Benny Safdie Reuniting with Christopher Nolan for ‘The Odyssey’ (Exclusive)
Actor-director Benny Safdie is reuniting with Christopher Nolan for the filmmaker’s latest movie, The Odyssey.
Safdie, who appeared as physicist Edward Teller in Nolan’s Oscar-winning Oppenheimer, joins an all-star Universal Pictures production that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong’o, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Jon Bernthal.
The feature project is an adaptation of the Greek epic poem written by Homer. When making the reveal about the project in December, Universal described it as a “mythic action epic shot across the world across the world using brand new IMAX film technology. The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.”
The poem told of the Greek hero King Odysseus and his tortuous 10-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. It is a journey filled with interruptions and influence from the gods (not to mention a few Cyclopes). The story also involves Odysseus’s wife and grown son, who must contend with aggressive suitors that have designs on the throne.
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Character descriptions and roles are being kept hidden in the cave of Polyphemus. Universal had no comment on the casting.
Shooting is due to begin in late February.
Safdie was most recent seen starring in the 2023 Showtime/A24 series The Curse, which he co-wrote and co-created with Nathan Fielder. Safdie was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for his performance in the series, and a WGA award for writing.
He most recently completed production co-starring in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2 and, later this year, A24 will release his solo directorial debut, The Smashing Machine, a biopic of MMA fighter Mark Kerr starring Dwayne Johnson and Emily Blunt.
While Safdie became known for the directing work he did with this brother, he has built an acting resume that includes Lionsgate’s Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret; Claire Denis’ Palme d’Or nominated film The Stars at Noon, and Paul Thomas Anderson’s film Licorice Pizza.
He also starred opposite Rob Pattinson in the A24 film Good Time, which he also co-directed with his brother Josh, earning a nomination for an Indie Spirit Award for best supporting actor for his performance.
Safdie is repped by WME, Untitled, and Lichter Grossman.
