Holland explains how he could rely on Pattinson being “a dickhead” as Antinous for their scenes.

Why Robert Pattinson was Tom Holland’s ‘safety blanket’ on The Odyssey: ‘You’re so good at being a dickhead’

Holland explains how he could rely on Pattinson being “a dickhead” as Antinous for their scenes.

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in Vanity Fair, Vulture, IGN, and more.

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July 15, 2026 11:00 a.m. ET

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Robert Pattinson as Antinous, Tom Holland as Telemachus in ‘The Odyssey’. Credit:

Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures (2)

- Tom Holland explains why Robert Pattison “being a dickhead” as his *Odyssey* character became his “safety blanket.”

- “When did this happen?!” Pattinson playfully responds to the revelation.

- “The friction between our characters is so important for my entire journey,” Holland says.

On the set of *The Odyssey*, being a total “dickhead” is a plus — at least for Tom Holland, who plays the source of said dickhead’s ire in the cinematic epic.

During a group discussion for **’s latest installment of *Around the Table* (premiering in full on YouTube this Friday), Holland explains a previous comment he made about his *Odyssey* costar Robert Pattinson being a “safety blanket” for him on set.

“When did this happen?!” a bashful Pattinson responds, in conversation with director Christopher Nolan and fellow cast members Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and John Leguizamo.

Anne Hathaway as Penelope, Tom Holland as Telemachus in ‘The Odyssey’.

Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures

It was during an *Empire* interview, published in July, that Holland called his collaborator “a real safety blanket,” alluding to their time making the films *The Riot Club* (2014), *The Lost City of Z* (2016), and *The Devil All the Time* (2020) prior to *The Odyssey*.

“Rob and I have made three movies together now, all very different,” Holland says. “I’ve loved every minute of working with Rob, and I’ve always felt like I’ve left the set a better actor because he raises the stakes of every scene. What was really exciting for me, and also really daunting, was that we get to establish the stakes of the movie for Matt’s journey right at the beginning. I felt the weight of that pressure.”

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In Nolan’s film, inspired by Homer’s epic poem from ancient Greece, the *Spider-Man* alum plays Telemachus, the son of Damon’s Odysseus. His father’s journey home from the Trojan War delays over years, allowing gluttonous suitors to infest the family home in an attempt to become the new king of Ithaca.

The tale of Odysseus’ exploits are framed around Telemachus’ mission to find answers about his father, while his mother, Penelope (Hathaway), keeps the interlopers at bay. Pattinson plays Antinous, the chief malicious contender for Penelope’s hand.

Robert Pattinson as Antinous in ‘The Odyssey’.

Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures

“The friction between our characters is so important for my entire journey,” Holland continues. “I was really nervous about trying to make sure that that felt authentic and scary enough for my character to make this desperate decision to go on this journey.”

Turning toward Pattinson, he adds, “I knew when I found out that you were playing Antinous that I could relax because you’re so good at being a dickhead.” Pattinson and his colleagues can’t help but laugh.

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Nolan’s film, opening in theaters this Friday, July 17, features an immense cast, including Leguizamo as Eumaeus, the blind swineherd and close friend of Odysseus; Zendaya as Athena, the goddess of wisdom guiding Odysseus on his journey; Benny Safdie as Agamemnon, the Mycenaean king who led the assault on Troy; Samantha Morton as Circe, the shape-shifting sorceress; Charlize Theron as the goddess Calypso; and many more.

Check back July 17 for EW’s full *Around the Table* with the cast of *The Odyssey*.

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