Name any popular Christopher Nolan movie, and there is a good chance you will find Cillian Murphy
in it—even if it is just for a passing shot. That is the impression fans have gotten after Murphy appeared in nearly all of Nolan’s biggest hits. For years, Murphy played memorable supporting roles in Nolan’s films, but he finally got his time to shine as the lead in Oppenheimer
—a performance that cemented his place in Hollywood history. Now, fans are starting to wonder if another Nolan regular could be next in line for the same treatment.
The actor in question is Matt Damon who has already wowed audiences with his performances in Interstellar
and Oppenheimer
. Critics and fans alike have heaped praise on his work. And given Nolan’s knack for elevating recurring collaborator, it is not far-fetched to think Damon might land the lead in Nolan’s upcoming Greek saga, The Odyssey
, an adaptation of Homer’s epic. Damon is reportedly already a part of the cast, alongside A-listers like Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong’o, Robert Pattinson, and Charlize Theron.
nolan rewarding damon for his terrific supporting performances in interstellar and oppenheimer by giving him the plum lead role of ODYSSEUS….call that the cillian murphy treatment https://t.co/XObcU1oFuT
— John DiLillo (@JohnDiLillo) December 23, 2024
As of now, details about the upcoming project are sparse. It has not been revealed who is playing which character, and it is also unclear how closely the adaptation will stick to the original epic. However, Universal Pictures teased on social media that it will be an “action epic”.
And now fans are already speculating—and campaigning—for who should take on the role of the king of Ithaca in this ambitious project.
On X, fans are eagerly predicting a ‘Cillian Murphy treatment’ for Matt Damon, imagining him as the leading man in Nolan’s next big epic.
Fans wish to see a Cillian Murphy arc for Matt Damon
Cillian Murphy has been pretty upfront about how badly he has always wanted to snag a lead role in one of Christopher Nolan’s films. Even when he is not in the cast, he is content to just sit back and watch Nolan work his magic behind the scenes. Matt Damon, of course, is just as big a fan of the director. Damon even joked that if he ever decided to take a break from acting, it would only be Nolan who could talk him into returning. So, if Damon lands the lead in The Odyssey
, he will get the full ‘Cillian Murphy treatment’ from Nolan.
i think matt damon was lowkey better than cillian in oppenheimer. i love
him so much— gramble (@grandbranch) December 24, 2024
Damon starting to look like he’s gonna have a real shot at “THE movie star of the 21st century” when it’s all said and done.
— WonderG (@BiZAhrOh) December 24, 2024
Good. About time Damon got his due.
— Blewitt (@KibandiFilms) December 24, 2024
That said, not all fans are sold on this idea. Some are arguing that Damon might not be the best fit for the role in The Odyssey.
In both of these movies, Damon added nothing as an actor. Nothing special or unique. He just read his lines. Then he did The Martian and a slew of other movies…and did the same thing. No real sense of character or transformation. Just Damon reading his lines cleanly with a…
— Doug Lake (@TheReelDougLake) December 24, 2024
Ain’t no way he’s playing Odysseus, that’s nasty
— Ahsoka Tano is a leftist, the Jedi Order were dems (@slurpdurp9) December 24, 2024
Would’ve preferred Christian Bale in the lead
— Peter James (@PeterJ2025) December 24, 2024
This will be Damon’s third go-around with Nolan, and he is definitely got a shot at making 2026 his year—just like Cillian Murphy turned 2023 into his. With The Odyssey
, Damon might even score his second Academy Award, while Nolan collects his second Oscar-winning film.
Read More: Matt Damon Explains How ‘Oppenheimer’ Reminds Him of Movies From This Iconic Oscar-Winning Director
What do you think about Matt Damon getting a Cillian Murphy arc by Christopher Nolan? Let us know in the comments below!
