Elon Musk and Christopher Nolan have sparked a heated discussion online following recent casting news tied to Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey. The tech mogul responded to speculation around Lupita Nyong’o’s reported role, raising questions about the director’s choices and the portrayal of classical characters.
Elon Musk tweets about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey casting
Elon Musk has criticized Christopher Nolan over casting reports for Nolan’s upcoming film The Odyssey. On X, Musk responded to a user post claiming it would be “an insult” if Lupita Nyong’o plays Helen of Troy, writing, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.” The original post asserted that Helen of Troy was described by Homer as “fair skinned, blonde, and ‘the face that launched a thousand ships.’”
The film includes an ensemble cast: Matt Damon plays Odysseus, Tom Holland portrays Telemachus, Jon Bernthal plays Menelaus, with additional cast members Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, and Benny Safdie.
Multiple X users responded, challenging Musk’s claim. One user wrote, “‘The Odyssey’ is a myth. There is no historical evidence to suggest that Helen of Troy actually existed… Just ask Homer.” Another commented, “I want everyone to go google who Helen of Troy’s parents are… just try to talk to me about historical accuracy with a straight face.”
Rapper Travis Scott joins the cast and makes his acting debut in The Odyssey. A teaser that aired during the NFL’s AFC Championship game shows Scott’s character warning of an impending war in a scene with Tom Holland and Jon Bernthal. In the clip, Scott declares, “A war, a man, a trick to break the walls of Troy and burn it straight into the ground.”
Christopher Nolan shot The Odyssey entirely with IMAX cameras, marking the first narrative feature to do so. The film premieres on July 17.
