A new teaser for the upcoming film The Odyssey has revealed a surprising cast member: Grammy-nominated rapper Travis Scott. The 34-year-old artist made an unannounced appearance in a television spot that premiered during Sunday’s AFC Championship game.
In the brief clip, Scott provides narration over scenes of the Trojan War, intoning, “A war, a man, a trick — a trick to break the walls of Troy. It burning, screaming to the ground.” The teaser also features established stars Matt Damon and Tom Holland, with Holland appearing alongside Scott in a shared scene.
Directed by Christopher Nolan, the film adapts Homer’s ancient epic poem, following the decade-long journey of King Odysseus (Damon) home to Ithaca after the fall of Troy. The Odyssey is slated for a theatrical release on July 17.
While the teaser has generated buzz, it also raises questions about the film’s expansive cast—a signature Nolan approach. The director is known for assembling stellar ensembles, as seen in Oppenheimer, which balanced major roles like Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar-winning turn with brief, star-powered cameos from actors such as Rami Malek.
The potential risk for The Odyssey is that an overabundance of recognizable faces could pull viewers out of the ancient world, making the narrative feel like a series of cameos rather than a cohesive story. With the plot centered on Damon’s Odysseus, it remains to be seen how much screen time supporting players like Scott and Holland will receive and whether their roles will feel integral or distracting.
As with any Nolan project, the final balance between cast and story won’t be clear until the film’s release. For now, Scott’s involvement adds an unexpected modern edge to this timeless tale.
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