Robert Pattinson Reveals Surprising ‘90s Inspiration for The Odyssey Character

Robert Pattinson found an unlikely muse for his role in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. To play one of ancient literature’s most despised villains, the actor looked into a flashy con man from a 1995 crime drama.

Robert Pattinson says Antinous in The Odyssey is a ‘little like’ James Woods’ Lester in Casino

Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, the ringleader of the suitors who have overrun Odysseus’s palace while the king remains lost at sea. The part is modest in size but crucial to the story. Antinous bullies Penelope, plots against young Telemachus, and squanders the royal household’s wealth. To capture that particular brand of arrogance, Pattinson reached for a very specific reference.

“My character’s a little like James Woods in Casino. That was my inspiration for it,” he explained to GQ. “I thought it’d be quite nice to see it in Ithaca. And he’s like a little sleazy.” In Martin Scorsese’s Casino, Woods plays Lester Diamond — a small-time hustler and con artist with a long, toxic hold over Ginger McKenna (Sharon Stone).

Despite limited screen time, Lester drains Ginger emotionally and financially. Even exploiting her attachment to him after she marries the powerful Sam “Ace” Rothstein (Robert De Niro). His greed and manipulation make him one of the film’s most despised figures.

That energy — parasitic, self-serving, and dangerously charming — is exactly what Pattinson appears to be channelling for Antinous. Additionally, in Homer’s Odyssey, Antinous is the most dominant and threatening of the suitors who take over Odysseus’ palace during his long absence after the Trojan War.

All in all, Christopher Nolan’s adaptation seems to lean into that. Additionally, Zendaya will be seen as Athena and Charlize Theron in a major mythological role. The film also marks Pattinson’s return to working with Nolan, having previously starred in Tenet.

The Odyssey is scheduled for release on July 17, 2026.

Source: Comingsoon.net