After Netflix left Greta Gerwig bummed over its initial release strategy for her Narnia films, standing opposed to its traditional streaming model, Ted Sarandos finally met the director halfway. As the move sparked discussions about what changed for Gerwig, a similar deal fanned the flames of the Academy's dream for Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. Most recently, the Gerwig deal has rounded out conversations for Oscar-winner Christopher Nolan’s star-studded, The Odyssey, but not without a Netflix-centric catch.

So, what is the string attached to The Odyssey’s way of getting the Netflix special deal?

In a recent conversation on Matthew Belloni’s The Town podcast, Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, participated in a lightning round without follow-ups. Belloni threw Bajaria a juice hypothetical, asking what if Christopher Nolan waltzed in, The Odyssey in hand, asking for the Greta Gerwig treatment—an IMAX release with a two-week theatrical window? Without hesitation, Bajaria gave a swift yes, but like any sharp dealmaker, she did not let the fine print go without negotiation.

“Then Chris Nolan’s next movie is on Netflix,” Bajaria added. At first, Belloni brought Steven Spielberg into the scene, before replacing him with the Academy winner for Oppenheimer. Upon being asked if Netflix would bestow the deal to Spielberg, conditioning a four-week window of IMAX release worldwide, Bajaria played coy, retorting, “What’s the deal? Where is it?” But as Belloni let go of Spielberg to ease things up, Bajaria snatched it with a catch so slick that it was a shining example of why Netflix reigns in streaming.

Netflix CEO Reveals Special Plans for Greta Gerwig’s ‘Narnia’, Clears Air Around Netflix’s Stance on Strategies

The plot twists, even for the biggest Hollywood filmmakers, are set in stone. But the hypothesis instantly brought to mind the box office showdown: Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg are buckling their seatbelts for 2026.

Christopher Nolan has been working headfirst to bring together the epic world onto the silver screens in 2026 with Homer’s The Odyssey adaptation. The Odyssey is already star-studded with Hollywood’s biggest names, including Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong’o, and Charlize Theron. Slated for an IMAX release on July 17, 2026, The Odyssey falls back into Nolan’s traditional blockbuster window. 

An April report from Variety last year revealed that Steven Spielberg had been working on an original UFO story, with David Koepp penning the screenplay. Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment declared in late May that the project would be released in the theatres on May 15, 2026. With Kristie Macosko Krieger handling the production of what has been described as an “event film,” Nolan and Spielberg will be active in the rat race of blockbusters, Greta Gerwig treatment or not.

Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ Adds Yet Another MCU Actor To Cast, Alongside Couple Zendaya and Tom Holland

What do you think of Netflix's agreement of giving Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey the Greta Gerwig deal with a twist? Let us know in the comments below!