Christopher Nolan disclosed that Warner Bros. hired him to direct the epic 'Troy' over two decades ago, before assigning him 'Batman Begins' instead. This revelation ties into his upcoming adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey,' which explores related mythological themes. The project marks Nolan's long-held interest in ancient Greek stories.
Early Involvement with 'Troy'
In a recent interview with Empire Magazine, Christopher Nolan shared that Warner Bros. approached him to helm the swords-and-sandals film 'Troy' following his work on the 2002 thriller 'Insomnia.' At the time, director Wolfgang Petersen, who had developed 'Troy,' shifted focus to a 'Batman v Superman' project. Nolan expressed enthusiasm for the material, noting specific visions like the depiction of the Trojan horse.
However, the studio reassigned 'Troy' to Petersen, offering Nolan 'Batman Begins' as an alternative. Petersen’s version of 'Troy,' released in 2004, featured Brad Pitt as Achilles, Eric Bana as Hector, Orlando Bloom as Paris, and Diane Kruger as Helen. Despite mixed critical reception, it grossed nearly $500 million worldwide.
Nolan’s 'Batman Begins,' released in 2005, kicked off a highly successful trilogy for Warner Bros., blending personal storytelling with blockbuster action.
Connection to 'The Odyssey'
Nolan explained that elements from 'Troy' influenced his decision to adapt 'The Odyssey,' stating, 'It was a world that I was very interested to explore. So it’s been at the back of my mind for a very long time.' He views the project as filling a gap in cinematic mythology, aiming for 'weight and credibility' through a major Hollywood production in IMAX.
Directed by Nolan, 'The Odyssey' stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, and an ensemble including Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Jon Bernthal. Universal Pictures will release the film on July 17, 2026.