See the Director's This Epic Trailer in a Manner It Was Never Intended to Be Seen.
The acclaimed filmmaker's mythic action epic, The Odyssey, is a film audiences have been anticipating ever since it was revealed. It easily ranks among the most hotly anticipated motion pictures coming next year. In a festive surprise, a preview has now been released, though it's hampered by YouTube's poor compression—perhaps explaining the director's choice to restrict the trailer solely for theatrical audiences.
A First Glimpse of the Stellar Ensemble
The debut footage showcases Matt Damon portraying Odysseus. We also see Tom Holland playing the son alongside Anne Hathaway as Penelope. In a poignant moment, Penelope asks Odysseus to promise his safe homecoming, to which he respond by asking what happens if he cannot. The trailer also offers a quick, obscured look at Polyphemus the Cyclops, whose flock Odysseus and his crew steal during their arduous journey.
Based upon a foundational pillar in classic storytelling, The Odyssey follows the lengthy quest undertaken by the famed ruler. After his triumph in the Trojan War, as told in Homer's Iliad, Odysseus endures an extended and hazardous road home.
Mythical Encounters and a Star-Studded Lineup
Along his path, the hero encounters countless challenges and mythical beings. This roster features the enchantress Circe, known for turning humans into pigs, as well as the treacherous Sirens. Regardless of these ordeals, his sworn oath is to overcome anything to get back to his wife and son on his home island.
The adaptation's cast is remarkably star-studded. Joining Damon, Holland, and Hathaway is Charlize Theron portraying the shrewd goddess, together with Zendaya, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Elliot Page, and Jon Bernthal.
A Story Repeatedly Told
Homer's epic has inspired numerous adaptations throughout history. Examples include modern retellings and a late-90s dance production. There has even been adapted into a musical called Epic: The Musical, presented as a nine-album collection.
The official trailer has been highly anticipated since the film's announcement and a brief teaser that previously played only on the big screen. That footage subsequently found its way online soon after.
To see a clearer version, the trailer posted on the film's official social channel might deliver a better, clearer look.
The Odyssey is scheduled for release on global IMAX screens next summer.
