Ithaca’s king defies the gods in final The Odyssey trailer

We’re counting down the days until the release of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, and Universal Pictures has released one last trailer to keep anticipation high.

Most of us read some version of The Odyssey in high school, so we’re familiar with the story: Odysseus, legendary Greek king of Ithaca, begins the long journey home after 10 years of fighting in the Trojan War. But the journey doesn’t go smoothly, as Odysseus and his men encounter the cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens, and an enchantress named Circe, among other obstacles. Meanwhile, Penelope, his long-suffering wife, wards off hundreds of suitors eager to usurp Odysseus’ position.

Matt Damon stars as the wandering Ithacan king. The cast also includes Anne Hathaway as Penelope; Tom Holland as Odysseus’ son, Telemachus; Robert Pattinson as Antinous, one of Penelope’s many suitors; Jon Bernthal as the Spartan king, Menelaus; Benny Safdie as the Achaean commander during the Trojan War, Agamemnon; John Leguizamo as Odysseus’ faithful servant, Eumaeus; Himesh Patel as his second-in-command, Eurylochus; Will Yun Lee and Jimmy Gonzales as crew members; and Mia Goth as Penelope’s maid Melantho. We also have Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as Circe, and Lupita Nyong’o in a dual role: both Helen of Troy and Helen’s sister, Clytemnestra.

We got our first look at stills of Damon’s Odysseus in February 2025, an extended teaser last July, and a full-length trailer in December. A second trailer in May gave us our first glimpse of Theron’s Circe and Pattinson’s conniving Antinous, the latter intent on wooing Penelope and ruling over Ithaca in Odysseus’ stead (as well as snidely taunting Telemachus for his daddy issues). The infamous cyclops briefly appeared, as well as footage of Odysseus and his men battling the cannibalistic race of giants known as Laestrygonians and navigating around the treacherous whirlpool Charybdis.

This final trailer incorporates much of the same footage. What’s new: Telemachus expressing his desire to rule in his father’s absence and Penelope quickly quashing such ambitions. “They’re not giving up power to you or Odysseus,” she says. “Do you think life goes back to the way it was? That world is gone. If he returned, he’d have to kill them. Like you will.”

Odysseus makes it clear he’s prepared to bring all the vengeance that’s required to reclaim his throne. Zendaya’s Athena also makes an appearance, telling Odysseus the gods told him what would come with the fall of Troy.

“Then I defy the gods,” Odysseus declares.

The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17, 2026. The film was shot entirely in IMAX; it will release in IMAX and on 75 and 35 mm.