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Robert Pattinson reveals his The Odyssey role is like being Jacob in Twilight
The star will be playing the role of Antinous in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of the epic.
Universal
- Patrick Cremona
Published: Wednesday, 8 July 2026 at 10:53 am
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Robert Pattinson is just one of many, many big names with a major role to play in Christopher Nolan's hotly-anticipated adaptation of The Odyssey – and the star has revealed that his part reminded him of his breakout franchise.
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Pattinson will be starring as antagonist Antinous in the epic, and speaking during a recent interview with MTV UK he revealed that "it's kind of like Jacob in Twilight" – referring to the character played by in the vampire series.
"I think [audiences] will be rooting for him," he said. "What The Odyssey is about — Penelope just can’t make her mind up between the two guys and I’m just trying to like help her make a decision. It’s like, ‘It’s fine. He’s dead, get over it.'"
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Pattinson famously starred as Jacob's rival Edward Cullen in four Twilight films between 2008 and 2012, with that role launching his career into the stratosphere.
His co-stars in The Odyssey include Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway and Tom Holland, while there are also important roles in incredibly stacked A-list cast for the likes of Lupita Nyong'o, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page and Samantha Morton.
The social embargo for the film was lifted earlier this week and the early reactions have been glowing, with critics calling it a "staggering achievement" and "an epic masterpiece".
The Odyssey follows Nolan's Oscar-winning success with Oppenheimer in 2023, and with an estimated budget of $250 million is the director's biggest budget film to date.
First announced at the end of 2024, the film is based on the 3,000-year-old works of Greek poet Homer following Odysseus (Damon), King of Ithaca, as he makes his epic journey home after the siege of Troy.
On the way, he encounters mythical creatures, friends and foes in a journey that spans 10 years while his wife Penelope (Hathaway) and his son Telemachus (Holland) eagerly await his return.
The Odyssey will be released in UK cinemas on Friday 17 July.
Book your £10 seat for the first ever Radio Times Film Night and watch Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey with fellow film fans at Odeon Luxe Islington on Thursday 23 July 2026.
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Authors
Patrick CremonaSenior Film Writer
Patrick Cremona is the Senior Film Writer at Radio Times, and looks after all the latest film releases both in cinemas and on streaming. He has been with the website since October 2019, and in that time has interviewed a host of big name stars and reviewed a diverse range of movies.
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