Christopher Nolan’s epic adaptation of Homer’s The Odyssey continues its strong theatrical run, and fans will soon have two official companion books to deepen their experience of the film—while the ancient source material itself remains as vital as ever.
Written and directed by Nolan and starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the Greek king of Ithaca, The Odyssey opened last weekend to $123.5 million domestically. Combined with international receipts, it earned $264 million worldwide from July 17–19. Through Tuesday, the film has grossed nearly $163.7 million domestically and $164.1 million overseas, for a running global total of $327.8 million.
The story follows Odysseus’s perilous post-Trojan War journey home to Ithaca to reunite with his wife, Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway), and their son, Prince Telemachus. The large ensemble cast also includes Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, Lupita Nyong’o, Elliott Page, Himesh Patel, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, Corey Hawkins, Mia Goth, James Remar, and the voice of Bill Irwin.
As audiences continue packing conventional theaters, IMAX, and premium large-format venues, Insight Editions is preparing two official books produced in conjunction with Universal Pictures and Nolan’s Syncopy. Both will be available online and in bookstores.
Filming the Odyssey: Inside the Making of Christopher Nolan’s Modern Epic, written by James Mottram with a foreword by Matt Damon, arrives August 25. The 280-page hardcover retails for $75 and offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the production from script to screen. It features interviews with Nolan and the cast and crew, along with on-set photos, concept art, and research materials. Barnes & Noble will carry an exclusive edition with a special cover design.
The World of the Odyssey: A Visual Journey, also by Mottram, is scheduled for September at $29.99. The 144-page hardcover serves as a visual guide, highlighting character profiles, key locations and items, pivotal moments, exclusive quotes from Nolan and the cast and crew, and a final chapter explaining some of the film’s technical achievements.
While these new titles focus on Nolan’s modern interpretation, the original epic continues to thrive in classic editions that have introduced generations of readers to Odysseus’s journey. Among the most respected English translations are Emily Wilson’s acclaimed 2018 version—praised for its clarity, speed, and modern voice—Robert Fagles’s dramatic and poetic 1996 rendering, Richmond Lattimore’s precise and scholarly 1967 translation, and Robert Fitzgerald’s elegant 1961 edition. Readers seeking the original Greek alongside English can turn to the Loeb Classical Library, while illustrated hardcovers and annotated scholarly volumes remain widely available.