Tom Holland Says Robert Pattinson Casting in 'The Odyssey' Let Him Relax

Tom Holland said he felt immediate relief when he learned Robert Pattinson would be playing the villainous suitor Antinous in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The revelation came during a joint interview with Entertainment Weekly, where Holland and Pattinson discussed their dynamic in the mythological epic. Holland stars as Telemachus, the son of Matt Damon’s Odysseus, whose journey is complicated by the suitors vying for his mother Penelope’s hand.

Holland explained that the intense friction between their characters was crucial to his own character’s arc, making the casting of his antagonist a pivotal decision. He credited Pattinson’s talent for playing difficult characters as the reason for his confidence.

What did Tom Holland say about Robert Pattinson?

During the Entertainment Weekly roundtable, Holland was candid about his initial nerves and subsequent relief. “I was really nervous about trying to make sure that that felt authentic and scary enough for my character to make this desperate decision to go on this journey,” he said, referring to the conflict that drives Telemachus to search for his father. His anxiety dissipated when he learned who his scene partner would be. “I knew when I found out that you were playing Antinous that I could relax because you’re so good at being a dickhead,” Holland told Pattinson.

The actor elaborated on their professional history, which made him trust Pattinson to elevate their scenes. “Rob and I have made three movies together now, all very different,” Holland said. “I’ve loved every minute of working with Rob, and I’ve always felt like I’ve left the set a better actor because he raises the stakes of every scene.”

What is 'The Odyssey' about?

Christopher Nolan’s film adapts Homer’s ancient Greek epic poem. The story follows Odysseus, the King of Ithaca, on his long and perilous voyage home after the Trojan War. His journey is fraught with mythological monsters, divine interference, and tests of his wit and endurance. Key elements of the film include:

• Director: Christopher Nolan
• Main Cast: Matt Damon as Odysseus, Tom Holland as Telemachus, Anne Hathaway as Penelope, and Robert Pattinson as Antinous.
• Supporting Cast: The ensemble includes Himesh Patel, John Leguizamo, Charlize Theron, Corey Hawkins, and Jarreth J. Merz.
• Release: The film had a theatrical release on July 17, 2026.
• Runtime: 173 minutes.

Who else is in the cast of 'The Odyssey'?

The film features a sprawling, A-list ensemble. Matt Damon leads as the legendary hero Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway playing his faithful wife, Penelope. Tom Holland portrays their son, Telemachus, who must defend his home in his father’s long absence. Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, the most arrogant and aggressive of the suitors who invade Odysseus’s palace, consuming his resources and pressuring Penelope to remarry.

The supporting cast is filled with notable names, including Charlize Theron as the nymph Calypso, who detains Odysseus on her island, and John Leguizamo as the loyal swineherd Eumaeus. Other key roles are played by Himesh Patel as Odysseus’s crewmate Eurylochus and Corey Hawkins as Polybus.

How has the film performed?

The Odyssey has proven to be a major commercial and critical success since its release. The film, which carried a reported production budget of $250 million, opened to a strong domestic weekend, according to Variety. It has since sailed to a worldwide box office total of $304 million, as verified by industry databases. Critics have responded positively, with the film earning a Metacritic score of 89/100 and an IMDb user rating of 8.3/10. Its strong performance has positioned it as a potential awards season contender.

What is the history between Holland and Pattinson?

Holland’s comment about their three films together references a professional relationship that began nearly a decade ago. Their first collaboration was in James Gray’s 2016 adventure film The Lost City of Z, where Pattinson had a supporting role. They worked together again in 2020 for the Netflix psychological thriller The Devil All the Time, in which Pattinson played the sinister Reverend Preston Teagardin. The Odyssey marks their third project together and their first under the direction of Christopher Nolan, for whom Pattinson previously starred in the 2020 sci-fi thriller Tenet.

What's next for Tom Holland?

While promoting The Odyssey, Holland has also been discussing his next major project. He is set to portray legendary dancer and actor Fred Astaire in an upcoming Sony Pictures biopic directed by Paul King (Wonka). In recent interviews, Holland revealed he has begun dance rehearsals and expressed a desire to perform all the dancing himself without the use of doubles, aiming to shoot the sequences in single takes as Astaire did. The actor, who began his career in London’s West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, has called returning to dance “an opportunity to get to re-explore that world that I loved so much.”

Sources

• Box Office Mojo
• Rotten Tomatoes