Tom Holland says Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is “the best script I’ve ever read,” an accolade that sharpens anticipation for the epic’s July 17, 2026 release, two weeks before the actor’s Spider-Man: Brand New Day arrives on July 31. The adaptation of Homer’s poem reunites Nolan with IMAX exhibition on a large scale and anchors a summer window already showing strong early demand.
Holland made the remarks in an interview with AFP, adding that Nolan is “a real collaborator” while keeping tight control of his vision. The Odyssey marks Holland’s first collaboration with the director following Oppenheimer and places him alongside Matt Damon as Odysseus; Holland plays Telemachus.
The film’s ensemble includes Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Lupita Nyong’o, among others, with Damon leading as the Greek hero whose long journey home drives the narrative. Early 70mm IMAX tickets released a year ahead of opening sold briskly, signaling event-level interest even at long lead.
Production has carried geopolitical dimensions. Location work in Dakhla, a city in Western Sahara under Moroccan control, prompted criticism from advocacy groups that argue high-profile shoots risk normalizing the occupation; the United Nations lists Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. The filmmakers have not publicly responded to the concerns.
The Odyssey follows a streak of audience enthusiasm for Nolan’s large-format releases and arrives amid renewed attention on Holland, who returns to a street-level take on Peter Parker later that month. With casting stacked across frequent Nolan collaborators and first-timers alike, the studio is positioning the film as a mid-July tentpole intended to capitalize on premium formats and pent-up demand.
