Robert Downey Jr. refused to play in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey”: what is the reason
The biographical drama Oppenheimer brought a long-awaited Oscar to both director Christopher Nolan and his supporting actor Robert Downey Jr. It would seem that fate itself would have them working together again in their next project. But it seems that the plans had to be changed.
According to ITC, citing Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman, Downey Jr. was supposed to play the main antagonist, the god of the seas Poseidon, in the film adaptation of the ancient Greek poem The Odyssey. However, he chose a new project from Marvel Studios and will return to work on the Avengers reboot. Notably, the actor will also play the villain in this movie.
Both Nolan’s The Odyssey and Avengers: Day of Judgment are due out in 2026. However, they will not compete directly. The premiere of the superhero blockbuster is currently scheduled for May 1, while the Greek epic peplum is due to start in cinemas on July 17. By the way, Nolan’s new movie has already forced Marvel to postpone the release date of the fourth part of Spider-Man. Accordingly, the shooting of both films will continue in parallel, so Downey Jr. will not be able to combine work on both. The probable reason he chose to return to comic book movies is a higher fee.
The cast of The Odyssey, as is always the case with Nolan, will be mega-star-studded. Matt Damon will play the main role of the King of Ithaca, who, as a result of Poseidon’s curse, has been wandering the world for decades, trying to return home after the Trojan War. According to rumors, Tom Holland will play the role of his son Telemachus. The cast also includes Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Will Yun Lee, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Mia Gott, Samantha Morton, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson and Charlize Theron. However, it is not yet known who will play which role.
According to preliminary estimates, The Odyssey will cost about $250 million. This makes it the most expensive movie in Nolan’s career. The filming period has already begun. The first scenes are already being worked on in Morocco.
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