Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Movie Casts Jon Bernthal

EXCLUSIVE: Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is adding to its already stellar cast as sources tell Deadline that Emmy winner Jon Bernthal is boarding the film. He joins a cast that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o and Charlize Theron.

Last month, Universal revealed that Nolan’s follow-up to his Oscar-winning Oppenheimer would be an adaptation of the epic poem composed by Homer around the 8th century BCE.

“Christopher Nolan’s next film The Odyssey is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new Imax film technology,” the studio said at the time. “The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to Imax film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.”

It is unknown who Bernthal will be playing; Universal had no comment on his casting.

The ancient Greek poem is one of the foundational texts of Western literature. It tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous journey home after the Trojan War, exploring themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will. The tale includes iconic stories like Odysseus’ encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and the witch-goddess Circe, culminating in a reunion with his wife Penelope.

The Odyssey is expected to start shooting next month and marks Nolan’s second for Universal, on the heels of Oppenheimer. Its 2026 release date falls in line with the window often reserved by that filmmaker, as was the case with the historical drama starring Cillian Murphy.

As for Bernthal, the actor recently won an Emmy for his role on FX’s The Bear. Next up, has an arc in the upcmoing Disney+ series Daredevil, in which he will reprise his beloved role as The Punisher. He also stars opposite Ben Affleck in The Accountant 2, which hits theaters April 25, and is co-lead of Netflix’s His & Hers opposite Tessa Thompson based on the hugely popular novel, set to debut later this year.