New Delhi: Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is facing severe online backlash after its countdown trailer dropped on Thursday. Critics are mocking the film in the comments and calling it “The Audacity by Nolan”.
Much of the criticism is around the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy. Fans pointed out that, in the original epic, Homer described Helen as “white-armed”. Casting a Black actress in the role has led to criticism over Hollywood’s age-old “race-swapping” tradition.
Elon Musk had also criticised the casting when the first trailer arrived, calling Nolan an “anti-white racist”. Musk had accused the director of losing his integrity and claimed that the casting was done to win an Academy Award.
“Chris Nolan desecrated the Odyssey so that he would be eligible for an Academy Award,” Musk wrote on X.
Musk was referred to the Academy Awards’ eligibility criteria which every film must meet to get nominated. To qualify for an Oscar consideration, the film must satisfy two out of four standards set by the Academy, which include conditions such as actor ethnicity, having women and LGBTQIA+ members in the ensemble cast, the main storyline being centred on an underrepresented group, and others.
The trailer has also been criticised for apparently lacking authenticity. Viewers argued that a film about Greek mythology and culture does not have a Greek actor, or an actor who at least looks Greek. Others claimed that the make-up and costume department too failed to create a historically accurate appearance. They compared it to the movie 300, where makeup was used on several actors to make them look tanned and Greek, rather than Americanised.
“My Greek ancestors are weeping in their graves,” a user wrote.
“No Greeks were filmed during the making of this movie,” another user wrote.
The online backlash first began after a clip from the movie went viral. In it, Antonios, played by Robert Pattinson, tells Telemachus, played by Tom Holland, that he plans to marry Penelope. Antonios urges Telemachus to stop waiting for his father to return.
“You’re pining for a daddy you never knew,” Antonios says.
“My dad will return,” Telemachus replies.
Within hours of the trailer’s release, the internet exploded with reactions, accusing Nolan of inserting Gen-Z-style dialogue into a story set in ancient Greece. Some even criticised the movie’s action sequences for having dialogues like “lets go”, arguing that Nolan has turned Greek mythology into a modern American action film.
“If Germany banned Citizen Vigilante, then Greece should ban this version of The Odyssey,” read a comment.
(Edited by Janaki Pande)