Fortnite sends Matt Damon’s Odysseus into battle
Epic Games is adding Odysseus and Agamemnon skins tied to Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey,” with a cup contest and item shop release.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Fortnite is bringing a slice of ancient Greece to the island, with Epic Games announcing new skins based on Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”
The headline outfit lets players suit up as Odysseus as portrayed by Matt Damon in Nolan’s film, according to Epic Games. The crossover also includes an Agamemnon skin modeled on Benny Safdie’s role.
Epic Games teased the collaboration earlier in the week on Fortnite’s official X account with a short clip. The video showed Odysseus moving through a vast hallway surrounded by tall statues, alongside the caption: “some say each game is an epic journey of its own.”
How players can get the Odysseus skin
The first route runs through competition. Players can enter the Solo Odyssey Cup in Battle Royale and Zero Build, Epic Games said, with top finishers earning the Odysseus Outfit.
The Cup challenge ends July 16. For players who miss the contest or do not place high enough, the Odysseus skins will hit the item shop on July 17 at 8 p.m. ET.
That shop release is timed to line up with the theatrical release of “The Odyssey,” according to the announcement.
What comes in the crossover
The Odysseus outfit is designed around Damon’s version of the seafaring hero from Nolan’s movie. The skin comes with an alternate helmeted style, plus Odysseus’ bow as back bling and Odysseus’ sword as a pickaxe.
The Agamemnon skin is tied to Safdie’s character. That cosmetic set includes a shield back bling and a sword pickaxe, according to Epic Games.
The crossover gives Fortnite another film-linked drop, this time pegged to one of the oldest adventure stories in the canon: Homer’s tale of a warrior trying to get home after war.
Nolan’s myth-sized cast
Nolan wrote the screenplay for “The Odyssey,” adapting Homer’s ancient poem. Universal Pictures is distributing the film.
Damon stars as Odysseus, with Anne Hathaway playing Penelope, Odysseus’ wife. Tom Holland appears as their son, Telemachus.
The cast also includes Robert Pattinson as Antinous, an Ithacan suitor, Zendaya as Athena, the goddess of wisdom, and Charlize Theron as Circe, the goddess of witchcraft.
Other actors listed for the film include Lupita Nyong’o, Jon Bernthal, Benny Safdie, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, Will Yun Lee, Mia Goth, Jimmy Gonzales and Elliot Page.
“The Odyssey” is Nolan’s 13th feature as director. He produced the movie with Emma Thomas through Syncopy, their production company.
This story draws on original reporting from Variety.