Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” (learn /Movie’s evaluation) boasts a completely stacked solid of A-listers, which implies there’s potential for any considered one of them to steal the film. However in response to many early reactions, the true star is definitely British actor Himesh Patel, who performs Eurylochus, brother-in-law and second in command to Matt Damon’s King Odysseus.
The movie follows Damon’s battle hero as he and his males journey dwelling to Ithaca following the Trojan Conflict, encountering all method of legendary beasts on the way in which. Odysseus has been gone for a decade and is presumed useless by most again in Ithaca. In the meantime, a number of suitors have competed for the center of Odysseus’ spouse, Penelope (Anne Hathaway), a sordid affair noticed with contempt by Odysseus’ son, Telemachus, (Tom Holland). Alongside Hathaway, Holland, and Damon, the movie additionally options Zendaya because the goddess Athena, Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, Charlize Theron because the nymph Calypso, Benny Safdie because the Greek king Agamemnon, and Jon Bernthal as King Menelaus. However not solely do some viewers really feel the highlight belongs to Patel, many are shocked by how a lot display time the actor has.
Patel, who beforehand performed an arms supplier in Nolan’s “Tenet,” has seemingly delighted audiences along with his portrayal of Odysseus’ proper hand man. X/Twitter person Kenxie xcx wrote that she was “slightly bowled over” by how a lot display time Patel had in comparison with how a lot press he is been concerned with. “Not solely is Himesh in way more of the movie than among the greater names,” she wrote. “However he is fairly unbelievable within the movie (duh) however he is very integral to Nolan’s adaptation.” And she or he’s removed from the one one who feels that manner.
Himesh Patel is the key co-lead of The Odyssey, and audiences find it irresistible
Himesh Patel kicked off his profession by enjoying Tamwar Masood on the BBC cleaning soap opera “EastEnders,” remaining a resident of Albert Sq. from 2007 to 2016. He has since gone on to star in a lot greater initiatives, incomes an Emmy nomination for enjoying the lead in HBO’s “Station Eleven” and fronting Danny Boyle’s musical romantic comedy “Yesterday.” However “The Odyssey” is Patel’s largest challenge up to now, each in scale and by way of its profile amongst audiences. And it appears as if he is made essentially the most of it.
It helps that Christopher Nolan gave him some appreciable display time, a undeniable fact that wasn’t misplaced on audiences. On X/Twitter, Stephen Ford was “elated” to announce that Patel “is in like half the run time of ‘The Odyssey,’ so this flick is a direct 5 stars on Letterboxd for me.” Sarah Hagi felt equally, writing, “It’s so loopy he is principally the second most featured individual on this film and no person is performing prefer it?” Others expressed the identical sentiment with Ezra Cubero praising Patel for being “SO good in ‘The Odyssey!’,” including, “I am past thrilled to see him get such a considerable position in a movie of this measurement. It provides him ample room to shine proper alongside Matt Damon.” Jazz Tangcay agreed, writing, “We have to speak about Himesh and the way nice he’s on this movie.”
Properly, that is precisely what individuals are doing, and it is not simply the viewers members. Reviewers have highlighted Patel’s contributions to “The Odyssey” as being way more appreciable than the advertising would have you ever imagine.
Himesh Patel has gained over critics along with his Eurylochus efficiency in The Odyssey
“The Odyssey” has already damaged a Rotten Tomatoes document for Christopher Nolan, debuting with a 98% critic rating. It appears a lot of that constructive important response was spurred by Himesh Patel, who has gained over a number of reviewers along with his Eurylochus efficiency.
Critic Caroline Siede took to X/Twitter forward of delivering her full evaluation to notice that “Himesh Patel has extra display time than half of the actors they’ve on the market doing photograph calls and interviews. He needs to be far more centered within the press!” The Ringer author Joanna Robinson replied, “REALLY agree. He is nearly co-lead, truthfully?” to which Siede responded, “as a lot as Anne [Hathaway] and Tom [Holland] are.”
Elsewhere, writing for the Related Press, Jake Coyle characterised Patel’s efficiency as “glorious,” whereas Mashable‘s Belen Edwards went even additional, writing, “Himesh Patel is an astounding, grounding drive as Odysseus’ second-in-command Eurylochus.” Yahoo Leisure reviewer Brett Arnold additionally highlighted simply how a lot Patel is given to do in “The Odyssey,” writing “Patel stands out for having a job far bigger than a few of his A-list co-stars.” And /Movie’s Jeremy Mathai singled out Patel because the MVP of the whole movie.
If nothing else, then, this needs to be an indication to take a look at the actor’s different work, reminiscent of when he dug deep for probably the most intense scenes in “Station Eleven.” In any other case, “The Odyssey” hits theaters on July 17, 2026.
