfect. And he's living with the consequences of his actions. And that's dictating his behavior," Damon said.
Anne Hathaway, who plays Penelope, explored the character beyond her widely recognized patience and modesty. "A paragon isn't a person. And so I thought, OK, so let's allow that that's the way the world sees her. Who is she when no one's looking?" Hathaway pondered.
Finn Wolfhard takes on the role of Telemachus, Odysseus's son, who embarks on his own quest to find information about his father. This dual narrative forms a core element of the film, which Nolan described as a blend of "homecoming" and "coming-of-age" story.
"There are times where it feels like you're on this kind of action-adventure roller coaster, but he doesn’t sacrifice any of the heart and the intimacy between our characters," Wolfhard commented on the film's balance.
Antinous, one of the suitors vying for Penelope’s hand, is presented as the primary antagonist on Ithaca. Robert Pattinson, who plays Antinous, based his portrayal on the character's relationship with Telemachus, which Nolan found to be a compelling and "creepy and amusing basis for villainy."
Zendaya portrays Athena, the goddess of wisdom, who guides Odysseus. "I think the humanity of it and bringing that more human element to this idea of a goddess but what they kind of represent to Odysseus in this story," she said of her approach to the role.
Lupita Nyong'o plays Helen of Sparta, whose beauty is often cited as the cause of the Trojan War, and her sister Clytemnestra. Nyong'o noted Nolan's interest in exploring "the cost of war, actually investigating and exploring it," and how that influences her character's post-war life.
Other characters featured in the adaptation include Eumaeus, a loyal swineherd played by John Leguizamo, who described the character as "the most loyal character in Western literature." Leguizamo added that Eumaeus's nearly blind depiction is a nod to Homer, who some historians believe was blind.
Dev Patel portrays one of Odysseus's crew members facing numerous challenges on their journey, calling it his "most physically challenging role I've ever played."
The film also includes characters such as Menelaus, king of Sparta; Agamemnon, king of Mycenae; Circe, a sorceress; Eurylochus, Odysseus's second-in-command; Sinon, a Trojan War veteran; and the Cyclops, a formidable creature whose design was partly inspired by Francisco Goya's painting "Saturn Devouring His Son."