Universal Exec Confident in Nolan's $250M 'Odyssey' Despite Backlash

Studio head Donna Langley says big-budget historical epic is a 'big swing' worth taking.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Universal Pictures chairwoman Donna Langley has expressed confidence in the studio's $250 million investment in Christopher Nolan's upcoming historical epic 'The Odyssey,' despite the film facing some backlash online over creative choices. Langley believes there is a growing audience that wants to see 'big entertainment on the best screens' and that Nolan's name alone is enough to draw viewers, citing the success of his previous film 'Oppenheimer.' While some have criticized the film's aesthetic details, Langley remains optimistic the gamble will pay off at the box office when 'The Odyssey' opens nationwide on July 17.

Why it matters

Nolan's films are known for their high budgets, and 'The Odyssey' represents one of the biggest swings yet for the acclaimed director. Universal's willingness to invest $250 million in the project signals their confidence in Nolan's ability to deliver a blockbuster, even as some online critics have raised concerns about the film's historical accuracy and creative choices.

The details

Based on the classic Greek epic poem, 'The Odyssey' stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, Lupita Nyong'o, and many other A-list actors. Christopher Nolan both wrote and directed the film. While some on social media have nitpicked details like the costumes and dialects, Langley believes there is a growing audience that wants to see 'big entertainment' on the big screen, and Nolan's name alone is enough to draw viewers, as evidenced by the success of his previous film 'Oppenheimer.'

  • The Odyssey is scheduled to open nationwide on July 17, 2026.
  • The first official trailer for the film was recently released, sparking some online backlash.

The players

Donna Langley

The chairwoman of Universal Pictures, who has overseen the development of many of the studio's biggest box office hits.

Christopher Nolan

The acclaimed director who wrote and directed The Odyssey, known for his high-budget, cerebral films.

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What they’re saying

“The thing that Christopher Nolan represents is pure cinema. And I think what we're seeing with audiences, and we certainly saw how they showed up for 'Oppenheimer,' is that there's an audience that wants to show up for a Christopher Nolan movie and there's an audience that wants to show up for pure cinema. And I believe it's growing and it's getting younger, and it wants to see big entertainment on the best screens in the world.”

— Donna Langley, Chairwoman, Universal Pictures (Variety)

What’s next

Fans and critics will have to wait until The Odyssey's nationwide release on July 17, 2026 to see how the film performs at the box office and whether it can overcome the early online backlash.

The takeaway

Universal's massive $250 million investment in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey signals the studio's confidence in the director's ability to deliver a blockbuster, even as some online critics have raised concerns about the film's historical accuracy. Langley believes there is a growing audience hungry for 'big entertainment' on the big screen, and Nolan's name alone is enough to draw viewers.