I think the title says it all, but I am going to double down here: you weirdos need to touch grass when it comes to the cast of The Odyssey.
Some time after I posted that I thought the new trailer was astonishing, I logged onto Twitter to see people melting down over a cast that is diverse and interesting.
The main thrust of the argument seems to be that this is an ancient Greek myth, so why is it not full of Greek people?
And the answer to that is simple… it’s a myth. This did not happen. It’s not a biopic or some sort of historical epic. It’s just a story handed down by real tradition until the written word.
One that’s getting a film adaptation by the current most prominent film director in the world. This is one of those rare instances where we’re seeing a filmmaker use all his might to get a story he’s been dying to tell to the big screen with basically no limitations.
And some of you are freaking out because Helen of Troy is black.
Well, I’m here to tell you to go outside and breathe in some air, because you’re losing your grip on reality.
Let’s dive in.
– YouTubewww.youtube.com
The Odyssey Cast
Before I rip into the internet on this, I want to go over a list of some confirmed roles for this highly anticipated epic, which is slated for release on July 17, 2026.
- Matt Damon as Odysseus
- Anne Hathaway as Penelope
- Tom Holland as Telemachus
- Zendaya as Athena
- Robert Pattinson as Antinous
- Charlize Theron as Calypso
- Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy / Clytemnestra
- Jon Bernthal as Menelaus
- Benny Safdie as Agamemnon
- Samantha Morton as Circe
- Mia Goth as Melantho
- John Leguizamo as Eumaeus
- Elliot Page (Role undisclosed)
- Travis Scott (Cameo/Supporting role)
What’s the Problem Here?
As I briefly mentioned up top, it seems like people are upset because Nolan has gone “woke” with the cast of a fictional story.
People are upset over the choice to use American accents, add the word “daddy” into the dialogue, and even guess which translation Nolan used to adapt.
But the loudest voices I’ve seen on the internet have a general problem with the cast, which they think should be reflective of ancient Greece.
This is not just a random pocket of the internet, but a large swath of Twitter. Including its owner, Elon Musk.
Now, I like a free internet where you can say whatever you’re thinking, because it exposes a lot of idiots.
‘The Odyssey’ Credit: Universal Pictures
Am I Virtue Signaling?
No. I legitimately think people are being so weird about this stuff that it’s got me a little down on society as a whole.
I like to believe we’re all a little more cultured than getting upset at the color of an actor’s skin in a f*cking fantasy movie, but much like The Lord of the Rings anger of yesteryear, do you really care?
And why do you really care? Seriously, deep down, what is it about it that irks you so?
If the story is good and the individuals rock, what do you care?
This is a movie with a cyclops in it. It did not happen.
Those are questions I’d ask myself before I tweeted something out that felt so distasteful.
For what it’s worth, I also don’t think Nolan is virtue signaling.
This is an esteemed filmmaker who made his version of a movie.
Nolan is doing this because that’s the movie in his mind. That’s what auteur filmmaking is, it’s having a singular vision and then hiring the people you think can help you take it across the line.
That’s art!
You wouldn’t walk around the MoMA and tell people how you would have done the paintings, so why are you getting on Twitter to backseat direct a movie that’s of your own?
Have all the critiques you want…but you haven’t even seen the movie yet.
And if your main critique is “skin color,” I legitimately am not sure there is hope for you.
If you don’t like Nolan’s version, then go write your own. The Odyssey is in the public domain; you can do anything you want with it!
We had an Odyssey movie LAST YEAR with Ralph Fiennes in it. We had O’ Brother Where Art Thou like 25 years ago.
Stop yucking someone else’s yum and just lean into creating and engaging with art you find to be satisfying.
Is It The Academy Awards’ Fault That This Happened?
Also, no.
One of the main narratives is that Nolan is doing this because of the Academy Awards rules, which state that to be eligible for Best Picture, there are certain tenets a filmmaker has to follow.
But I need you to know that he was eligible even without these casting choices because he met the department head requirement. So, his last movie won Best Picture with a majority-white cast!
This is just a guy making a movie.
How Can I Critique the Movie If I Hate It?
This movie might suck. I loved the trailers, but you just never know. So the first thing you have to do if you want to have an informed opinion about the film is actually see it.
From there, try analyzing the storytelling at several different levels, like the acting, writing, cinematography, and other elements that go into making the film.
Strictly speaking, I would avoid bringing up race unless it’s explicitly part of the narrative. That’s why things get a little weird, and I feel the need to let you know you should check yourself.
‘The Odyssey’ Credit: Universal Pictures
Will Any Of this Affect The Box Office?
No. IMAX screenings for The Odyssey sold out last year, and it remains the hottest movie ticket months before it’s set to come out. It will be a massive movie with the potential to reach a billion dollars.
There is a strong possibility it will be the frontrunner for all the Oscars as well.
Summing It All Up
Ranting and raving is probably my least favorite thing to do on here, but I am so tired of seeing people be wrong about Hollywood on the internet.
This is the only business that an average Joe thinks he could do, but has no idea how it all comes together. When I see dumbassery, I must call it out.
Let me know what you think in the comments.
