Christopher Nolan's ambitious adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic, "The Odyssey," celebrated its world premiere in London on Monday.

The event marked the official launch of a film that carries a reported $250 million price tag and is anticipated to be a major summer release.

The premiere drew a significant number of its star-studded cast, creating a notable presence in Leicester Square.

The red carpet, adorned with a sea-themed blue, saw the attendance of Nolan and producer Emma Thomas, alongside Universal executives including NBCUniversal Entertainment chair Donna Langley.

The cast in attendance included Matt Damon, who portrays the Trojan War hero Odysseus, as well as Zendaya, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, John Leguizamo, Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Samantha Morton, Elliot Page, Travis Scott, Mia Goth, and Corey Hawkins.

Many cast members, some of whom have previously collaborated with Nolan, and others who are first-timers, expressed high praise for the director and the filmmaking experience.

Matt Damon described the production as feeling like "six or seven movies in one" due to the varied and challenging locations.

He also conveyed a "wave of gratitude" for being cast as Odysseus, noting the "technical challenges to do this at this scale were beyond anything I’ve ever seen."

Robert Pattinson, who previously worked with Nolan on "Tenet," highlighted the director's ability to manage large-scale productions without appearing stressed, calling the experience "incredibly enjoyable." Zendaya, playing the goddess Athena, and Tom Holland, portraying Odysseus' son Telemachus, will appear together in the film before their upcoming roles in "Spider-Man: Brand New Day." Zendaya shared her emotional reaction to Holland's performance, stating she was "moved by his performance."

Charlize Theron, who plays Calypso, commended Nolan as one of the few directors "brave enough to take on a story like this." John Leguizamo, cast as Odysseus’ loyal swineherd, went further, calling Nolan a "modern day Homer" and a "visionary." He added that working with Nolan allowed him to do "the best work of my life in acting." Benny Safdie, playing Agamemnon, felt that Nolan had been building up to "The Odyssey," suggesting that "every movie he made was like in preparation for this."

Rapper Travis Scott, who plays a bard in the film, likened receiving a call from Nolan to "getting a call from one of your favourite superheroes." Nolan himself, while skipping the press line, addressed the audience inside the cinema, making a lighthearted joke about the England vs.

Mexico World Cup match.

Following the success of Nolan's "Oppenheimer," which grossed over $976 million worldwide, expectations are high for "The Odyssey," especially given its status as the first film shot entirely on IMAX’s 70mm cameras.

The film is scheduled for release on July 17.