‘The Odyssey’ has become the centre of an intense online debate after director Christopher Nolan revealed casting details. The film that is one of the most anticipated movies of the year, has been receiving backlash from sections of the internet over its casting choices, dialogues, costumes, modern reinterpretations, and stylistic direction. The backlash also has viewers comparing the upcoming film to Wolfgang Petersen’s 2004 film ‘Troy’.One of the biggest talking points involves the rumoured casting of Elliot Page as Achilles’ ghost. The character was previously played by Brad Pitt’s in ‘Troy’. Meanwhile, Lupita Nyong’o’s casting in dual roles as Helen of Troy and her sister, has also triggered heated reactions online, with some critics comparing the character’s now ‘black’ race replacing the 2004 adaptation that was portrayed by Diane Kruger.
The Odyssey vs Troy
Social media platforms were flooded with ‘Then and Now’ photos comparing screenshots of previous film adaptations of the epic and comparing them with Nolan’s upcoming film.The negative posts even have netizens calling the 2026 adaptation as a ‘downgrade’ from past films. “The downgrade we’re experiencing in cinema is historic,” one user wrote. “This movie will be the biggest downgrade overall. WTH happened to Nolan?!!” another post read.“Everything in Nolan’s Odyssey is a downgrade. Even the horse,” another commented.Some criticism focused specifically on the film’s reported creative direction, including the use of Emily Wilson’s modern 2017 translation of ‘The Odyssey’. Critics online accused the adaptation of moving away from traditional portrayals of masculinity and heroism associated with Homer’s epic.
Netizens react to Helen of Troy casting buzz
Helen of Troy, often described in mythology as the woman whose beauty “launched a thousand ships” and sparked the Trojan War, has also given way to hateful comments against Oscar-winning actress Lupita. One noted the greek legend saying, “Helen of Troy, or Helen of Sparta, is a figure in Greek mythology renowned as the most beautiful woman in the world, whose abduction by or elopement with Paris of Troy sparked the 10-year Trojan War. Daughter of Zeus and Leda, her legendary beauty was a catalyst for conflict, famously described as launching “a thousand ships”. Another added, “Homer describes Helen of Troy as “white-armed” and “fair-haired” and as GREEK. He describes Achilles as an actual MAN. Hollywood is in a death spiral of DEI madness.”Netizens have been up in arms over the buzz about Elliot Page taking on the character of the Demi God. Slamming the casting decision, one wrote, “Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is looking like straight-up liberal woke trash. They’re using Emily Wilson’s 2017 translation that dumbs down the language, pushes female characters and power dynamics instead of masculinity, and turns Odysseus into a less heroic, morally “complicated” weakling,” read a tweet.“Casting is a total disaster: Elliot Page as Achilles’ ghost (from Brad Pitt to a tranny — what a downgrade), Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy (race-swapped, zero “face that launched a thousand ships”), Zendaya as Athena, and Travis Scott as the bard doing rap-style poetry in the movie.”Still another comment read, “This will be my last “The Odyssey” post, but this may be the final nail in the coffin for me. You put the Laestrygonians in steel plate armor, cast a rapper, a transgender, and an African to play Greeks, and are using modern slang and accents in your dialogue…but you draw the line at orchestral music?!?! In the words of Odysseus, “LET’S (not) GOOOOOO!”
Christopher Nolan slammed for Travis Scott casting
Several posts also criticised the inclusion of rapper Travis Scott in the cast, with one user mocking reports that oral poetry traditions in the film were being connected stylistically to rap performance. “Christopher Nolan cast Travis Scott in The Odyssey because oral poetry is supposedly ‘analogous to rap.’ Has Hollywood gone too far?” one post read.Another user wrote, “Christopher Nolan casting Travis Scott in The Odyssey should be worthy of a felony tbh.”“He didn’t want orchestral music cause it wasn’t accurate to the time but he’s okay with rappers, black Helen, trans Achilles and videogame armor” read another commentOther critics claimed the film’s costumes, dialogue, and visual tone felt disconnected from traditional historical epics. “At this point, instead of watching Odyssey, I’m gonna rewatch Troy,” another viral comment stated.However, the backlash also included several discriminatory and offensive remarks targeting actors based on race and gender identity. Many social media users pushed back against such comments, arguing that modern reinterpretations of mythological material have always evolved across generations and artistic traditions.‘The Odyssey’ is slated to release on July 17.
