Christopher Nolan’s upcoming epic “The Odyssey” has found itself at the center of a heated online debate following the release of its latest trailer. While some viewers praised the film’s scale, others criticized its dialogue, visuals, casting choices, and modern interpretation.The film, which follows the director’s epic Oscar run with Oppenheimer, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus, alongside Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway.
Robert Pattinson
lupita Nyong’o,
Zendaya
And Charlize Theron in the lead roles. The trailer gives fans a look at Odysseus’ 10-year journey home after the Trojan War, while also highlighting the tensions back home between his son Telemachus, his wife Penelope, and the film’s antagonist Antoninus.However, social media caught fire due to the film’s use of modern dialogues in a mythological setting.
One moment in particular — the use of the word “daddy” — sparked outrage online, and brought with it a wave of backlash over various other aspects of the film.
“The Odyssey” compared to “Adiborosh ‘
Indian fans reacted to the trailer of the film and compared it to Om Raut’s ‘Adipurush’, which was also a big budget mythological epic which unfortunately failed to impress at the box office. “Nahh called Adipurush in Hollywood is WILD,” one user wrote.
“Odyssey” encounterIron man ‘
Others commented on the film’s visuals and costumes, denouncing the inaccurate depiction of the characters and events described in the texts.
“The Odyssey meets Robocop and Ironman in a fascinating combination of Nolan’s confused mind and Hollywood’s cultural meat grinder. It’s a shame… because The Iliad and The Odyssey didn’t need to be ‘remade’. They were and are some of the greatest stories that humanity has even produced,” one post read.The depiction of the Laestrygonians, the mythical cannibal giants from Homer’s tale, has also drawn criticism. “They’re supposed to be Laestrygonians according to Nolan.
They were giant primitive ogres, believed to be descendants of Lastrygon, son of Poseidon. Cannibals, ferocious, covered with a piece of leather cloth. Why do they wear medieval, almost futuristic armor? another user asked.A separate post added: “Why would the Lastrygonians have Bronze Age steel armor, Nolan? They’re supposed to be savage cannibal giants.”Others compared the visuals to modern superhero films rather than the traditional Greek epic.
“I think if you told me this was from a Marvel movie I would believe you,” one user commented.
Netizens criticize the choice of film
Many viewers also questioned the film’s choices and accents. “Are there any Greeks in Christopher Nolan’s ‘Odyssey’ at all? Or is cultural appropriation only offensive if it goes in one direction?” Read one post.
Elliot Page To play Achilles ?
Rumors surrounding the casting of Elliot Page for the role of the ghost of Achilles, previously played by Brad Pitt in Troy, have sparked outrage online, though there has been no official confirmation.
One social media user wrote: “Elliot Page is rumored to have played the ghost of Achilles in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’…and so the Nolan house fell…..the first flop upload.”Another added: “Homer’s Achilles vs. Nolan’s Achilles. Priam saw with admiration how large and beautiful Achilles was, the image of a god in his own right.” The Iliad. This is not ‘artistic licence’, this is disrespect for the source material and the will to destroy our culture.”
The film has also come under scrutiny due to reports that Nolan’s screenplay is based on translator Emily Wilson’s 2017 interpretation of Homer’s work, which modernizes parts of the language and recasts certain themes. Online critics accused the adaptation of leaning into “woke” storytelling.One viral post claimed, “Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey may actually be liberal, and it woke up trash…”Another added: “The text is said to be based on Emily Wilson’s 2017 version of The Odyssey, which modernizes (and reduces) the language, focuses more on female characters and power dynamics, rather than masculinity, and makes Odysseus less heroic and more morally ‘complex’.
Fans defend Christopher Nolan
Despite the backlash, some fans defended Nolan’s creative approach, but also asked: “This is what happens when Hollywood decides a masterpiece needs to be fixed. Does this movie have any chance of being good?”
Another wrote: “I was excited about this movie but it may turn out to be an epic disaster of my own making.”Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is scheduled to be released on July 17, 2026.
