🔗 Share this article Watch the Director's The Odyssey Preview in a Manner It Wasn't Meant to Be Seen. The acclaimed filmmaker's mythic action epic, The Odyssey, is a film audiences have been anticipating since its announcement. It firmly sits among the most hotly anticipated films of 2026. In a festive surprise, a preview has now been released, though it's hampered due to the platform's low-quality encoding—perhaps explaining the director's choice to restrict the preview exclusive to cinemas. The Initial Look of the Stellar Ensemble The debut footage showcases Matt Damon in the role of the king of Ithaca. Audiences are introduced to Tom Holland as Telemachus alongside Anne Hathaway as Penelope. In a poignant moment, the character pleads with her husband to vow he will return, to which he look up and question what happens if he cannot. The trailer also offers a quick, obscured look of the mythical one-eyed giant, from whom sheep are are taken by the hero and his men on their treacherous voyage. Based upon a foundational pillar of Western literature, The Odyssey follows the lengthy quest of the legendary King of Ithaca. After his triumph at Troy, which is depicted in Homer's Iliad, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous return to his homeland. Mythical Encounters with an All-Star Cast Along his path, the hero encounters numerous obstacles and legendary creatures. This roster features the enchantress Circe, known for turning humans into pigs, as well as the treacherous Sirens. Despite these trials, his sworn oath is to do whatever it takes to reunite with Penelope and Telemachus in Ithaca. The adaptation's cast boasts an impressive lineup. Alongside the leading trio are Charlize Theron as the cunning Circe, together with Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal. A Tale of Many Adaptations Homer's epic has seen many reinterpretations throughout history. These range from modern retellings and a late-90s dance production. There has even been adapted into a musical titled Epic: The Musical, released in the form of a nine-album collection. A full-length preview has been highly anticipated following the project's reveal and a brief teaser that previously played exclusively in theaters. That teaser later made its way onto the internet shortly thereafter. To see a clearer version, the trailer posted on the movie's verified account may provide enhanced visual quality. The Odyssey will debut on global IMAX screens on July 17, 2026.