Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey has already generated plenty of buzz thanks to its star-studded cast and ambitious retelling of Homer's epic poem. While fans are eager to see the film's larger-than-life battles and mythical adventures, it's the actors' behind-the-scenes insights that continue to spark conversations ahead of its release.

One of the most unexpected revelations came from Robert Pattinson, who found a surprising way to describe his character by comparing him to one of the most iconic figures, Jacob from his Twilight days. The comparison offers a fresh perspective on the film's central conflict without taking away from the epic scale of Nolan's adaptation.

During a recent interview with MTV U.K. at the world premiere in London of Christopher Nolan's epic action-fantasy film, Pattinson was asked how it felt to play a character audiences were unlikely to support. Laughing, the actor suggested viewers might end up rooting for him after all.

“I think they will be rooting for him. I keep comparing it… it’s kind of like Jacob in Twilight,” Pattinson responded with a laugh, referencing Taylor Lautner's fan-favorite werewolf from the blockbuster vampire franchise.

Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, the chief suitor trying to convince Queen Penelope (Anne Hathaway) to marry him while Odysseus (Matt Damon) is presumed lost at sea. Joking about the love triangle, Pattinson quipped during the interview that his character is simply trying to help Penelope move on, drawing a humorous parallel to Jacob's long-running rivalry with Edward Cullen for Bella Swan's heart. While the two stories are worlds apart, Pattinson's comparison highlights the romantic tension at the center of The Odyssey in an unexpectedly familiar way.

The amusing revelation is not the only behind-the-scenes story emerging from the film's cast, as Zendaya recently shared that she almost missed out on one of the movie's biggest surprises.

Zendaya did not know she was being considered to play Athena in The Odyssey

Zendaya revealed that she had no idea Christopher Nolan wanted her to portray the goddess Athena until Tom Holland encouraged her to revisit the script with a different perspective.

“I was just so excited,” she said while speaking to Access, because husband Tom Holland had landed a major role in the film.

Tom Holland recalled asking his wife to reread the script while paying close attention to Athena's scenes, leading to an unforgettable moment when she realized the role Nolan had in mind for her.

With Robert Pattinson bringing humor to his villainous role and Zendaya sharing the heartwarming story behind her casting, The Odyssey continues to build excitement ahead of its theatrical debut on July 17.

What are you most excited to see in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, Robert Pattinson's Antinous, Zendaya's Athena, or another character from the star-studded cast? Let us know in the comments!

Written by

Karishma Dasgupta

Edited by

Aliza Siddiqui