John Leguizamo‘s character in Christopher Nolan‘s The Odyssey will have a huge impact on the movie. The upcoming epic adventure also features Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Anne Hathaway, among others.

John Leguizamo discusses playing Eumaeus in The Odyssey

The Odyssey features an ensemble cast portraying characters from Greek mythology. Given Nolan’s ensemble storytelling style, each major character is expected to play an important role. One example is John Leguizamo’s role as Eumaeus, who is a loyal blind swineherd and a close childhood friend of Odysseus, played by Matt Damon.

Speaking about the significance of playing Eumaeus, Leguizamo recently discussed the impact the character has in The Odyssey. He shared his experience of shooting the movie while talking about how Nolan explained to him the stakes attached to the character. “You know, Chris says to me, ‘This is the most loyal character in Western literature. It’s a lot to live up to.’ So, I had a lot to live up to and, you know, they helped me out with the amazing crew, the costumes, the Hoyte.”

Leguizamo also revealed how he planned the preparation to do justice to his role. “I learned how to be as visually impaired. I have a friend who’s legally blind, Gina Velasquez, who I studied to try to get all the behavior correct. I want to represent correctly.”

The Odyssey’s cast also includes Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, and Benny Safdie. Samantha Morton, Mia Goth, Elliot Page, and Travis Scott will also play crucial roles.

Made on a budget of $250 million, The Odyssey has generated strong buzz ahead of its release. According to early box office forecasts, the film is projected to earn around $118 million during its domestic opening weekend.

The Odyssey hits theaters on July 17, 2026.