The trailer, released on 22/12, plunges viewers into the perilous journey of the hero Odysseus. Shipwrecked with his soldiers, Odysseus navigates treacherous storms, vast oceans, unfamiliar lands, and dark caves where giant creatures lurk. In one scene, the character declares, "After many years of war, nothing can stop my men from returning home, not even myself."

The video highlights Odysseus's cunning concealment within the Trojan horse, alongside scenes of his arduous trek across land and his voyages adrift at sea. Interspersed are brief glimpses of Odysseus's son, Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, and his faithful wife, Penelope, portrayed by Anne Hathaway, awaiting his return home.

The trailer quickly garnered attention, accumulating over 9 million views within just 13 hours of its release. On social media platforms, many viewers expressed their admiration for the epic atmosphere, the grand scale of the visuals, and Christopher Nolan's distinctive directing style. They anticipate the film will be one of the most notable blockbusters of 2026.

However, some viewers felt the preview did not offer sufficient insight into the story. On Facebook, one user commented, "It's quite difficult to judge the film based on what has been released. I need a second trailer to make a clearer assessment."

Matt Damon's portrayal in 'The Odyssey'. Photo: Universal Pictures

In February, the distributor unveiled Matt Damon's appearance in the lead role. The film features a star-studded cast including Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal, and John Leguizamo, among others. Beyond directing, Nolan also wrote the screenplay and produced the film alongside his wife, Emma Thomas.

Filming took place from February to August across various international locations, including Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, and the West Sahara. With an estimated budget of 250 million USD, 'The Odyssey' stands as the most expensive project in Christopher Nolan's career and marks his first film shot entirely on 70 mm IMAX film. According to Hollywood Reporter on 17/7, numerous cinemas in the US, Canada, and several European countries reported selling out tickets in this format within one hour of availability. Such an unprecedented year-long advance sale in cinematic history generated approximately 1,5 million USD (nearly 40 billion VND) in ticket revenue.

Nolan's most recent work, 'Oppenheimer', won seven Oscars in 2024. In a 2023 interview with Variety, the director stated that he only undertakes projects where he feels in complete control. According to the director, while initial ideas may originate from diverse sources, the finished work must bear his personal imprint.

Poster for 'The Odyssey'. Photo: Universal Pictures

Homer's Greek epic poem 'Odyssey' is recognized as a masterpiece of world literature, despite the difficulty in precisely verifying its circumstances and origins. The work is attributed to Homer, a writer and minstrel believed to have lived in the early 8th century BC, known for recounting ancient Greek legends. His two works, 'Iliad' and 'Odyssey', were recorded in the 6th century BC under the command of Peisistratos, the tyrant of Athens at the time.

The epic spans 12,110 lines, divided into 24 books of varying lengths. Book 6 is the shortest with 331 lines, while Book 4 is the longest with 847 lines. 'Odyssey' encompasses two main storylines: Odysseus's journey to reclaim his kingdom and the steadfast Penelope, his faithful wife, patiently enduring years of terror while awaiting her husband's return.

Cat Tien (according to Variety)