Zendaya calls joining Tom Holland in 'The Odyssey' an unexpected dream
Synopsis
Zendaya had no idea she would join husband Tom Holland in Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' — and it was Tom who engineered the big reveal at home, asking her to re-read the script with Athena in mind. The couple's casting together in a Nolan epic, years after Spider-Man, is the kind of Hollywood story that writes itself.
Key Takeaways
Zendaya and Tom Holland are both cast in Christopher Nolan's new film 'The Odyssey' .
Zendaya plays goddess Athena ; Tom plays Telemachus , son of Odysseus.
Zendaya, 29 , said she never anticipated a second casting call coming to their home, calling it 'so special'.
Tom, 30 , revealed Nolan personally asked him whether he would mind Zendaya joining the cast.
Tom described telling Zendaya the news as a 'gift', noting that 'Interstellar' is her favourite film.
This marks the couple's second major on-screen collaboration after the Spider-Man franchise.
Hollywood actress Zendaya has opened up about the surprise and joy of being cast alongside her husband Tom Holland in director Christopher Nolan's ambitious new epic 'The Odyssey', describing the experience as nothing short of a dream she never saw coming.
The Call She Never Expected
Zendaya, 29, told the entertainment programme Extra that while she was thrilled when Tom, 30, first received his offer from Nolan, a second call to their home was the last thing on her mind. 'I remember when he got the call, I was, like, absolutely over the moon, so excited, so proud. And then never did it cross my mind that a second call would be coming to our home, you know? So, that was so special,' she said.
She went on to describe what it meant to share the set with her husband. 'And yeah, just to be able to share something like that and watch him work in this context… It's the dream... It's absolutely the dream. So, I was happy,' Zendaya added.
How the Script Reveal Unfolded
In a separate conversation on the 'Happy, Sad, Confused' podcast, Zendaya recalled the moment Tom brought the news home. She had reportedly already read the script, unaware of what was coming. 'And then he came home and said, 'I need you to read something'. And I was like, 'Is it that thing we were just reading the other night?' And he was like (nods head), 'But now read it thinking of this character (Athena)'. And I was like, 'Shut up! You're joking!' It was pretty cool,' she said.
Zendaya plays the goddess Athena in the film, while Tom portrays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus.
Tom Holland: 'It Was a Gift'
Tom, speaking to Access Hollywood, described breaking the news to Zendaya as one of the most meaningful moments of the entire project. 'It was such a gift because I know how much she's admired Chris. Interstellar is her favourite movie. I could never express to Chris how grateful I am to be able to give her that information,' he said.
He also revealed that Nolan himself had raised the idea during their initial meeting. 'At my meeting with Chris he asked me a question. He said, 'Would you be offended if I asked Zendaya to play Athena?' I was like, 'Why would I be offended?' And then I asked him, 'Do you want me to tell her',' Tom recalled.
Tom described the moment Zendaya understood what the script re-read meant: 'I went home and I said, 'You should read the script again'. And she said, I already read it. And I said, 'Just read it again, but read Athena really closely'. And the little corners of her mouth (makes a smile on his own face). It was amazing,' he added.
The Bigger Picture
The casting of the real-life couple in Nolan's star-studded ensemble adds a personal dimension to one of the most anticipated films of the year. Notably, Zendaya and Tom first worked together on the Spider-Man franchise, making 'The Odyssey' their second major on-screen pairing — and their first under a director of Nolan's stature. With 'Interstellar' cited as Zendaya's favourite film, the project carries particular emotional weight for her. All eyes will now be on how the couple's chemistry translates from the Marvel universe to a classical epic.
Point of View
But what it quietly signals is more interesting: Nolan is leaning into star-couple chemistry as a marketing asset, something he has historically avoided. Zendaya's admission that 'Interstellar is her favourite film' is the kind of detail that makes the casting feel organic rather than manufactured — and that authenticity is precisely what makes it a stronger promotional beat than a conventional press tour. The bigger question is whether audiences will see Athena and Telemachus, or Zendaya and Tom Holland, on screen — a tension that Nolan's immersive filmmaking style will need to resolve.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What roles do Zendaya and Tom Holland play in 'The Odyssey'?
Zendaya plays the goddess Athena, while Tom Holland portrays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, in Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'. It is their second major on-screen collaboration after the Spider-Man franchise.
How did Zendaya find out she was cast in 'The Odyssey'?
Tom Holland revealed the news at home by asking Zendaya to re-read the script with the character of Athena in mind. She had already read the script without knowing she was being considered for the role.
Did Christopher Nolan ask Tom Holland before casting Zendaya?
Yes, Nolan raised the idea during his initial meeting with Tom, asking whether he would be offended if Zendaya was approached to play Athena. Tom then volunteered to break the news to her himself.
Why was the casting especially meaningful for Zendaya?
Zendaya has cited 'Interstellar' as her favourite film, making working with Christopher Nolan a particularly significant milestone. Tom Holland described being able to deliver that news to her as a 'gift'.
Is 'The Odyssey' Zendaya and Tom Holland's first film together?
No, the couple previously appeared together in the Spider-Man franchise. 'The Odyssey' marks their second major on-screen pairing and their first collaboration outside the Marvel universe.
