Christopher Nolan Says Matt Damon's Odysseus Is More Han Solo Than Luke Skywalker

Christopher Nolan is bringing one of history's greatest epics to the big screen with The Odyssey, and while fans are eager to see how he tackles the legendary Greek tale, the filmmaker has offered a fun comparison that instantly puts his version of Odysseus into perspective for movie geeks.

Rather than comparing the legendary hero to a traditional fantasy protagonist, Nolan looked to Star Wars to explain exactly who Matt Damon is playing. According to the director, Odysseus isn't a wide-eyed hero.

The story of The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his grueling voyage home after the Trojan War. What should've been a straightforward journey turns into a years-long fight for survival as he encounters mythical dangers including a Cyclops, deadly Sirens, and a monstrous whirlpool lurking in the sea. It's a tale of intelligence, deception, perseverance, and the consequences of one's own decisions.

When speaking with The New York Times about the thematic connections between Oppenheimer and The Odyssey, Nolan explained why the character continues to fascinate him.

"When I finished the film I was quite struck by that. Every film I do, I like to leave it with questions or unanswered themes that I might carry through to the next film.

“There's a lot of ideas of leadership, of mixed motivations, the flaws of people, that idea of where the best of intentions can go horribly wrong.

“Odysseus is a very complex character – a trickster, somebody who's smart and wily. In Star Wars terms, it's Han Solo – but Han Solo is not the hero of Star Wars, it's Luke Skywalker."

It's an interesting comparison because it immediately paints a picture of the kind of character Nolan is bringing to the screen. Odysseus has always been defined by his cleverness as much as his courage.

He survives through quick thinking, manipulation, and strategy just as often as he does through strength. Comparing him to Han Solo instead of Luke Skywalker suggests Nolan is leaning into the character's charm, flaws, and unpredictability rather than presenting him as a conventional noble hero.

Joining Damon in the impressive cast are Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Odysseus' faithful wife, Tom Holland as their son Telemachus, Robert Pattinson as Penelope's suitor Antinous, Zendaya as the goddess Athena, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy, Jon Bernthal as Menelaus, and Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, leader of the Greek forces.

The production on the film was also incredibly ambitious. Damon recently talked about the incredible locations Nolan chose for the movie and how far the production went to capture them on camera.

"Every location we would get there and I would just start laughing like, 'Who thought you should shoot a movie here?' You know, we're shooting in Nestor's Cave in Greece.

“It's this incredible place but nobody's ever tried to shoot a film up there. So to see the rigging that they did to basically turn it into a natural sound stage, I don't know any other director who would try it."

That kind of commitment to practical filmmaking has become one of Nolan's trademarks, and it sounds like The Odyssey will continue that tradition by taking audiences to breathtaking real-world locations instead of relying heavily on digital environments.

Whether you're excited to see Damon tackle one of mythology's most iconic figures or you're simply curious to see Nolan's take on the ancient epic, the director's Han Solo comparison gives fans an intriguing glimpse into the personality at the heart of the story.

The Odyssey sails into theaters on July 17.