Tom Holland says ‘The Odyssey’ marked final chance to play a ‘boy’

Tom Holland believes his role in The Odyssey represents a turning point in both his career and personal life, with the actor revealing that portraying Telemachus felt like his final opportunity to play a youthful character before moving into a new stage of adulthood.

Speaking in a new interview with the BBC ahead of the film's July 17 release, the 30 year old actor reflected on what the character means to him as he enters a different phase of his career. Holland plays Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, portrayed by Matt Damon, in Christopher Nolan's ambitious adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek epic.

For Holland, the role carries significance beyond the story itself.

"The thing that I love the most is that it feels a little bit like the last chance for me to play a boy," he said, explaining that the project feels like "the start of a new chapter" in his life as he moves towards portraying more mature characters.

The actor also said playing Telemachus encouraged him to think deeply about masculinity and growing up. Rather than presenting a single definition of what it means to become a man, Holland believes the film offers a broader message.

"Maybe what you can learn from this movie about masculinity is that it comes in all shapes and sizes and no version of it's perfect," he explained.

The Odyssey also marks Holland's first collaboration with Oscar winning filmmaker Christopher Nolan, a director he admitted he had long hoped to work with.

Before joining the production, Holland said he had spent years imagining what it would be like to work under Nolan's direction. When the opportunity finally arrived, excitement was accompanied by pressure.

"Before you've worked with him, you think about it a lot and you yearn for that opportunity and then you get the opportunity and that comes with a lot of pressure," Holland said.

The film features one of the biggest ensemble casts of the year. Alongside Holland and Damon, the production stars Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Charlize Theron, Lupita Nyong'o, Robert Pattinson, Jon Bernthal and Holland's wife, Zendaya, who portrays the goddess Athena.

Holland recently revealed that Nolan personally approached him about casting Zendaya in the film. During an interview with Access Hollywood, he recalled the director asking whether he would mind if Zendaya were offered the role.

Rather than objecting, Holland said he felt honoured by the suggestion because he knew how much Nolan's work meant to her. He explained that Interstellar remains Zendaya's favourite film, making the opportunity especially meaningful.

After learning Nolan wanted her for Athena, Holland decided to keep the surprise alive. Instead of revealing the news immediately, he encouraged Zendaya to read the script again and pay particular attention to the character of Athena.

According to Holland, watching her realise she had been cast was an unforgettable moment. He recalled seeing "the little corners of her mouth" begin to smile as she understood why he had insisted she revisit the screenplay.

With The Odyssey already earning strong early reactions ahead of its release, Holland's comments offer insight into why the project has become one of the most important films of his career. While audiences know him best for youthful roles including Peter Parker in Marvel's Spider Man franchise, the actor now views Telemachus as the bridge between that chapter and whatever comes next.

The Odyssey is set to arrive in cinemas on July 17.