The Odyssey Trailer 1997

For kids of the 90s, seeing this trailer air during The Wonderful World of Disney was a rite of passage. It promised violence and monsters in a way that Saturday morning cartoons couldn't.

Have you seen the 1997 Odyssey trailer? Share your memories of watching the miniseries live in the comments below.

Let’s break down the trailer, the production, and why that specific promotional reel still stirs the hearts of mythology fans today. the odyssey trailer 1997

More importantly, the trailer set the template for Hallmark Entertainment’s subsequent epics ( Arabian Nights , Merlin , The 10th Kingdom ). It proved that a tight, action-packed 60-second reel could elevate a TV production to the status of a cinematic event.

When the trailer shows the Cyclops, it isn't a blurry CGI creation; it is a massive, detailed puppet that interacts with the light and the actors. This grounded the fantasy. The trailer sold the idea that these monsters were real threats inhabiting the same physical space as the actors. For kids of the 90s, seeing this trailer

A rod-puppet creature that devours Laocoön.

The trailer made sure to highlight the faces that audiences recognized. It featured the ethereal beauty of Isabella Rossellini as the goddess Athena, her visage glowing with divine authority. It showed Greta Scacchi not just as a waiting wife, but as a woman of resolve. And it gave screen time to the late, great Bernadette Peters as Circe and Vanessa Williams as Calypso. Share your memories of watching the miniseries live

Watching the trailer today, one is struck by the tangibility of the monsters. This was the era before the CGI saturation of the 2000s. The Cyclops, the Scylla, and the suitors’ deaths were achieved through a mix of practical animatronics, matte paintings, and miniatures. The trailer showcases these elements with pride.

★★★★☆ (4/5) One point deducted for the cheesiness of the "storm" effects; added back for the sheer charisma of Armand Assante screaming at the gods.

One of the most striking elements of the trailer was its framing of Odysseus, played by Armand Assante. In the text, Odysseus is the "man of many turns"—wily, strategic, and often suffering. The trailer, however, presented him as a warrior-king of immense physical presence.