The Odyssey 2: Paul Schrader Has Brutal Prediction for Potential Warner Bros. Sequel

Taxi Driver screenwriter Paul Schrader has issued a blunt prediction for a potential sequel to The Odyssey. While praising Christopher Nolan’s historical epic, Schrader believes the film’s monumental success will prove nearly impossible to replicate with a sequel.

Schrader discussed the blockbuster in an interview with Deadline while promoting his latest film, The Basics of Philosophy, at the 2026 Venice Film Festival. He warned that studios will likely treat Nolan’s achievement as an “exception” and predicted that anyone attempting a direct sequel could “lose a fortune.”

The Odyssey’s box office success makes it a rare Hollywood blockbuster

The Odyssey has become a major box-office success for Universal Pictures. Directed by Nolan, the film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus. It is based on Homer’s ancient Greek poem and follows Odysseus as he tries to return home after the Trojan War. The film’s cast also includes Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, and Charlize Theron.

The film’s $250 million budget made its box office success particularly important. The Odyssey has now earned more than $1.55 billion worldwide, including over $565 million domestically and over $989 million internationally.

Schrader believes that those eye-popping figures shouldn’t convince rival studios that another massive investment will automatically yield the same results. When asked if he enjoyed the film, Schrader offered a straightforward answer, “Yes, I did.” He also rejected much of the criticism of the film, saying that “a lot of that is just clickbait.”

The filmmaker believes that The Odyssey is “a great exception, but an exception.” He explained that he would not approach a studio and ask for $200 million to make “the next Odyssey,” because he does not believe studios can easily recreate the success of Nolan’s film.

He made a blunt prediction about a potential sequel. He said, “Some fool will make the film’s sequel and lose a fortune. We’ll see who that is.” Schrader did not confirm that The Odyssey 2 is in development or that Warner Bros. is planning a sequel. His comments suggest that trying to recreate the original film’s success could be a financial risk for the studios.

Source: Comingsoon.net