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- Primary Subject: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey (2026)
- Key Update: Producer Emma Thomas confirmed at CinemaCon 2026 that the film's runtime will officially be under three hours, making it shorter than Nolan's previous epic, Oppenheimer.
- Status: In Post-Production
- Last Verified: April 20, 2026
- Quick Answer: Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey will have a runtime under three hours, as confirmed by producer Emma Thomas, making it shorter than the 180-minute Oppenheimer.
After the massive success of Oppenheimer—which demanded three full hours—Christopher Nolan's next big screen epic has kept fans wondering how long the new film will be. Those eager to see how the legendary director would tackle the expansive scope of Homer's The Odyssey can finally breathe a sigh of relief: producer Emma Thomas has officially confirmed its runtime.
How Long is The Odyssey's Runtime? Confirmed Details Revealed By Producer
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While fans expected a massive duration for Homer's epic, producer Emma Thomas has "guaranteed" the film will not exceed the three-hour mark. Though the exact minute count is still being settled in post-editing, the news confirms that The Odyssey will be more concise than Nolan's 2023 Best Picture winner.
Nolan's Oppenheimer masterpiece had a runtime of three hours, breaking his three-hour mark for the first time. But what could be The Odyssey's fate?
Following Universal Pictures' CinemaCon panel, Deadline has revealed: "Producer Emma Thomas also guaranteed this epic film will come in under three hours, but wasn't quite sure of the actual running time yet since they are still in post production."
It is worth noting that the IMAX 70mm tech has a physical limit of three hours (which Oppenheimer famously pushed to the max), marking the runtime as a practical necessity for shooting the film.
The tale includes iconic stories like Odysseus' encounters with Cyclops, Polyphemus, the Sirens, and the witch-goddess Circe, all of which end with a reunion with his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus. It is also worth mentioning that Nolan also wrote The Odyssey, so there's a higher chance this was his decision on the best way to tell this story.
It's difficult to imagine syncing all storylines under two hours, considering that hardcore The Odyssey fans know every bit of its nuance and why it deserves a big-screen premiere.
What Fans Can Expect From Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
The Odyssey follows the events of Homer's ancient text, in which the legendary hero, Odysseus, battles monsters and other supernatural threats, all for the sake of returning home to his wife, Penelope, and son, Telemachus, after the Trojan War.
The cast of The Odyssey stars Matt Damon as the titular Greek hero, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, aka his loyal wife, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Zendaya as Athena, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, Mia Goth as Melantho, and John Leguizamo as the faithful swineherd Eumaeus.
The Odyssey also reunites the dream team, Ludwig Göransson, to compose the score, while Hoyte van Hoytema handles the cinematography, which would likely retain the high-stakes, immersive atmosphere that defined Oppenheimer.
Shot with the brand new IMAX film technology, The Odyssey will open in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026.
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