The worlds of Troy and The Odyssey are deeply intertwined, both drawn from Homer’s epic cycle and populated by many of the same legendary figures. Troy centers on the war itself and the warriors who defined it, while The Odyssey shifts the focus to what comes after, following Odysseus on his long and complicated journey home.

That shared foundation means familiar characters can feel strikingly different depending on the moment in their lives. A hero on the battlefield is not the same man navigating loss, distance, and survival. With Christopher Nolan’s upcoming The Odyssey drawing fresh attention, there has been renewed interest in 2004’s Troy, which many still regard as one of the most compelling cinematic takes on the Homeric world.

One of the most interesting parts of comparing the two films is seeing how different actors interpret the same figures across different eras of Greek mythology.

In Troy, Sean Bean plays Odysseus as a sharp, tactical Greek leader who helps drive the war effort and plays a key role in the Trojan Horse strategy. In The Odyssey, Matt Damon takes over the role as the story’s central hero, with the film following his dangerous journey home to Ithaca after the war.

The difference is huge: in Troy, Odysseus is one of many major players in a w** film, while in The Odyssey he is the emotional center of the entire story. That shift shows how the same character can move from supporting strategist to full mythic lead. It also makes him the clearest bridge between the two movies.

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The next key figure is the woman whose fate helps set the war in motion.

In Troy, Helen is played by Diane Kruger, who embodies the woman whose relationship with Paris helps ignite the w**. In The Odyssey, Helen is also part of the broader mythological landscape, with Lupita Nyong’o listed as Helen of Troy in the film’s cast. That makes the comparison especially interesting because the two versions likely serve different dramatic purposes.

In Troy, Helen is tied directly to the conflict that destroys a civilization. In The Odyssey, she exists more as part of the world Odysseus returns to, where the w**’s consequences still matter. Helen’s presence in both films reminds viewers that the Trojan W** is not just history in the background. It is the defining event that shapes everything that follows.

Next comes the ruler whose authority makes the war machine possible.

Brian Cox plays Agamemnon in Troy, portraying him as the powerful and politically forceful Greek commander who leads the war effort. In The Odyssey, Benny Safdie is listed as Agamemnon, bringing the character into the postwar world that Odysseus must navigate. This is a major tonal shift because Agamemnon in Troy is a wartime authority figure.

While in The Odyssey he functions more as a reminder of what happened to the other returning Greeks. His role in the myth also adds tension, since his fate has always stood as a warning about what can happen after victory. The change in actors underlines how the character can represent both military ambition and tragic aftermath.

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The next character is another major Greek leader, but with a very different burden.

Brendan Gleeson plays Menelaus in Troy, where he is tied directly to Helen’s abduction and the war that follows. In The Odyssey, Jon Bernthal is listed as Menelaus, again placing him in the broader network of returning w** figures. Menelaus matters because he is one of the causes of the conflict in Troy, but he is also part of the world Odysseus has to pass through afterward.

His presence in both films helps connect the war story to the homecoming story. In Troy, he is a wronged husband and a ruler with a personal grievance. In The Odyssey, he becomes part of the aftermath, another survivor whose story reflects the cost of the war.

Next is the character that made the 2004 Troy memorable.

In Troy, Achilles is played by Brad Pitt, who turns the warrior into the film’s most magnetic presence and the emotional center of the war. He is proud, fast, deadly, and deeply isolated, which makes him both heroic and tragic. In the verified cast information for The Odyssey, Achilles is not listed as part of the available character lineup, but rumors suggest Elliot Page is playing the hero.

Even so, Achilles remains one of the most important names in the Troy world because his choices shape the w**’s direction and the legend surrounding it. The character stands for glory at a terrible cost, which is exactly why he still dominates conversations about Greek epics today. His presence in Troy helps define the scale of the conflict, even when the camera is not on him.

Taken together, Troy and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey show how Greek mythology keeps finding new life on screen through different casts, tones, and storytelling priorities. The 2026 The Odyssey is already shaping up to be the biggest movie of the year, and that makes its connections to Troy even more exciting.

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Which character are you most excited to see The Odyssey? Let us know in the comments.