View the Director's This Epic Trailer the Way It Wasn't Meant to Be Seen.
The acclaimed filmmaker's mythic action epic, The Odyssey, stands as a movie audiences have been anticipating since its announcement. It firmly sits among the most hotly anticipated films of 2026. As a pre-Christmas treat, a trailer has finally arrived, though it's hampered due to the platform's low-quality encoding—maybe illustrating the director's choice to restrict the trailer solely for theatrical audiences.
A First Glimpse at the Legendary Cast
The debut footage reveals Matt Damon in the role of the king of Ithaca. We also see Tom Holland as Telemachus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope. During an emotional scene, the character pleads with her husband to vow he will return, to which he respond by asking what happens if he cannot. Furthermore, the preview provides a quick, obscured look at Polyphemus the Cyclops, from whom sheep are Odysseus and his crew steal on their treacherous voyage.
Based upon a foundational pillar in classic storytelling, The Odyssey follows the epic journey undertaken by the famed ruler. After his triumph in the Trojan War, as told in Homer's Iliad, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous road home.
Mythical Encounters and a Star-Studded Lineup
On his travels, the hero encounters numerous obstacles and legendary creatures. These include the witch-goddess Circe, known for turning humans into pigs, as well as the treacherous Sirens. Regardless of these ordeals, his sworn oath is to overcome anything to get back to Penelope and Telemachus in Ithaca.
The adaptation's cast boasts an impressive lineup. Alongside the leading trio is Charlize Theron as the cunning Circe, alongside Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.
A Story Repeatedly Told
The classic poem has inspired many reinterpretations throughout history. Examples include modern retellings to a 1999 ballet. There has even been adapted into a musical called Epic: The Musical, presented as a multi-part album series.
A full-length preview has been highly anticipated since the film's announcement and a short teaser clip which was initially shown only on the big screen. That teaser subsequently found its way online soon after.
To see a clearer version, the preview available via the film's official social channel may provide enhanced visual quality.
The Odyssey will debut in IMAX theaters worldwide next summer.
