Who plays the Cyclops Polyphemus in The Odyssey (2026)?

Bill Irwin plays the Cyclops Polyphemus in The Odyssey (2026).

Polyphemus is one of the best-known dangers in Homer's Odyssey: a one-eyed giant who encounters Odysseus and his crew. The film's production combined Bill Irwin's on-set performance with animatronics and puppetry to create the Cyclops rather than relying only on a digital character.

The design of Polyphemus drew inspiration from Francisco Goya's painting Saturn Devouring His Son. That visual reference helped shape the creature's disturbing appearance. Polyphemus should not be confused with the Laestrygonians or Scylla, two other monstrous threats depicted elsewhere in Odysseus's journey.