Universal is running Anne Hathaway for Best Supporting Actress — against her own Odyssey co-star
Variety reports Universal is campaigning Hathaway as Penelope, with Samantha Morton likely in the same category.
Time for a bit of Oscar horse-trading, courtesy of The Odyssey – the big, flashy Christopher Nolan literary adaptation that’s been hoovering up cash and critical love since dropping into cinemas in July 2026. We’re talking mega numbers here: it’s already raked in $1.72 billion worldwide, which puts it at the top of the heap for both Universal and Nolan himself, and eleventh on the all-time money list. It’s probably not done climbing either.
$1.72 billion makes The Odyssey Universal’s biggest hit and Christopher Nolan’s highest-grossing film to date.
Now, Nolan’s well familiar with being the darling of awards season – he did just win Best Picture in 2023 with Oppenheimer – but The Odyssey’s already shaping up as a frontrunner for the 2027 Oscars, with strong reviews and a loaded cast. This is not just a blockbuster; it’s packed with enough highbrow credentials to make any Academy voter swoon.
Anne Hathaway’s Awards Campaign
On the acting front, Matt Damon is looking strong for a Best Actor nod as Odysseus himself (no shock there, honestly). But the big news is that Variety’s confirmed Universal is putting Anne Hathaway forward for Best Supporting Actress. Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus' put-upon wife who keeps things running in Ithaca while he’s off dabbling in heroics and dodgy affairs on his journey home.
If she gets the nomination – and at this point, it would be a surprise if she doesn’t – she’s likely to be battling it out with none other than her own co-star Samantha Morton. Morton plays Circe, the witch who rather memorably complicates Odysseus’s travels, and she’s been cleaning up in the reviews. That’s two very strong chances for The Odyssey in one category. It wouldn’t be the first time either – apparently, having two actors up for Best Supporting Actress from the same film happens more than you’d think.
Who Else Is in the Running?
It doesn’t stop there for The Odyssey’s ensemble. Tom Holland (playing Telemachus), Robert Pattinson (as Antinous), and John Leguizamo (Eumaeus) have also been getting plenty of attention, though their chances are all in the Supporting Actor category. Still, the Hathaway-Morton double punch for Supporting Actress seems safest for now.
As for the competition beyond this film: Olivia Wilde is getting early mention for Behemoth!, while Penelope Cruz could land noms for either The Invite or the not-yet-released La bola negra. So it’s not a one-horse race, but Hathaway and Morton are sitting pretty.
Hathaway and Morton’s Oscar History
Bit of trivia for your next Oscar-night pub quiz: Samantha Morton may have never won an Oscar (despite two nominations, one each for Sweet and Lowdown in 1999 and In America in 2002). Hathaway, on the other hand, took home Best Supporting Actress for Les Misérables in 2012 after an earlier nomination for Rachel Getting Married. If she manages to win for The Odyssey, she’d become just the third woman in history to win two Best Supporting Actress statues, joining Dianne Wiest and Shelley Winters. Not bad company.
As a side note, Hathaway’s everywhere right now: pop icon in Mother Mary in January, back as Andy Sachs in The Devil Wears Prada 2 (yes, really) in May, then The Odyssey in July, The End of Oak Street in August, and still to come, she’s leading the thriller Verity in October. Frankly, if the Academy doesn’t notice, someone needs to test their eyesight.
Oscar Dates and What’s Next
For anyone marking the calendar, the Oscar nominations are set for Thursday, 21 January 2027, and the ceremony will go ahead on 14 March. Until then, expect plenty of campaigning, more than a few breathless thinkpieces, and – who knows – maybe The Odyssey will elbow its way into the all-time worldwide top ten before it’s done collecting cash.