Christopher Nolan‘s cast for The Odyssey includes some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Still, according to Anne Hathaway, who is playing the devoted wife of Odysseus in the epic film, there was one question that none of them dared to ask the Oscar winner.
What was The Odyssey cast afraid to ask Christopher Nolan?
A recent Today interview featured the cast of The Odyssey, including Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, and director Christopher Nolan, discussing the making of the film.
The interviewer, Kaylee Hartung, asked Nolan what convinced him that each of his actors was right for their roles in The Odyssey. Before the director could answer, Hathaway jokingly interrupted, saying, “Just so you know, we’ve all been too scared to ask that question.”
Nolan’s response offered a glimpse into his approach to casting. He explained that casting isn’t something on his mind while writing. “I don’t think about actors when I’m writing the script. You try to discover the character in the writing. And then it’s like, okay, who’s going to play Odysseus?”
Anne Hathaway’s humorous remark may have suggested that the entire cast had wondered the same thing. However, Nolan’s answer showed that every casting decision begins with the story rather than star power.
The Odyssey adapts Homer’s legendary Greek epic, following Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, as he takes on a risky 10-year journey home after the Trojan War. The star-studded cast includes Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, and Robert Pattinson as Antinous, alongside Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and others.
Beyond the impressive cast, the movie stands out for its ambitious production. It was shot across six different countries over 91 filming days, making The Odyssey the first Hollywood feature filmed entirely on IMAX 70mm film. Nolan has described it as one of the greatest adventure stories ever told, promising a visually immersive adaptation that combines breathtaking scale with emotional storytelling.
As Christopher Nolan’s first film since Oppenheimer, The Odyssey is already shaping up to be one of the biggest projects of his career. It is scheduled for a theatrical release on July 17.
