Christopher Nolan’s upcoming version ofThe Odysseyis already one of 2026’s most anticipated films, but the director remaining on for the natural expansion of that story would only be the third time Nolan has broken a particular streak in his career. Debuting in 1998 and quickly becoming one of the defining directors of his era, Christopher Nolan has gradually become one of the most famous film directors of the 21st century. While his films might shift in focus from the adventures of Batman to the life of Robert J. Oppenheimer,Christopher Nolan’s filmographyremains one of Hollywood’s most respected.
The next entry in Christopher Nolan’s filmography might also be one of his most challenging, as it tackles one of the foundational texts of modern storytelling. IfNolan’s version ofThe Odysseyis a success, there’s even a natural follow-up in the form of another Homer epic poem, which would serve as a prequel toThe Odyssey. However, there’s a chance that Nolan might not be interested in tackling that project, which could leave the door open for another filmmaker to helm it afterwards.
The Odyssey Already Has A Perfect Follow-Up
A new adaptation ofThe Iliadcould easily followThe Odyssey, but Nolan’s history makes it less likely as his next project.The Odysseyis one of the key epics of Western literature, but it’s also the direct sequel to the events ofThe Iliad. WhileThe Odysseyis focused on Odysseus and his crew attempting to make it home after the Trojan War,The Iliadis focused on the conflict itself. There have been film adaptations of both stories, with 2004’s star-studdedTroybeing one of the most high-profile versions of the story brought to the big screen.
However, previous versions of the story have largely avoided the mythical elements of the story. Establishing the version of the Pantheon that appears inThe Odysseyand then expanding the focus by featuring them at the heart of a new adaptation ofThe Iliadcould be a great way to give the Gods more focus.It would also be an interesting way to expand on the events that befell Odysseus and his crew from a new angle, adding layers retroactively to his decisions and actions at the end of the war that will likely be inciting incidents forThe Odyssey.
If The Odyssey Is A Hit, Universal Will Likely Be Desperate For A Follow-Up
If Christopher Nolan’s take onThe Odysseyis anywhere near the critical and commercial success of most of his films, then a new version ofThe Iliadwould make perfect sense as a follow-up. The film could bring back the Pantheon but focus on other corners of the world, like Sparta and Troy, depicting a doomed city of proud men brought low by their flaws. Those themes ofThe Iliadwould likely be compelling starting points for Nolan,who explored similar concepts in films likeOppenheimer,The Prestige, andThe Dark Knighttrilogy.
The Iliadwould be a great chance to showcase an epic war, an Ancient Greek answer to Nolan’s previous work inDunkirk.
The Iliadis a more straightforward story thanThe Odyssey, which could make it easier to break down. WhileThe Odysseyhas a more centralized protagonist,The Iliadwould be a great chance to showcase an epic war, an Ancient Greek answer to Nolan’s previous work inDunkirk. There are lots of reasons to be excited for a potential sequel toThe Odysseybeing a return to the Trojan War, asNolan’s talents as a filmmaker make him a natural pick for that story. However, his past creative choices suggest he wouldn’t be the one to helm that movie.
Nolan Hasn’t Made A Sequel In Over A Decade
Christopher Nolan has largely avoided preconceptions about modern blockbuster directors, steadily moving at the beat of his own creative drum.The Odysseywill be the thirteenth feature film directed by Nolan. Since his feature debut withThe Followingin 1998, the director has only ever helmed two sequels —The Dark KnightandTheDark Knight Rises, which followed up on the success he found withBatman Begins. Nolan typically doesn’t seem all that interested in revisiting stories and characters after they’re done.He even rarely stays within the same genre.
Especially after the undoubtedly challenging scope of the production ofThe Odyssey,it seems unlikely that Nolan would be interested in returning to that space immediately afterwardsfor another epic. It seems more likely that Nolan would want to move on to a different subject matter or genre, which would be consistent with the filmmaker’s previous movies. It might even make sense for Nolan not to directThe Iliadeven if it does goes into production, simply to avoid natural comparison to his most recent work. It seems unlikely Nolan would want to followThe OdysseywithThe Iliad.
Other Directors Could Make An Odyssey “Sequel” If Christopher Nolan Doesn’t
There Are A Handful Of Filmmakers Who Could Handle An Impressive New Take On The Iliad
That doesn’t mean a new cinematic version ofThe Iliadis entirely out of the question. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn that Universal is already considering such a possibility, especially ifThe Odysseyends up being a major box office draw and critical darling.The tricky part is just figuring out which filmmakers could take on that jobto try and match the likely spectacle and scope of Nolan’s latest film.
Luckily, there are a handful of filmmakers who might have the skill set to do it. Big-budget titans of the industry like James Cameron immediately spring to mind for that hypothetical project, while legendary filmmakers like George Miller would make for interesting picks given their own history with fantastical settings and almost myth-like characters. Depending on the success of her upcoming take onThe Chronicles of Narnia,Greta Gerwig could prove to be a great person to blend strong character work and fantastical conflicts.
Christopher McQuire, fresh off theMission: Impossiblefranchise, would be an ideal person to replicate the nigh-impossible stunts and visuals of an epic like the Trojan War. Chloé Zhao would be an inspired choice, given her experience with tight characters, gorgeous visuals, and the blockbuster system afterThe Eternals.Sam Mendes might be the ideal pick, especially given his experience on films likeSkyfalland1917showcasing his skill at large-scale filmmaking. Even if Christopher Nolan doesn’t direct a new version ofThe IliadafterThe Odyssey, there are other directors who could bring the other Homer epic to life.
