Zendaya’s Role In The Odyssey Is Either A Gift Or A Curse

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Everyone knew Christopher Nolan’s film version of The Odyssey would be a major event in 2026, and excitement grew even more when the impressive cast list started being revealed. While many big stars are involved, for a long time the only actor confirmed to appear was Matt Damon, who would play the main character, Odysseus.

There was a lot of guessing about who would play which roles, particularly among the actresses, as many strong female characters could have been cast in various combinations. When Charlize Theron announced she’d be playing the sorceress Circe – a character Odysseus meets on his voyage – it helped narrow things down. But the newest issue of Empire Magazine revealed even more of the cast, including Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Odysseus’s wife, and Zendaya as the goddess Athena.

Some thought she could play Calypso, the nymph who famously held Odysseus captive, but that part isn’t very large in Homer’s story. The role of Athena, however, offers a much more substantial opportunity for the actress. Or, it has the potential to, at least.

Zendaya’s Role In The Odyssey Will Depend On How Nolan Handles The Supernatural

Athena plays a vital role in the story. As the Greek goddess of wisdom and war, she strongly supports Odysseus, repeatedly asking Zeus for help to ensure his safe return home. She consistently guides and assists both Penelope and Telemachus, Odysseus’ son, preparing them for his eventual arrival. This is crucial because, during his long absence, a group of arrogant suitors have been taking over his house and trying to marry his wife.

She almost never reveals her true identity. Although readers always know when she’s in disguise, the people she interacts with usually don’t realize they’re speaking to a goddess until after the conversation is finished. She appears in many forms – sometimes as a young girl or shepherd, and other times as Mentor, a wise, older friend and advisor to Odysseus’ son, Telemachus.

When adapting the story for film, filmmakers face a key decision: Should the movie show Athena’s appearances as the original reader experiences them, or focus on what the characters within the story perceive – meaning they might know she was there, but never see her divine form?

When you cast a huge star like this, you’d naturally assume she’d have a significant role – why else spend that kind of money? But with Christopher Nolan, things are never that simple! As Empire pointed out, he’s still being tight-lipped about how he’s handling the mythological side of The Odyssey. He did hint, though, that incorporating those elements was a real puzzle for him.

I really had to figure out how to make mythology feel grounded and believable. The key to how I thought about the gods was realizing that things we now explain with science used to be seen as divine. Things like lightning, thunder, and earthquakes weren’t just natural events—people actually saw gods causing them. I don’t want to reveal too much, but the supernatural is definitely present and woven into the fabric of their everyday lives.

I’m really excited about Nolan tackling The Odyssey! What I love about his movies is how realistic they feel, even with sci-fi or superheroes, and I think that’ll be perfect for this story. I’m guessing Athena won’t just be shown as a force of nature, but as a character people actually see. It wouldn’t shock me if the movie shows her blending into the background, almost normal, and then suddenly revealing her power. And honestly, Nolan often uses famous actors even for smaller roles, so I’m anticipating a great cast!

If the upcoming film The Odyssey features Zendaya in every appearance of the goddess Athena, it would be a hugely significant role. Because the story unfolds in separate episodes, most characters only appear briefly. Athena, however, is present throughout the entire narrative. When the film comes out on July 17th, Zendaya will either be a central character we see repeatedly, or one of several actors portraying Athena.

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2025-11-20 20:19