'The Odyssey' Movie News: Updates, Cast, & Release

Travis Scott may be one of the biggest names in music, but stepping onto a Christopher Nolan set made even him feel like an amateur. The rapper, who makes his feature film debut in Nolan’s epic fantasy The Odyssey, admitted he was “nervous as f-k” about acting alongside a cast that includes Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Tom Holland.

Scott plays a bard in the film, a role that required him to perform within the ancient Greek world envisioned by Nolan. “I’m used to being in front of crowds, but that’s my world. This was completely different,” Scott told Entertainment Weekly in a recent interview. “I was nervous as f-k, honestly. You’ve got Christopher Nolan behind the camera, and then you’re looking at Matt Damon as Odysseus and Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and you’re supposed to just… act. It’s humbling.”

The admission comes as The Odyssey continues its strong summer box office run following its July 15 release. The film has earned a TMDb rating of 7.9/10, reflecting positive reception from audiences who have flocked to IMAX screens for Nolan’s sprawling adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. With a runtime of 173 minutes, the movie packs in both intimate character moments and breathtaking mythological encounters.

Nolan’s take on the ancient tale charts the journey of Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, as he battles his way home after the Trojan War. The official overview describes a hero forced to confront “the whims of gods, mythological monsters, and trials that stretch both his cunning and his humanity to the breaking point.” The cast is a who’s who of contemporary Hollywood: Matt Damon leads as the cunning Greek hero, Tom Holland plays his son Telemachus, and Anne Hathaway portrays the loyal Penelope, who waits for her husband’s return for two decades.

Scott’s role as the bard is a relatively small but crucial one. In Homer’s original poem, bards serve as storytellers and singers within the courts of kings, chronicling the deeds of heroes. For Scott, that meant leaning into his musical background while also learning the discipline of film acting. “Nolan doesn’t do a lot of takes,” Scott explained. “He knows what he wants. So you have to be ready, and you have to trust yourself. I had to stop thinking like a performer and start thinking like a character in his world.”

The rapper said he prepared by studying old epic films and working with a dialect coach to capture the proper tone for the role. “I wanted it to feel authentic,” he said. “Not like Travis Scott pretending to be ancient. Just like a guy who tells stories in a world where gods are real and monsters are around every corner.”

A Star-Studded Ensemble

The Odyssey boasts one of the most impressive ensembles in recent memory. Robert Pattinson plays the arrogant suitor Antinous, who vies for Penelope’s hand in Odysseus’s absence. Himesh Patel portrays the noble Eurylochus, a member of Odysseus’s crew, while John Leguizamo takes on the role of Eumaeus, the faithful swineherd who aids the king upon his return to Ithaca. Charlize Theron appears as Calypso, the goddess who holds Odysseus captive on her island for years.

Scott said he felt the pressure to deliver, especially when sharing scenes with Damon and Hathaway. “You watch them work and you realize they make it look easy because they’ve been doing it for so long,” he said. “But I had to find my own way in. Nolan let me figure it out, which I appreciated. He didn’t treat me like a musician trying to act. He treated me like an actor.”

Nolan’s Ambitious Vision

Director Christopher Nolan is known for his intricate storytelling and practical effects, and The Odyssey is no exception. The film was shot across multiple continents, using real locations to evoke the ancient Mediterranean rather than relying entirely on CGI. On-set reports suggest Nolan built massive practical sets for the Cyclops’ cave and the palace of Ithaca, giving the film a tactile, grounded feel that complements the supernatural elements of the myth.

According to early reviews, the film balances action and drama with Nolan’s signature non-linear narrative touches. The 173-minute runtime allows for deep character development while keeping the mythological stakes high. Critics have particularly praised Damon’s portrayal of Odysseus, calling it a career-best performance that captures both the hero’s legendary cunning and his deep, human vulnerabilities.

For Scott, simply being part of that world was the reward. “It’s crazy to think that I’m in a Christopher Nolan movie,” he said. “I grew up watching Inception and The Dark Knight. To now be a part of one of his films, even just a small part, is surreal. And I’m glad I was nervous. That meant I cared.”

The Odyssey is currently playing in theaters worldwide.

Source: Hollywood Reporter