The Odyssey Star Explains the American Accent in Christopher Nolan Epic
One of the stars of The Odyssey recently discussed why an American accent was chosen for Christopher Nolan‘s highly anticipated epic. After the trailer dropped in May, the characters’ modern accent caught fans off guard. It sparked extensive discourse online, with viewers growing curious about the reasoning behind it.
What Himesh Patel said about the accent choice in The Odyssey
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, actor Himesh Patel briefly touched upon why an American accent was used in The Odyssey.
The actor told the outlet that Christopher Nolan insisted that everyone use an American accent on-screen rather than a Greek or British one. It appears to have been a creative choice for reaching a wider audience.
However, that decision has received its share of criticism after the trailer dropped. Many viewers have pointed out that lines such as “My dad is coming home” and “Let’s go!” sound too modern. Regardless of the criticism, the accent will remain.
During the interview, Patel also revealed that most of the scenes were shot in-camera with practical effects. This is pretty much in line with the filmmaker’s reputation for using very little CGI for his films. The actor also shared that they spent several days filming in a cave, atop a castle, and aboard a boat at sea.
The Odyssey will debut in theaters on July 17, 2026. The story is based on Greek poet Homer’s work. It is the first film to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras. It reportedly has a total budget of around $250 million—Nolan’s most expensive film yet. Furthermore, the renowned director wrote the screenplay.
Patel will portray Eurylochus, Odysseus’s second-in-command. The cast is led by Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Robert Pattinson. The supporting cast includes Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal, and Zendaya, among others.
