Anne Hathaway’s Oscar Campaign for ‘The Odyssey’ Sparks Lead vs Supporting Debate

Tena Milakovic
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Christopher Nolan’s ancient-world epic has spent the latter half of summer demonstrating that a three-hour adaptation of Homer can still achieve box office success. ‘The Odyssey’ premiered in mid-July to widespread critical acclaim and large audiences, quickly establishing itself as one of the year’s top awards contenders well ahead of the fall festival circuit.

Much of the acclaim has focused on the film’s extensive ensemble, led by Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Charlize Theron, Samantha Morton, Robert Pattinson, and Lupita Nyong’o. Anne Hathaway portrays Penelope, the queen of Ithaca, who spends two decades warding off suitors while waiting for her husband’s return. Her performance has garnered some of the most enthusiastic reviews of the entire cast.

Now, the discussion is shifting toward strategy. Variety has reported that Universal is considering whether to position Hathaway in the supporting actress category for this awards season, despite her having approximately 69 minutes of screen time in the film’s 173-minute runtime, which is more than a third of the movie.

This calculation is precisely why the decision is complex. Some awards analysts argue that Hathaway’s role serves as a genuine co-lead alongside Damon, with Penelope facing stakes just as significant as Odysseus’s own journey home, which could justify her placement in the lead actress race instead.

Historical context supports both sides. Judd Hirsch received a supporting nomination for only eight minutes of screen time in ‘The Fabelmans,’ while his co-star Michelle Williams successfully advocated for lead consideration in the same film, despite doubts from category strategists. These precedents indicate that the Academy has been flexible with category placements in recent years, depending on the studio’s choice.

However, there is a cautionary tale that looms over this debate. Emily Blunt played a similarly crucial spouse role, Kitty Oppenheimer, in Nolan’s ‘Oppenheimer,’ and was nominated for supporting actress but lost, even as the film swept seven Oscars, including best picture. This serves as a reminder that securing a nomination in the “easier” category doesn’t guarantee a win, especially when a film is dominant overall.

Positioning Hathaway as supporting could also lead to internal competition, as ‘The Odyssey’ has generated awards buzz for Morton’s Circe and Theron’s Calypso as well. A crowded supporting field from a single film has historically split votes more often than it has resulted in a win, with only about a third of such double-nominee pairings actually leading to a trophy for either actress.

Screenshot 2026 07 25 at 11 02 38 The Odyssey 2026 Rotten Tomatoes

For now, no decisions have been finalized. Nolan has a longstanding practice of steering clear of awards discussions until well after a film’s release, and formal category conversations between the studio and Hathaway’s team are reportedly not expected to commence until later this fall. Universal has time before festival season compels its decision, and the studio will be observing how the rest of the fall lineup unfolds before committing to a specific path.

Hathaway has received only one lead actress nomination in her seventeen-year career, for her role in 2014’s ‘Les Misérables,’ with her win coming in the supporting category. Thus, either path would represent a significant moment for her. Regardless of which category Universal ultimately selects, ‘The Odyssey’ appears poised to be part of the best picture conversation.

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