Matt Damon at the New York Premiere Of Liongate's Shadow ForceAbaca Press/INSTARimages
By
Ryan Northrup
Published 15 minutes ago
Ryan Northrup is a Senior Staff Writer on ScreenRant's Movie News team, where he has authored nearly 5,000 articles, including features and reviews. A graduate of McMaster University, Ryan began his career in public relations before attending Vancouver Film School. There, he built lasting industry connections and optioned a feature film screenplay.
Sign in to your ScreenRant account Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recapMatt Damon leads The Odyssey's impressive cast as Odysseus, and the actor now reveals that Christopher Nolan had a non-negotiable demand regarding the actor's appearance.
Speaking to Empire, Damon reveals that Nolan was adamant that he sport a real beard to play Odysseus. "He wants it all real," the actor says of Nolan. Damon recalls being a little apprehensive about his ability to grow facial hair that would be a good fit, though:
"I'd never tried to grow a beard that size. I mean, there are about 100 things to take a beard off my face before it can get that long, starting with my kids."
Damon initially suggested that he wear a fake beard for the role, but Nolan was quick to veto that. According to the director, there's no substitute for real hair when it comes to his practical approach to filmmaking. Nolan explains:
"I'm not a big fan of wigs and fake beards. You want the physicality of real hair, so that you can put a firehose on the guy and do all the things we need him to do."
Nolan demanding that his actors be free from wigs and fake beards tracks with his general approach to making movies. It's no secret that the filmmaker is passionate about practical effects and capturing things in camera. He famously crashed a real Boeing 747 into a building for Tenet (2020) instead of using CGI.
Plus, The Odyssey was shot entirely on IMAX, a first for Nolan and for movies in general. It's possible that wigs and fake beards would stand out more in the larger-format image IMAX creates.
Damon's beard for the film was first officially revealed in the debut image from Nolan's The Odyssey, but it was largely covered up by a helmet. It was in the many leaked set images that followed that his look was more fully unveiled.
Though a teaser trailer for The Odyssey played in theaters this summer, teasing Odysseus' years-long journey home after the Trojan War, one has not yet been released publicly on YouTube. Official footage of Damon in character, then, is still hard to come by, but Empire did recently release new images from the movie, which are included above.
With Nolan's next film set to hit theaters in July 2026, a full-length trailer will probably be released in the near future. Avatar: Fire and Ash marks the year's last big release, and it would make sense for more footage from The Odyssey to be screened ahead of the James Cameron sci-fi epic. This time, it might also make its way online instead of being theater-exclusive.
Damon is joined in The Odyssey's cast by Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, Elliot Page, and Lupita Nyong'o, among others. While many questions remain about exactly how Nolan will be adapting The Odyssey, it's clear that audiences can expect only real hair from the actors involved.
The Odyssey
Like Follow Followed Adventure Drama Release Date July 17, 2026 Director Christopher Nolan Writers Christopher Nolan Producers Emma ThomasCast
See All-
Matt Damon
Odysseus
-
Tom Holland
Telemachus
-
Zendaya
-
Anne Hathaway
Expand
Collapse
-
Movies
-
The Odyssey
We want to hear from you! Share your opinions in the thread below and remember to keep it respectful.
Be the first to post Images Attachment(s) Please respect our community guidelines. No links, inappropriate language, or spam.Your comment has not been saved
Send confirmation emailThis thread is open for discussion.
Be the first to post your thoughts.
- Terms
- Privacy
- Feedback
2 hours ago
10 Exhilarating Journalism Thrillers
7 hours ago
How Game of Thrones Secretly Shaped the Stranger Things' Netflix Deal
2 hours ago
Benedict Cumberbatch Responds To Doctor Strange 3 Rumors: "Bring It On"
4 hours ago
Marvel Just Introduced Its Most Disturbing Superpower in 60 Years
More from our brands
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Is the Sort-of Sequel I’ve Always Dreamed of for This 2004 Historical Epic
'Avengers: Doomsday' Brings Back 'X-Men' Alums, 'Zelda' Movie Sets Release Date, and All the Movie News You Missed Last Week
A Closer Look At The Bombardier Global 7500 That Matt Damon Flies
Amazon Takes Over James Bond, 'Dune: Messiah' Set for Summer Shoot, and All the Movie News You Missed Last Week
'The Odyssey' Star Describes What It's Like Working on a Christopher Nolan Set: "No Fooling Around"
Will Christopher Nolan's Odyssey Adaptation Feature These Scenes?
Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’: 9 Things You Need To Know About Oscar-Winner’s Star-Studded Follow-Up to ‘Oppenheimer’
Trending Now
Shrinking Star Was "Protective" Of Michael J. Fox While Filming Season 3
Aaron Paul Abandons Invincible Role After It Became “Way Too Gruelling”
The Hero Of Marvel's $61M Worldwide Netflix Hit Is Perfect For Spider-Man 4
