A countdown trailer for Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated mythic action epic The Odyssey has been released by Universal Pictures ahead of the movie's forthcoming theatrical release on Jul.
In one clip, Antinous mockingly tells Odysseus' son, Telemachus (Holland), "You're pining for a daddy you didn't even know."
The countdown campaign is part of a final marketing push for The Odyssey ahead of the movie's global theatrical release.
The prologue for the epic was shown in theaters in December, with the first trailer debuting in the same month.
Tom Holland as Telemachus in The Odyssey Universal PicturesHowever, in a rare industry move, Universal confirmed that The Odyssey will be skipping word-of-mouth and influencer preview screenings.
A countdown trailer for Christopher Nolan's highly anticipated mythic action epic The Odyssey has been released by Universal Pictures ahead of the movie's forthcoming theatrical release on Jul. 17, 2026. The footage lays out the central emotional and mythological stakes, while also offering a fresh look at the star-studded cast who will be bringing Homer's saga to the big screen. The high-profile adaptation stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside a stacked ensemble that includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o (in a dual role), and many, many more.
At 2 minutes 30 seconds, the latest preview of The Odyssey (shared below) gives audiences their best look yet at the sweeping saga that will unfold when the movie opens in theaters in just over two weeks' time. Shots of stormy seas, battle-torn landscapes, and fierce clashes in Ithaca flash on screen, as Odysseus sets out on a perilous decade-long journey home after the Trojan War. He races to reunite with his wife and restore order to his kingdom, which is under siege by a horde of ruthless suitors trying to claim the empty throne.
The Odyssey trailer heavily features Pattinson as the movie's primary antagonist, Antinous, the slimy leader of the clutch of suitors vying for the hand of Odysseus' wife Penelope (Hathaway) while he attempts to make his way back home to Ithaca. In one clip, Antinous mockingly tells Odysseus' son, Telemachus (Holland), "You're pining for a daddy you didn't even know." The footage builds to a dramatic peak of resistance, with Odysseus declaring, "I defy the gods," as he ends up having to infiltrate his own palace to take back his crown.
The countdown campaign is part of a final marketing push for The Odyssey ahead of the movie's global theatrical release. Universal Pictures has been drumming up excitement for its big-budget tentpole for months now. The prologue for the epic was shown in theaters in December, with the first trailer debuting in the same month. The teaser shattered records by pulling in over 121.4 million views across social platforms in its first 24 hours. It also earned the studio its biggest 24-hour trailer launch, toppling the previous high, which was held by the fantasy musical adaptation Wicked: For Good at 113 million views.
Tom Holland as Telemachus in The Odyssey Universal Pictures
However, in a rare industry move, Universal confirmed that The Odyssey will be skipping word-of-mouth and influencer preview screenings. Instead, the film will only be screened for critics following the world premiere in London on Jul. 6, 2026. This change to the standard release strategy that studios typically adopt maintains absolute secrecy around the plot and safeguards the theatrical experience for those who buy a ticket. The movie's promotional run has intentionally withheld some of the more fantastical elements of the globe-trotting story to ensure that some surprises are kept in store for its global rollout in cinemas.
