Christopher Nolan’s upcoming big-screen adaptation ofThe Odysseyis already one of cinema’s biggest stories a year in advance of its release. Yet the arrival of another feature-film version of the ancient epic on streaming has slipped under the radar. Uberto Pasolini’sThe Returnstars a rugged-looking Ralph Fiennes in the lead role as Odysseus, alongside Juliette Binoche as Penelope, in a faithful retelling of the Homeric legend’s final chapters. Understandably, this movie stands in the shadow ofNolan’sOdyssey, but it’s a worthy watch nonetheless.
With a budget of approximately $20 million (viaTMDB),The Returnis soon to be dwarfed in scale by one of Christopher Nolan’s biggest-budget movies to date, but at no point during its 116 minutes does the film feel as though it’s underproduced or lacking in quality. Fiennes’ central performance is one of his most immersive, while critics ofMatt Damon’s Greek armor in early stills forThe Odysseywill be pleased to hear thatThe Return’s set designs and costumes are suitably authentic and understated.
The Return Is An Underrated Version Of The Odyssey From 2024
Ralph Fiennes’ Latest Movie Deserves More Attention Than It’s Getting
With its extremely limited theatrical run giving way toa streaming release exclusively for Paramount+, many may not have heard ofThe Return. Nevertheless, this is a stylish and substantial rendering of one of the world’s most celebrated stories, fronted by excellent lead performances. The movie’s creditable but unremarkable Rotten Tomatoes score of 78% arguably undersells it to anyone looking for a no-nonsense dramatic interpretation of Homer’sOdyssey.
“The key to this successful casting is Fiennes’s ability to communicate with his eyes. Odysseus is a man of few words, but his mind is weighed down by immense feelings and a million thoughts that revolve around his actions and decisions during the Trojan War."- Ferdosa Abdi -ScreenRant’s review ofThe Return
The Return’s lack of exposure and unshowy presentation of its story will likely mean that it will join the ranks ofunderrated historical epics that no one’s ever heard ofthe moment a trailer drops for Christopher Nolan’s next movie. Still, for those lucky enough to have the right combination of subscriptions,the film will make a compelling weekend watch, especially for classical history buffs and fans of Ralph Fiennes at his most Shakespearean.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Will Be Very Different From The Return
The 2 Movies Are Actually Telling Different Stories
It’s worth pointing out thatenjoyingThe Returnisn’t mutually exclusive with enjoying Christopher Nolan’s version ofThe Odyssey, even if watching two different movies adapting the same Homeric epic within the same 12 months may seem like overkill to some.The Returnisn’t just very different from aChristopher Nolan moviein terms of its tone and visual aesthetic. It’s not actually telling quite the same story as Nolan’sOdyssey.
The Odyssey isn’t an easy story to tell on the big screen, which may be why there isn’t yet a definitive film version of Homer’s epic poem.
Whereas Christopher Nolan is taking a stab at the entire 24 books ofThe Odyssey,The Returnonly covers the second half of the story(Books 13 to 24). These books are collectively divided into two sections, commonly known as “The Return to Ithaca” and “The Slaying of the Suitors”. They deal with the events of Odysseus’ story from the moment he returns to his homeland, Ithaca, and does battle with the suitors for his wife’s hand in marriage.
Christopher Nolan’sOdysseymovie should also feature the first half of the story, which includes an overview of the events that led to Odysseus’ journey home from Troy to Ithaca, and the many adventures he has on his way. Among these adventures,Nolan’s standout moment could be Odysseus fighting the cyclops Polyphemus, a scene unlike anything else the director has captured on film up to this point in his career.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey May Become The Definitive On-Screen Version
The Field Of Homeric Movie Adaptations Is Wide Open For Nolan To Make History
The Odysseyisn’t an easy story to tell on the big screen, which may be why there isn’t yet a definitive film version of Homer’s epic poem. It’s perhaps a stretch too far to suggest thatHomer himself would be proud of the movie Nolan is making, as one Universal executive has claimed, but the filmmaker certainly has the opportunity to make his adaptation ofThe Odysseythe one that’s remembered for generations to come.
Nolan is naturally throwing the kitchen sink at the project, with hisOdysseybudget even bigger than the total cost ofOppenheimer, the movie which won the director-producer his first Oscars in 2024. His competition for Homeric cinema history largely comes in the form ofUlysses, a 1954 Italian version of the epic starring Kirk Douglas in the title role.
A 1997 TV miniseries in the US, also calledThe Odyssey, found some success on its small-screen release, as Uberto Pasolini’sThe Returndeserves to.The Coen Brothers’O Brother, Where Art Thou?is an ingenious modern rendering of the story, although anyone relatively unfamiliar with Homer’s epic would never guess that the two works of art are related.
Ultimately, the field is wide open for Christopher Nolan to stake his claim for making the definitive version ofThe Odysseyon screen. He has the experience, the creative control, the cast, and the budget to make his 2026 one of the most spectacular historical epics of all time.
The Odyssey
Cast
The Odyssey is a 2026 film adaptation of Homer’s epic poem, chronicling Odysseus’s treacherous journey home from the Trojan War. The narrative explores his encounters with mythical creatures such as Polyphemus, the Sirens, and Circe, culminating in his reunion with his wife, Penelope.
The Return
After two decades away, Odysseus returns to Ithaca, haggard and unrecognizable, only to find his kingdom transformed and his place as king threatened. As he navigates the political and personal upheavals of his homeland, he must confront the ghosts of his past and reclaim his legacy.
