Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Is Going to Be Epic, Universal Exec Says

Universal pulled out all the stops at CinemaCon on Wednesday to get everyone excited about Christopher Nolan’s big-screen version of “The Odyssey.”

Jim Orr, the guy in charge of getting movies into theaters for Universal, couldn’t stop raving about it. He said this film—still being shot—is going to be “an amazing, one-of-a-kind masterpiece that even Homer would probably love.” He sounded dead serious, but the theater owners in the crowd (and maybe a random history buff or two) cracked up at the over-the-top praise. Orr also bragged about Nolan’s “jaw-dropping cast,” and honestly, who could argue? Fresh off his Oscar-winning “Oppenheimer,” Nolan’s got Matt Damon playing Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, plus Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron. (No clues yet on who they’re playing in this ancient tale.)

They didn’t show any clips from Nolan’s movie, and there wasn’t a sneak peek for Steven Spielberg’s next big thing either. Yep, Spielberg’s jumping back into blockbuster mode after his personal “The Fabelmans.” No title yet, but it’s got a script from his “Jurassic Park” buddy David Koepp. Universal’s calling it a “brand-new event film” with some sci-fi vibes, though they’re keeping the story under wraps. It’s based on an idea from Spielberg himself and stars Josh O’Connor, Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Colman Domingo, and Eve Hewson.

Orr called Spielberg’s flick “fast-paced and fresh” with a “wild, out-of-this-world twist.” That totally fits a guy who gave us “E.T.” and “Close Encounters.” Mark your calendars—Spielberg’s movie hits theaters June 12, 2026, and Nolan’s “Odyssey” lands July 17, 2026. Big summer ahead!