Cillian Murphy and Christopher Nolan have collaborated across six films, culminating with Oppenheimer, but the actor says he’s sitting out The Odyssey and is “so excited to see it” as a fan this time. Asked whether he felt FOMO, Murphy quipped he actually has “ROMO: relief of missing out,” adding that if anyone can tackle Homer’s epic with scale and clarity, it’s Nolan.
The quote that launched “ROMO”
In a Toronto International Film Festival interview, Murphy coined ROMO while promoting Steve and made clear there’s zero angst about not appearing in The Odyssey, only admiration and anticipation for what Nolan will do with the classic. Coverage picked up the moment across entertainment outlets, echoing his “one in a million” praise for Nolan and the good‑natured tone of the break between frequent collaborators.
Why sitting out makes sense right now
Murphy’s plate is full: he’s headlining Steve, a Netflix drama that debuted at TIFF; he’s returning to Tommy Shelby in the Peaky Blinders movie; and he’s attached to 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, positioning him for a busy 2025–2026 cycle without The Odyssey on his calendar. Stepping back from a Nolan project—while cheering from the sidelines—signals career pacing, not distance, and fits the rhythm of an actor leveraging momentum post‑Oppenheimer.
What Nolan’s The Odyssey looks like
Universal has dated The Odyssey for July 17, 2026, with the studio and trades describing a mythic action epic that brings Homer’s saga to IMAX screens for the first time, underscoring the film’s premium theatrical positioning. The ensemble is stacked: Matt Damon as Odysseus, with Tom Holland reported as Telemachus and an A‑list roster including Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong’o, and Jon Bernthal among those linked by trades and studio presentations.
A technical milestone for Nolan
The Odyssey is the first feature shot entirely with IMAX film cameras, a step beyond Nolan’s previous large‑format work and a signal that the movie is engineered for event viewing on premium screens. IMAX leadership and trade coverage have framed the production as a global, large‑format showcase designed to immerse audiences in Odysseus’ decade‑long journey home after the Trojan War.
The Murphy–Nolan partnership, in perspective
Murphy’s collaboration with Nolan spans The Dark Knight trilogy, Inception, Dunkirk, and Oppenheimer, evolving from memorable supporting turns to an Oscar‑winning lead performance as J. Robert Oppenheimer. Against that backdrop, Murphy’s ROMO line reads less like distance and more like trust—an artist comfortable missing one chapter in a creative partnership that has defined a major arc of modern cinema.
TIFF context: why the comment landed
Murphy made his remarks at TIFF while promoting Steve, where conversation naturally turned to Nolan’s next film and whether he’d appear once again under the director’s banner. The light, self‑aware tone—“ROMO”—gave fans a clean answer while keeping attention on his current work and avoiding speculation about casting that might overshadow Steve’s moment.
The Odyssey’s cast and release window
Trade rundowns and studio‑adjacent reporting place Damon at the center as Odysseus, with Holland, Zendaya, Hathaway, Pattinson, Theron, and others forming a once‑in‑a‑generation ensemble in support of Nolan’s vision. With the July 17, 2026 date set, the film occupies a prime summer corridor—typical of Nolan’s releases—and positions itself as a global IMAX driver akin to his prior tentpoles.
Why fans shouldn’t read too much into the break
Murphy’s comment underscores enthusiasm, not estrangement, and highlights the normal ebb and flow of top‑tier collaborations where actors and directors regroup when the piece fits rather than forcing continuity for its own sake. In practice, the ROMO stance also lets Murphy’s forthcoming titles breathe while heightening curiosity about how Nolan and his ensemble will reinterpret the text without him—an angle that can actually make the reunion, whenever it happens, feel fresher.
What to watch next from Murphy
- Steve: Premiered at TIFF with Murphy front and center, continuing his run of character‑driven dramatic work alongside prestige filmmaking.
- Peaky Blinders movie: The long‑anticipated feature return of Tommy Shelby remains under wraps but is explicitly on Murphy’s horizon and top of mind for fans.
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple: Part of the expanding 28 franchise, with 2026 timing flagged in coverage as the post‑pandemic horror cycle continues to scale.
The bottom line on ROMO
Murphy’s “ROMO” comment isn’t a brush‑off—it’s a wink that acknowledges how unusual it feels to see a Nolan epic without him, while affirming genuine excitement to experience it like the rest of the audience in IMAX. Given the release timing, cast heft, and format breakthrough, The Odyssey is set up as a true theatrical event, and Murphy’s public enthusiasm only amplifies that narrative heading into 2026.
Conclusion
Cillian Murphy’s break from a Nolan feature—framed with the clever “ROMO” line—lands as a confident career adjustment, not a rupture, letting him anchor Steve, keep the Peaky Blinders film in play, and ride genre momentum with 28 Years Later while Nolan readies an IMAX‑first Odyssey that’s already reading like 2026’s must‑see spectacle. The Odyssey brings a premium format milestone, a summer‑prime release date, and an all‑star ensemble led by Matt Damon, which makes Murphy’s decision to watch from the audience feel less like missing out and more like savoring the rare chance to be surprised by a collaborator he trusts—and that enthusiasm will likely echo across fans as marketing ramps up.
Leave a comment