During the recent AFC Championship game between the New England Patriots and Denver Broncos, a television spot for Christopher Nolan’s upcoming film, The Odyssey, offered fans an intense preview, introducing Jon Bernthal in the role of Menelaus, the Greek king of Sparta. The trailer also featured Travis Scott’s speaking role and a fresh look at Tom Holland portraying Telemachus, the determined son of Odysseus, who plays a central role in the story.
The Odyssey, adapted from Homer’s epic, is set to premiere on July 17, 2026. Nolan has described the film as a mythic action epic shot worldwide using new IMAX technology to deliver an immersive cinematic experience. The recent promotional footage situates Jon Bernthal’s Menelaus alongside other key characters as the ancient warriors relive the harrowing and legendary events of the Trojan War.
Insights Into Key Characters and Plot Points From The Odyssey
The debut trailer, which debuted last month, cast Matt Damon as Odysseus, the famed king of Ithaca. His character speaks with resolute determination following the grueling war, declaring that nothing will stop his men from reaching home. Tom Holland appears as Telemachus, Odysseus’s son, who searches tirelessly for his missing father. Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, who watches anxiously as the quest unfolds.
In the new clip, Telemachus questions his absent father in front of a group of soldiers. Menelaus, portrayed by Jon Bernthal, calls upon them to recount Odysseus’s legendary exploits. Travis Scott’s character then dramatically narrates the cunning infiltration of Troy through the famed Trojan Horse. This narrative moment features Scott standing on a table, telling the story to an attentive Menelaus and the assembled soldiers.
Scott explains the Trojan Horse as
“A trick. A trick to break the walls of Troy. It’s burning, screaming to the ground.”
Matt Damon’s Odysseus follows with a commanding call: “Let’s go home,” marking the turning point after the war’s devastating climax.
Additional scenes hinted at the intense dangers faced during the war: Trojan soldiers dragging the enormous horse onto the shore, hidden Greek soldiers silently waiting inside, and moments where the tension escalates as one soldier is cut, forced into silence by his comrades. The trailer also teased terrifying encounters beyond the battlefield, including a menacing Cyclops emerging from a cave full of soldiers and images of the undead rising from the earth.
Cast Highlights and Behind-the-Scenes Insights
The film brings together an impressive cast with notable figures from Nolan’s past projects. Aside from Jon Bernthal’s role as Menelaus, Matt Damon discussed the challenge and impact of filming The Odyssey, calling the experience “profound.” During a Netflix interview promoting his new movie, Damon revealed he was still processing the emotional and physical demands of the project.
“it did have a profound effect on me.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
“If I look objectively at what was required to do that job, I think it came at just the right time in my life.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
“I think I would’ve been miserable 20 years ago trying to do that job. Because you were uncomfortable every day, but I really enjoyed… like, deeply enjoyed every minute of it.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
Damon also disclosed that he achieved his role’s physicality by slimming down significantly. He shared with Travis and Jason Kelce on their podcast New Heights how Nolan wanted him “lean but strong.”
“I had a beard like yours for like a year.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
“I was in really good shape. I lost a lot of weight. [Nolan] wanted me lean but strong.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
He credited a dietary change, stopping gluten intake, for facilitating his weight loss from between 185 and 200 pounds down to 167 pounds, a lightness he hadn’t reached since high school.
“Just because of this other thing that I did with my doctor, I stopped eating gluten.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
“I used to walk around at between 185 and 200, and I did that whole movie at 167. And I haven’t been that light since high school. So it was a lot of training and a really strict diet.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
Rigorous Preparation and Nolan’s Cinematic Legacy
Damon described the intense preparation as resembling the regimented training of professional athletes, a sense he shared with the Kelce brothers, who understood the discipline involved.
“I imagine what that feels like for you guys, where you’re preparing.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
“It’s just part of your day, it’s part of your job, and you get really routinized about it and kinda build your day around all that stuff.”
– Matt Damon, Actor
The Odyssey marks Christopher Nolan’s 13th feature, following an acclaimed list that includes Memento, Inception, Interstellar, the Dark Knight Trilogy, Dunkirk, Tenet, and most recently, Oppenheimer. With Nolan’s reputation and the rising anticipation shaped by his previous successes, the film is expected to be a major cinematic event. Tickets for The Odyssey were released more than a year before its premiere, signaling strong early interest.
Nolan’s preceding film, Oppenheimer, led by Cillian Murphy and connected to the Barbenheimer craze, grossed nearly $975 million worldwide and secured the Best Picture Oscar, adding to the excitement surrounding Nolan’s new mythological epic.
The Role of Jon Bernthal as Menelaus: A Pivotal Character in the Story
Jon Bernthal takes on the role of Menelaus, King of Sparta and the brother of Agamemnon, two influential figures in Greek mythology. Menelaus’s presence in the film adds depth to the narrative surrounding Odysseus’s return from war. Bernthal’s portrayal promises to bring intensity to the scenes where Menelaus commands attention during the soldiers’ gathering, recounting the critical events that shaped their fate.
Bernthal is known for his strong screen presence, and his casting alongside Damon, Holland, and Hathaway enriches the film’s ensemble. His role not only emphasizes the fraternal and political dynamics among the Greek leaders but also acts as a narrative conduit through which the audience revisits pivotal moments such as the deceit behind the Trojan Horse.
Anticipated Impact and Next Steps for The Odyssey
With its epic scope and intense narrative, The Odyssey could solidify Nolan’s position as a master storyteller in mythic cinema. Featuring Jon Bernthal as Menelaus elevates the portrayal of the Greek warlords, bridging past heroic tales with a contemporary cinematic vision. The combination of groundbreaking IMAX technology and a carefully crafted script based on Homer’s saga promises to deliver a powerful viewing experience.
As the July 2026 release date approaches, audiences and critics will be watching closely to see how Nolan’s adaptation balances mythological fidelity with modern storytelling demands. The film’s success will also add to the legacy of those involved, from iconic director Christopher Nolan to actors like Matt Damon, Jon Bernthal, Tom Holland, and Anne Hathaway, each bringing their dimension to the classic tale of war, family, and homecoming.
