Jon Bernthal recently revealed that his wife, Erin Angle, played a big part in him joining the cast of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. The actor appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show this week and shared how his wife pushed him to take the role even when he had doubts.
Bernthal plays Menelaus, the King of Sparta and husband of Helen of Troy, in Nolan’s upcoming epic adventure. The movie is one of the most talked-about films of 2026 and comes out in just over a month.
Jon Bernthal’s Wife Told Him to Say Yes to Christopher Nolan
Bernthal told host Kelly Clarkson that he had just returned home after spending a long time away filming another project. Right after getting back, he got a call from Christopher Nolan offering him the part of Menelaus in The Odyssey.
The actor admitted he was tired from being away from his family. He explained to his wife that Nolan’s movie sets are very strict. He told her that phones are not allowed on set and that the filming schedule would keep him away from home again.
But Erin Angle, who is a registered nurse and the niece of wrestling legend Kurt Angle, did not hesitate. She told Bernthal to take the job.
“I had just come home and Chris Nolan called,” Bernthal said. “I told my wife about the no phones on set and everything. She just looked at me and said, ‘You’re doing it.’”
Bernthal said his wife’s support made all the difference. He admitted that without her push, he might have turned down the chance to work with one of the best directors in Hollywood.
Bernthal Plays Menelaus in Nolan’s Epic
The Odyssey is based on the ancient Greek poem by Homer. The story follows Odysseus (played by Matt Damon) as he tries to return home after the ten-year Trojan War.
Jon Bernthal’s character Menelaus is the King of Sparta. His wife Helen, played by Lupita Nyong’o, is taken by a Trojan prince, which starts the war. Menelaus teams up with his brother Agamemnon (played by Benny Safdie) to fight Troy and bring Helen back.
Lupita Nyong’o actually plays two roles in the movie. She plays Helen of Troy and also Clytemnestra, who is Helen’s sister and Agamemnon’s wife. Zendaya plays Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
Star-Studded Cast Joins Bernthal in The Odyssey
The cast of The Odyssey is packed with big names. Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Odysseus’ son. Anne Hathaway plays Penelope, Odysseus’ wife who waits for him at home. Robert Pattinson plays Antinous, one of the main suitors trying to marry Penelope. Charlize Theron plays Circe, the goddess of sorcery.
The movie has a $250 million budget and is shot using new IMAX film technology. Christopher Nolan chose not to cast actors to play the gods on Mount Olympus. Instead, he decided to show the gods through nature and the characters’ beliefs.
“I became more interested in the idea that, to people in that period, evidence of gods was everywhere,” Nolan said in a Time profile.
Bernthal’s Kids and His Unique Nolan Haircut
Bernthal also talked with Kelly Clarkson about how his children reacted when they watched him perform live on stage. He played Sonny Amato in the Dog Day Afternoon play.
The actor also joked about his haircut for The Odyssey. When he appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! in April 2025, he said Nolan gave him a haircut that made his family make fun of him.
“You jump at an opportunity to work with somebody like that,” Bernthal said on Kimmel. “Even if he does give you a haircut like the one I’m rocking right now with this full beard. I’m like fully being made fun of every day at my home.”
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The Odyssey Release Date and Where to Watch
The Odyssey will release in theaters on July 17, 2026. The movie opens in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and other countries on the same date.
Universal Pictures is distributing the film worldwide. The studio confirmed that Nolan’s movie is a mythic action epic and will be rated R.
Fans can expect to see Jon Bernthal as Menelaus fighting alongside Matt Damon’s Odysseus in what is shaping up to be one of the biggest movies of the year.
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