If you stayed up to watch the world premiere of The Odyssey trailer on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert last night, you probably noticed a big name was missing from the screen. While we got plenty of Matt Damon looking exhausted and Robert Pattinson looking like a total menace, Zendaya was nowhere to be seen.

So, where is Athena?

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The Role: Athena, the Ultimate Strategist

In Christopher Nolan’s $250 million reimagining of Homer’s epic, Zendaya isn’t just playing a goddess—she’s the brains behind the entire operation.

• The Protector: Confirmed in the official cast as Athena, Goddess of Wisdom, Zendaya is the divine guide for Odysseus.
• The Disappearing Act: Her absence from the first trailer is actually a clever marketing move. Sources from the production suggest Nolan is keeping Zendaya’s look a secret to build mystery around how the film handles “magic.” In the original poem, Athena often disguises herself as a family friend named Mentor; expect Zendaya to spend much of the movie in various “covers” as she navigates the mortal world.

The Rumors

• The Theory: Some fans believe Athena appears to Odysseus in the form of Nausicaa, the princess who rescues him after a shipwreck.
• The Perspective: Early rumors suggest that Athena’s scenes might be shot with a unique camera style to give the audience a “God’s-eye view” of the Mediterranean.

When Will We See Her?

If you’re waiting to see Zendaya in full goddess mode, you won’t have to wait for the movie to release.

• Trailer 2: The second trailer is rumored to drop in June 2026, and it’s expected to focus heavily on the gods and the supernatural elements.
• The Release: The Odyssey hits theaters and IMAX on July 17, 2026. As we know with Nolan, the biggest surprises are always saved for the big screen.

Featured Photo: HBO

Author Bio

Jael Rucker is the founder of Decked Out Magazine. She has previously worked as the Associate Commerce Editor at PureWow, focusing on analytics and trends to pitch stories and optimize articles that build and engage their audience. Her work has also been seen in Footwear News and WWD. Prior to 2024, she was the style and pop culture editor at ONE37pm for over three years, contributing numerous product reviews, brand profiles and fashion trend reports, which included interviewing Steph Curry, Snoop Dogg and more.