The Odyssey (1997): cast, story, release date and box office

The Odyssey (1997) is a television miniseries, not a film, based on Homer's epic poem. It is a fantasy drama and war television series directed by Andrei Konchalovsky, with a runtime of 180 minutes. The series aired on NBC in two parts beginning May 18, 1997. It is based on the Iliad and features a cast including Armand Assante, Greta Scacchi, Isabella Rossellini, Bernadette Peters, Eric Roberts, Irene Papas, Jeroen Krabbé, Geraldine Chaplin, Christopher Lee, Vanessa Williams, and others. The story follows Odysseus, who is called to serve in the Trojan War after the birth of his son Telemachus. During the war, Achilles is killed, and Odysseus devises a plan to end the conflict by using a giant wooden horse to infiltrate Troy. The priest Laocoon warns the Trojans, but is devoured by a sea monster. After Troy is sacked, Odysseus mocks the gods, angering Poseidon, who vows to prevent his return. While sailing home, the crew is shipwrecked on the island of the Cyclopes. Odysseus, using the alias 'Nobody,' blinds the Cyclops Polyphemus with a stake and escapes by hiding under sheep skins. Polyphemus calls out to his brothers, but claims 'nobody' has harmed him. Odysseus then visits Aeolus, the god of the wind, who gives him a bag of winds to aid his journey. The crew opens the bag prematurely, causing them to be blown far from Ithaca. They arrive at the palace of Circe, a witch who turns the crew into animals. The gods send Hermes to teach Odysseus how to use moly, a substance that protects against Circe. Once Odysseus swears to spend his life with Circe, she restores the crew to human form. The series received mostly positive reviews, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 79% rating from 48 reviews. Variety criticized it as 'a straight adventure tale without insight or depth.' The A.V. Club called it 'tacky' and criticized Armand Assante's performance as 'stiff.' The series was produced by Hallmark Entertainment and American Zoetrope and filmed in Malta, Turkey, parts of England, and other Mediterranean locations. The budget was $40 million. The series won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or Special at the 49th Primetime Emmy Awards. It is available to stream on Netflix, with availability varying by country. The series is not currently in theaters. The film is not a movie but a television miniseries, and the sources do not confirm a box office figure or theatrical release.

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