Hollywood is preparing to revisit one of the oldest stories in Western literature, and this time it is not putting all its weight behind a single version. Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is already set as a major studio release for Universal, but a second project based on the same source is now moving forward with a very different approach.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, producer Jerry Bruckheimer is developing an animated adaptation of Jorge Rivera-Herran’s viral EPIC: The Musical. The project draws from Homer’s “The Odyssey,” giving studios two separate interpretations of the same story at the same time.
Nolan’s film is expected to lead the conversation and likely the box office. His version is built as a large-scale live action production with a heavy focus on practical filmmaking and premium formats. In contrast, EPIC: The Musical takes a stylized path. It began as an online musical retelling of “The Odyssey” and has already built a strong following.
The difference in format matters. Animation allows for a more flexible visual style, especially when dealing with gods, monsters, and other mythological elements. Nolan’s approach leans on realism and spectacle, while the animated project can push into more expressive and exaggerated territory.
This is not a case of a second adaptation appearing without context. EPIC: The Musical already has an audience, which gives the film a built-in base of support. It may also appeal to viewers who are not drawn to Nolan’s more traditional prestige filmmaking style.
Bruckheimer’s involvement adds weight to the project and creates an unusual situation for the industry. Instead of one defining version of “The Odyssey,” audiences will likely see two interpretations released within a similar window. One comes from a high-profile director known for event films. The other grows out of a viral music project with a different tone and audience.
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Nolan’s The Odyssey is scheduled to hit theaters on July 17, 2026. The cast includes Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Zendaya as Athena. Early footage shown at CinemaCon featured a large-scale Trojan Horse sequence, pointing to the film’s scope and ambition.
The production is also notable for its technical goals. Reports indicate it is the first major film shot entirely on IMAX 70mm cameras, signaling a clear push toward a premium theatrical experience.
With two major projects now in development, Hollywood appears ready to test how flexible this ancient story can be. One version aims for scale and realism. The other leans into music and animation. Both are betting that audiences are still willing to follow Odysseus on the long journey home.
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