Matt Damon has just gone through his own Homeric journey. The actor spent six grueling months filming The Odyssey, the upcoming epic from Christopher Nolan, but according to his castmates, his enthusiasm for the project never faded for a second.
In a recent chat with GamesRadar+ about The Smashing Machine, Damon’s co-star Benny Safdie and Oppenheimer alum Emily Blunt shared their thoughts on Nolan’s 2026 adaptation of Homer’s legendary poem, praising the scale of the project and Damon’s unwavering dedication.
“It was an incredible experience,” Safdie said, reflecting on his time on set. The actor, who previously worked with Nolan in Oppenheimer as Edward Teller and is now rumored to play Agamemnon in The Odyssey, added:
“If I explained to you the scale of what it was and how it happened, you wouldn’t even believe me. It really was remarkable to see this period of time come to life the way that it did. It was amazing.”
While Blunt won’t appear in Nolan’s latest, she admitted she’s still riding the excitement of seeing the myth brought to life. “I’m so excited to see The Odyssey. I am, goosebumps, yeah. I mean, Matt is still feeling gratitude at getting to experience something like that.”
Safdie also gave a glimpse at Damon’s work ethic, saying the actor poured everything into embodying Odysseus.
“I would come in and out, and I would see him, and he’d literally have been going through the Odyssey. I would see him, but he would always have this incredible warmth and excitement about what we were doing. And it was just like, ‘This is the greatest.’”
Universal has described the film as a “mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new Imax film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to Imax film screens for the first time.”
The Odyssey follows Odysseus’ 10-year journey home from the Trojan War, encountering a cyclops, sirens, a sea monster, and more along the way. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, his wife Penelope must fend off suitors vying for the throne in his absence.
The movie also stars Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson and Charlize Theron, as well as Mia Goth, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, Samantha Morton, John Leguizamo, Will Yun Lee, Himesh Patel and Bill Irwin.
The Odyssey opens July 17, 2026. Between Damon’s Herculean performance, Nolan’s vision, and a cast stacked with talent, The Odyssey sure to be one of the most ambitious films of 2026 and I can’t wait to experience it!
