Get ready, movie lovers, because Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' is shaping up to be an absolute spectacle! The initial footage has dropped, and it's promising to be the director's most ambitious project yet. A sneak peek, a six-minute clip, is currently playing before the Imax 70-millimeter screenings of 'Sinners' and 'One Battle After Another.'
This clip plunges us into the legendary story of the Trojan horse, a pivotal moment in the mythology surrounding Odysseus, even if it's not a central part of Homer's original epic. For those who might need a refresher, this ingenious strategy involved the construction of a massive, hollow wooden horse, concealing Greek soldiers within. The Trojans, believing it to be a peace offering, brought it inside their impenetrable city walls, allowing the hidden soldiers to launch a surprise attack.
In the released footage, Jon Bernthal's Menelaus, the king of Sparta, kicks things off by asking Tom Holland's Telemachus, Odysseus' son, if he's heard the story of the horse. When Telemachus confirms he has, Menelaus asks the intriguing question, "Did you hear it from the inside?" This immediately sets the stage for the action.
And that's where Matt Damon's Odysseus comes into play! The scene unfolds with Odysseus, Bernthal, and many others huddled inside the giant wooden horse as it arrives on the shores of Troy. The Trojans, oblivious to the impending danger, celebrate its arrival. Odysseus, however, is far from pleased. The scene intensifies as the horse is brought into the city, and the Greeks inside dodge swords probing for hidden enemies.
Time jumps forward, and the horse stands triumphantly at the entrance of a massive building within the city walls. Damon, looking tense, prepares for action. He descends from the horse via a rope and silently attacks an unsuspecting guard. A silent battle erupts, with the Trojans sounding the alarm. Guards swarm out, and Odysseus' men fight back. The key to their success lies in a plan that's repeatedly shown throughout the action: turning the gears that will open the gates of Troy.
It's no surprise to those familiar with the classics or epic films that the Greeks succeed. As the gates swing open, a wave of Greek soldiers pours in. These reinforcements are fully armed, while Odysseus' men were initially only wearing the clothes they had on inside the horse. Menelaus raises his arms in triumph, receiving a helmet. Odysseus roars in victory. The footage concludes with brief, striking images of men in full armor, a mysterious monster, and a severed head on a marble sculpture, hinting at the film's vast scope. It's worth noting that other cast members, including Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, and Robert Pattinson, aren't shown in this particular preview.
Nolan masterfully balances the grand scale of the epic with his signature style of intercutting between different developments. The chaos of the battle contrasts with the precision of the gears turning to open the Trojan gates, all while maintaining a focus on character details. One could say that the carefully crafted story within the massive drama is, in itself, a kind of Trojan horse.
But here's where it gets controversial... The fact that the footage is being shown with Warner Bros.' Imax rereleases feels like a bit of poetic justice for Nolan. Having left the studio to make 'Oppenheimer' and now 'The Odyssey' with Universal, the promotion for his new film is being used to encourage audiences to see WB's 2025 offerings.
'The Odyssey' is slated for release on July 17, 2026. What are your initial thoughts on the footage? Do you think Nolan's vision will live up to the hype? Share your opinions in the comments below!
