COLORADO SPRINGS–In a surprise turn of events, renowned director Christopher Nolan announced yesterday that his much-anticipated summer blockbuster is not, in fact, an adaptation of Homer’s classical epic The Odyssey. Instead, it’s actually the film adaptation of the popular children’s radio program Adventures in Odyssey.

“Hyping it up as The Odyssey at first was an intentional misdirect,” Nolan admitted in a press release. “I really wanted to surprise the Adventures in Odyssey fans when they realized the truth. Plus, I didn’t think the studio would give me the $250 million budget I wanted if I told them the movie was based on an evangelical kids’ show from Focus on the Family.”

“Still, my adaptation will be a new take on the classic Adventures in Odyssey children’s program,” Nolan explained. “You’ve never seen Odyssey like this before!”

The film will be a prequel focusing on a young John “Whit” Whittaker (Matt Damon). After witnessing his parents’ cold-blooded murder as a child, Whit leaves his family fortune behind and sets out to travel the world, seeking a way to bring justice to his parents’ killer and other criminals. He ultimately spends several years in Asia, learning martial arts from a mysterious mentor and a league of deadly assassins.

But, when that life proves too difficult, Whit decides to just go to therapy like a normal person and settle for a less dangerous career. He later ends up building “Whit’s End,” a soda shop/invention museum in Odyssey, Ohio. And, naturally, he teaches kids life lessons from the Bible throughout the entire journey.

Nolan’s films are known for playing with time, and this one will be no exception. Michael Caine will portray an older Whit (more familiar to fans of the radio program) in flashforwards. Whit will also be joined by employees such as Connie Kendall (Anne Hathaway) and resident tech expert Eugene Meltsner (Morgan Freeman).

Christian Bale will provide the voice of Chris, the series narrator. However, it remains to be seen whether or not he’ll use the gruff, gravelly Batman voice that he did in the Dark Knight trilogy.

Adventures in Odyssey: Whittaker Begins hits theaters on July 17, in IMAX.

Images: Creative Commons (top right); Focus on the Family