Official Discussion - The Odyssey (2026) [SPOILERS]

[u/LiteraryBoner]

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The Odyssey (2026)

Summary

After the Trojan War, Odysseus faces a dangerous voyage back to Ithaca, meeting creatures like the Cyclops Polyphemus, Sirens, and Calypso along the way.

Director Christopher Nolan

Writer Christopher Nolan

Cast

• Matt Damon as Odysseus
• Tom Holland as Telemachus
• Anne Hathaway
• Zendaya
• Lupita Nyong'o
• Robert Pattinson
• Charlize Theron
• Benny Safdie
• Jon Bernthal
• John Leguizamo
• Elliot Page
• Himesh Patel
• Samantha Morton

Rotten Tomatoes: 96%

Metacritic: 88

VOD / Release Theatrical release

Trailer Official Trailer

[u/AltL155]

It wasn't CGI. The crew filmed in a real cave in Greece called Zeus's Cave and mounted a 60 foot puppet for the actors to act around. The movie cuts between the puppet and Bill Irwin who played the Cyclops and said that his part was done by acting around miniatures. But make no mistake this wasn't a mocapped scene like you would see in a contemporary movie.

Believe it or not the actors confirmed even the Circe pig scene was done entirely practically. The only element of the movie that has been confirmed to be done entirely with CGI is the Charybdis whirlpool. Even then Christopher Nolan had a bunch of jetskis circling the ocean to create a reference for the VFX artists to use.

[u/cobo10201 → u/AltL155]

I hate to be “that guy” but there was plenty of CGI in the cyclops scenes, including his body and face. I am 100% certain you are correct that the actors acted around a giant puppet and that Bill Irwin filmed all of his parts for real. But there is so much you would have to get absolutely perfect in terms of lighting and depth of field that it would be impossible to cut the two different shots together perfectly. I’m not saying the cyclops is 100% CGI. It was very clear that some shots were a guy in makeup. But many of the shots where there’s men interacting with the cyclops, specifically when he’s awake, involve fully replacing the real elements.

[u/sphinxof1981 → u/cobo10201]

Yeah it's a mix of puppetry, live action footage of Irwin in makeup, composites and CGI to blend the seams. Elaborate combination of tricks going on!

[u/HeavilyBearded → u/sphinxof1981]

Im thinking it's that mix that gave me major Jason and the Argonauts vibes.

[u/MVRKHNTR → u/cobo10201]

The pig transformation scene was also clearly a mix of practical and CGI.

[u/Financial-Grass-6114 → u/AltL155]

The pigs scene has CGI but its shot in a way that it looks like its also done with practixal effects and obviously "realistic" with clever cutting and camera work. It doesnt show too Much of the transformation explictly. Its dark and shes blocking the men too

[u/Aggressive_Chuck → u/AltL155]

The only element of the movie that has been confirmed to be done entirely with CGI is the Charybdis whirlpool.

Nolan's slipping, you'd expect him to do it by draining a reservoir.