Tom Holland calls 'The Odyssey' his 'last chance' to play a boy before mature roles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Holland is viewing Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' as a defining moment in his career. The 30-year-old actor believes the film gave him one final opportunity to embrace a youthful role before stepping into more mature characters.

Holland will play Telemachus, the son of Odysseus, who will be portrayed by Matt Damon. The role allowed him to reconnect with the younger characters that helped shape his early success while also becoming a stepping stone toward a new phase of his career.

.Tom Holland says 'The Odyssey' gives him final chance to play a boy

In the film, Holland portrays Telemachus, the only son of Odysseus. During an interview with the BBC, the actor said, “The thing that I love the most is that it feels a little bit like the last chance for me to play a boy."

Holland also shared that portraying Telemachus allowed him to reflect on growing up and masculinity. “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 continued.

The film also marks Holland’s first time working with Christopher Nolan, an experience he described as a dream opportunity that came with its own 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.

Telemachus' role in Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'

Telemachus is at the heart of Nolan’s 'The Odyssey'. The young prince of Ithaca grows up without his father, Odysseus, who leaves for the Trojan War when he is just a child.

With no real memories of him, Telemachus only knows his father through stories of his legendary courage, cleverness, and heroic exploits. As pressure mounts at home, he sets out on a journey to discover what really happened to Odysseus and prove himself along the way.

Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, the devoted wife of Odysseus and mother of Telemachus. While she fights to protect the throne of Ithaca, she is surrounded by suitors who want her to remarry and claim her husband’s kingdom.

Zendaya, Holland’s wife, appears as Athena, the goddess who guides Telemachus on his quest. She becomes his mentor, helping him navigate the challenges of growing up, finding his father, and stepping into his own destiny.

'The Odyssey' is scheduled to hit theaters on July 17.