Robert Pattinson Wanted 'Leopard Underpants' For His 'Sleazy' Odyssey Character

Robert Pattinson has opened up about what fans can expect from his “sleazy” character in The Odyssey. The Tenet star has reunited with filmmaker Christopher Nolan for his big-screen adaptation of the epic Greek poem, in which he’s due to play Antinous, a pivotal suitor of Penelope’s who tries to win her over while her husband is still at sea.

Speaking to GQ about the character, the British actor claimed he took inspiration from James Woods’ character in Martin Scorsese’s Casino. “My character’s a little like James Woods in Casino. That was my inspiration for it,” he explained. “I thought it’d be quite nice to see it in Ithaca. And he’s, like, a little sleazy.” Robert went on to share that he had an idea for his Odyssey wardrobe that could help him get even further into his character’s mindset. He recalled: “I kept saying at my costume fitting, I was like, ‘I really want to have leopard underpants’.

I want to have it just coming out of my skirt, a little sparkly fur.” Whether or not he got his wish remains to be seen... Matt Damon takes the lead in The Odyssey, which boasts a star-studded cast including Robert’s The Drama and Dune co-star Zendaya, as well as her real-life husband Tom Holland.

Also in the cast are Oscar winners Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron and Lupita Nyong’o, as well as Mia Goth, Elliot Page, John Leguizamo, Himesh Patel, The Bear’s Jon Bernthal and rapper Travis Scott. On Wednesday, producers released a new behind-the-scenes featurette in which Matt admitted the film is the “biggest” he’s ever been a part of in terms of its scale and “ambition”. The Odyssey is also Christopher Nolan’s first big-screen release since Oppenheimer became a critical and commercial smash, sweeping the board with seven wins at the 2024 Oscars. The Odyssey hits cinemas on 17 July 2026.