Benny Safdie lands role in Sir Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey
Benny Safdie is the latest actor to join the all-star cast of Sir Christopher Nolan's upcoming film 'The Odyssey'.
Benny Safdie has joined the cast of Sir Christopher Nolan's movie 'The Odyssey'.
The 38-year-old star will reunite with the acclaimed filmmaker after featuring in his 2023 historical epic 'Oppenheimer' as he boards Nolan's adaptation of Homer's poem – which follows Odysseus' journey home following the Trojan War.
Safdie will appear in the movie alongside an all-star ensemble that includes Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o and Charlize Theron.
Universal confirmed the subject matter of Nolan's new film last month after it emerged that a number of stars had signed up for the project.
The studio said in a statement: "Christopher Nolan’s next film ‘The Odyssey’ is a mythic action epic shot across the world using brand new IMAX film technology.
"The film brings Homer’s foundational saga to IMAX film screens for the first time and opens in theaters everywhere on July 17, 2026."
Homer's ancient Greek poem is a foundational text of Western literature and tells the story of Odysseus, King of Ithaca, and his perilous return journey after the Trojan War.
It explores themes of heroism, loyalty, cunning and the struggle against divine will.
The poem includes stories such as Odysseus' encounters with the Cyclops Polyphemus, the Sirens and witch-goddess Circe, culminating in a reunion with his wife Penelope.
The literature has been adapted multiple times over the years, notably with 'Ulysses', which starred Kirk Douglas and was released in 1954, while it also inspired the likes of 2000's 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'.
'The Odyssey' is set to begin shooting at the end of next month ahead of its summer 2026 release.
Safdie portrayed the Hungarian-American physicist Edward Teller in 'Oppenheimer' and recalled how Nolan encouraged him not to pluck his eyebrows so he could resemble his alter ego.
He told Vulture: "I am proud to say that it's all my eyebrows. Teller had the best eyebrows.
"Every once in a while I have a straggler that I'll just pluck out, cause it looks a little too crazy. But Chris said, 'Don't do that. Let's just let it go crazy'.
"I had the most insane eyebrows for months and months, and you just had to brush them out and then they shined in all their glory."
Teller spoke with a thick Hungarian accent and Safdie explained that the toughest element of the part was to mimic the voice of his character.
The 'Licorice Pizza' star said: "The accent was something I was so nervous about.
"I remember Chris asking me, 'How's the accent coming?' And I'm just like, 'Oh my God, how am I going to accomplish this?'
"I didn't know if he was going to want me to do it. But he sent me all of these interviews and we talked about how Teller speaks and who he is. It was a long process of working together to really nail it down."
