matt damon and zendaya in ‘the odyssey’
melinda sue gordon
The reviews are in: Christopher Nolan’s epic retelling of The Odyssey is a hit. For those heading to the theatres with little context about who plays whom, the stacked cast list could cause a bit of confusion in the moment.
And because not everybody likes being interrupted mid-Nolan with, “wait, who was that again?” here’s a full, spoiler-free guide to who plays whom in The Odyssey.
The Odyssey Lead Cast And Characters
Matt Damon as Odysseus
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Matt Damon attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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The king of Ithaca and the film’s central figure, Odysseus is the warrior trying to find his way home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon leads the film in what is his third collaboration with Nolan, having previously appeared in Interstellar (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023).
Anne Hathaway as Penelope
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Anne Hathaway attends the premiere of “The Odyssey” presented by Universal Pictures on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
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Penelope is Odysseus’s wife, holding the kingdom of Ithaca together in his absence, hoping against hope her husband will return, while fending off a horde of suitors who have invaded her home. Anne Hathaway previously worked with Nolan on The Dark Knight Rises (2012).
Tom Holland as Telemachus
Tom Holland at Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey” World Premiere on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Zak Hussein/Variety via Getty Images)
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Telemachus is the son Odysseus left behind when he went to Troy, now nearly grown and caught between loyalty to his absent father and the pressure to take matters into his own hands. Holland is making his Nolan debut here.
The Odyssey Secondary Cast
Robert Pattinson as Antinous
Robert Pattinson at Universal Pictures’ “The Odyssey” World Premiere on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Zak Hussein/Variety via Getty Images)
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Antinous is the most calculating and antagonistic of the suitors pursuing Penelope. Robert Pattinson previously starred in Nolan’s Tenet (2020).
Himesh Patel as Eurylochus
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Himesh Patel attends the world premiere of “The Odyssey” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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Patel plays Eurylochus, Odysseus’ second in command on his long journey back home. He previously played Mahir in Nolan’s Tenet (2020).
Zendaya as Athena
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Zendaya attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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The goddess of wisdom and war, Athena watches over Odysseus throughout his journey and shares brief but impactful scenes with him.
John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: John Leguizamo attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage)
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Eumaeus is Odysseus’s loyal swineherd and one of his most faithful supporters.
Charlize Theron as Calypso
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Charlize Theron attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Calypso is the sea nymph who stays with Odysseus when he washes up on her island.
Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Lupita Nyong’o attends the premiere of “The Odyssey” presented by Universal Pictures on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
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Nyong’o appears in a dual role as both Helen of Troy and her twin sister Clytemnestra. Helen is married to Menelaus but had run away to Troy, which was a precipitating reason for the Trojan War. Clytemnestra is married to Agamemnon, king of Sparta.
Elliot Page as Sinon
US actor Elliot Page attends “The Odyssey” premiere at the AMC Lincoln Square in New York on July 14, 2026. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images)
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Sinon is one of the first characters we see, a lone soldier on the beach next to the Trojan horse. His character drawn from Virgil’s Aeneid rather than Homer’s Odyssey. Page previously played Ariadne in Nolan’s Inception (2010).
Jon Bernthal as Menelaus
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Jon Bernthal attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Menelaus is the king whose wife Helen sparked the Trojan War. He is the brother of Agamemnon, king of Sparta, who led the charge into Troy.
Samantha Morton as Circe
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Samantha Morton attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images)
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Circe is a sorceress whose island Odysseus and his crew encounter during their voyage.
Mia Goth as Melantho
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Mia Goth attends the world premiere of “The Odyssey” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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Melantho is a servant in Odysseus’s household, waiting on Penelope as she deals with suitors and the future of Ithaca.
Corey Hawkins as Polybus
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Corey Hawkins attends the world premiere of “The Odyssey” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
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Polybus is another one of Penelope’s many suitors who scheme to take her hand and kingdoms for themselves.
Benny Safdie as Agamemnon
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Benny Safdie attends the world premiere of “The Odyssey” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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Agamemnon is the Greek king who led the forces at Troy.
James Remar as Tiresias
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: James Remar attends “The Odyssey” New York premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/WireImage)
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Tiresias is the blind prophet Odysseus seeks out in the underworld. Remar previously played Secretary of War Henry Stimson in Oppenheimer (2023).
Bill Irwin as Polyphemus
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Bill Irwin attends the premiere of “The Odyssey” presented by Universal Pictures on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)
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Polyphemus is the Cyclops whose island Odysseus and his crew make the mistake of landing on. Irwin previously collaborated with Nolan on Interstellar, where he gave life to TARS.
Logan Marshall-Green as Melanthius
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Logan Marshall-Green attends “The Odyssey” New York premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by John Nacion/WireImage)
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Melanthius is a perfidious goatherd who sides with Antinous.
Brief Appearances In ‘The Odyssey’
Travis Scott as the Bard
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 14: Travis Scott attends “The Odyssey” New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on July 14, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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Travis Scott makes his acting debut as the bard — the ancient Greek storyteller whose voice opens the film. Scott previously collaborated with Nolan on music for Tenet (2020), and Nolan has cited the link between oral storytelling and modern rap as the inspiration for the casting. Scott also performs the end credits track “When I’m Home.”
Ryan Hurst as Mentor
PASADENA, CA – JANUARY 13: Actor Ryan Hurst attends the photo call for WGN America’s ‘Underground’ and ‘Outsiders’ at The Langham Hotel on January 13, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
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Yes, he literally plays Telemachus’ teacher and mentor while Odysseus is away.
Jovan Adepo, Will Yun Lee, Jesse García
These actors appear as Odysseus’ crew on his journey.
‘The Odyssey’ Behind The Camera
The Odyssey’s crew is full of longtime Nolan collaborators, from cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema, who has worked with Nolan since Interstellar, to editor Jennifer Lame, who previously cut Tenet and Oppenheimer.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Hoyte van Hoytema attends the world premiere of “The Odyssey” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
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The score is by Ludwig Göransson, who won an Oscar for Oppenheimer. The Odyssey was shot entirely on IMAX film cameras across Morocco, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and the United States.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 06: Ludwig Göransson attends the world premiere of “The Odyssey” at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 06, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Eamonn M. McCormack/Getty Images)
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