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In a time of apparent magic…The Cinematic Schematic returns with a review of the highly anticipated The Odyssey.
It’s been three years since audiences embraced Christopher Nolan’s 3-hour biopic Oppenheimer as part of the epic Barbenheimer double feature of 2023. The wins didn’t stop there; a few months later, the film received 13 Oscar nominations and 7 wins.
After such a successful run with a tough subject to crack, Nolan had the blankest of blank checks for his next project. He could have made any film. After months of speculation, Universal revealed his next project would be the first big-screen adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey. A who’s who of movie stars includes Matt Damon as Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy/Clytemnestra, Samantha Morton as Circe, John Leguizamo as Eumaeus, Zendaya as Athena, Elliot Page as Sinon, and an even longer list of A-list actors in smaller roles.
The cinematic ambitions of The Odyssey are as epic as any filmmaker has undertaken in the twenty-first century. It’s got the giant cyclops, sirens, whirlpools, and swords-and-sandals battles we’ve not seen since the likes of 2005’s Troy. This film is one of the biggest pop culture events of the year.
As we approached Nolan’s newest movie on this week’s podcast, we had two key questions:
- Is it possible for this movie to deliver on the promise of the film’s talented pedigree and marketing?
- Of all of the projects Nolan could have made at the height of his career, why did he choose The Odyssey?
Tune into the show to get our verdicts and spoiler-filled take on the biggest film of summer 2026 so far.
This Week’s Ship Crew
Embarking on a review discussion this large requires the most well-abled crew of film criticism. That’s why hosts Caleb Masters and Laron Chapman are joined by The Cinematropolis and Flick Attack contributor Daniel Bokemper.
Left: Caleb Masters
Right: Laron Chapman (top) and Daniel Bokemper
Special Guest
Daniel Bokemper
Writer, The Cinematropolis and Flick Attack
About The Odyssey
According to IMDB, The Odyssey is described as:
After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.
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