While the wait for Christopher Nolan's version of Christopher Nolan's filmography speaks for itself, so his take on the journey of Odysseus should attract attention even among the many other renditions of the tale.
While my excitement for many aspects of Nolan's film, such as The Odyssey, has mounted with all of the recent updates, it has not really helped the wait become any more bearable. Nolan's The Odyssey is currently filming but is not set to be released until July 2026, which is understandable given the scale of the project. Fortunately, a great adaptation of The Odyssey already exists for those who want to see that epic story unfold before Nolan's movie enters theaters.
1997's The Odyssey Is A Great Primer For Christopher Nolan's Movie
1997's The Odyssey Is Available On Prime Video In The US
The TV film adaptation of The Odyssey from 1997 is one of the better adaptations of the epic, even if some of its elements have not fully stood the test of time. The 1997 version premiered as a two-part event on NBC and is largely considered one of the best movies about Greek mythology, as it accurately tells the story of Homer's Odysseus and his journey home to Ithaca. That accuracy got it some critical acclaim shortly after it aired, earning the film the Emmy Award for Outstanding Director for a Miniseries or Special.
Christopher Nolan Making A "Sequel" To This $497M Historical Epic Is Actually Way Better Than A Real Sequel Happening
Christopher Nolan's next movie will work as a sequel to an entirely unrelated one, but will probably be much better than that movie's real sequel.
Some of the special effects from the film do look somewhat silly, but the use of Jim Henson's Creature Shop for the many mythical monsters lets them truly stand out from others, making 1997's The Odyssey work despite using dated technology. The cast also helps carry it, each performance bringing the various characters of Homer's work to life in a compelling way that makes the film all the more fun to watch. That being said, the film's focus on accuracy and effects will make it stand in stark contrast to Nolan's version, which will likely try to modernize the myth.
Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey Will Likely Be Very Different
Nolan's Odyssey Will Likely Focus On Its Themes More Than Its Plot
Although 1997's The Odyssey works well, Nolan's version will likely focus on the thematic aspects of the narrative on a much bigger scale. 1997's version of the story focused on getting the story right, but Nolan is more theme-centric, which will let him put his own spin on the story of The Odyssey. Considering that Homer's epic has themes Nolan has explored before, such as identity, the impact of trauma, and the human condition, it is likely the director will lean into those beats even if that causes deviations from the source material.
As a result, Nolan's version will largely feel different from 1997's as it dives into the heavier topics and possibilities the latter may not have considered. The vastly different budget and scale will also aid this, as Nolan's version can play more into the horror of each monster and moment with modern special effects that emphasize what Odysseus is up against. Ultimately, Nolan's The Odyssey is set to be unlike anything we have ever seen.
The Odyssey is director Christopher Nolan's take on Homer's iconic Greek epic poem that follows Odysseus's grueling 10-year journey home from the Trojan War.
