New footage reveals a key scene from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey a year before its release. Inspired by Homer’s legendary epic, The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as the King of Ithaca, alongside Tom Holland (Telemachus), and Charlize Theron (Circe). They join a group of actors with unspecified roles, including Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Elliot Page, and Lupita Nyong’o.
The movie will feature Odysseus’ long journey home in the aftermath of the legendary Trojan War. After enraging Poseidon and other Greek gods, Odysseus is forced to roam the oceans on a decade-long mission to return to Ithaca. It is expected to be released on July 17, 2026 and reportedly has a tremendous $250 million budget.
As Christopher Nolan is renowned for relying on practical effects and on-set filming, The Odyssey is currently being filmed around the world. One TikTok user, Luca Pizzoleo, captured one important scene, featuring Odysseus’ ship. The scene features flashing lights, bursts of flame, and Odysseus’ crew desperately fighting the fire as smoke billows from the boat.
What This Means For The Odyssey
There are two different scenes that could be depicted through this footage. The first occurs early in the second half of Homer’s epic, though it takes place late in the timeline. After all, when Odysseus finally escapes Calypso’s island to begin his journey home, he faces one last major insult from Poseidon when a storm strikes his ship.
While that is an interesting scene, it is the less probable option. After all, that scene sees Odysseus alone and without allies or friends. In the captured footage, however, Odysseus is surrounded by an entire crew, indicating that it is more likely that this takes place before he finds his way to Calypso’s island.
The Odyssey has been filming across the Mediterranean in locations that range from Moracco to Italy to Greece.
The more likely explanation is that this occurs early in Odysseus’ journey. After Odysseus’ crew elected to eat the sacred cattle of Helios, Zeus lashes out against the Ithacan king, destroying the boat and killing the few other survivors from Odysseus’ crew. It is a devastating scene and would likely take place at night.
Given the constant flashes of light, the burning ship, and the crowded collection of sailors on the ship, it appears that this scene is almost certainly Zeus’ attack. The massive amount of smoke is also a good sign, given that divine lightning could easily set the ship itself on fire.
Our Take On The Odyssey’s Fiery Scene
Given the massive light show, the burning ship, and the segmented water, it will come as no surprise to Nolan that local residents captured footage. Since this series is based off of a classic epic poem that has endured for thousands of years, Nolan has no need to shy from spoilers.
The scope of this project is as epic as the original poem, so most viewers should do their best to see the movie in one of The Odyssey’s IMAX 70mm theaters. The reliance on practical effects will also mean that more scenes are likely to leak in the coming months, which should offer even more insight into Nolan’s latest project.
Source: Luca Pizzoleo / TikTok
The Odyssey
Release Date
July 17, 2026
Producers
Emma Thomas
