Tech multi-billionaire Elon Musk has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of the upcoming Christopher Nolan epic film The Odyssey, amplifying a tidal wave of online opprobrium over the film’s casting choices and accusing Hollywood of sidelining Hellenic (Greek) cultural heritage in favor of 21st century identity politics and a so-called “woke agenda”.
Elon Musk is bashing Christopher Nolan for #TheOdyssey casting, alleging the director cast Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy because he “wants the awards.”
In additional X posts, Musk re-tweeted posts that mocked Elliot Page’s masculinity and claimed that Nolan was stomping all… pic.twitter.com/rhMoaZNCXM
— Variety (@Variety) May 13, 2026
The controversy erupted after several conservative commentators on X denounced Nolan’s $250 million adaptation of Homer’s masterpiece, arguing that the film lacks Greek actors and actresses in major roles and departs too heavily from the mythological epic’s historical and cultural roots. Musk repeatedly interacted with and reposted messages accusing the Oscar-winning director of being “racist against Greeks and their heritage,” replying to one viral post with a single word: “True.”
According to Forbes, Musk also boosted posts claiming Nolan’s The Odyssey was “dancing on Homer’s grave” by casting non-Greek actors in key mythological roles.
The criticism intensified around reports that Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o, an ethnic Kenyan, had been cast as Helen of Troy. Conservative commentator and pundit Matt Walsh argued that Nolan selected Nyong’o for The Odyssey because “he would be called racist if the role of the world’s most beautiful woman went to a white actress,” to which Musk again replied: “True.”
Cast member Lupita Nyong’o poses at the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in Hollywood, California December 14, 2015. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni
Here I am, reading Homer’s Odyssey directly from the Greek text and thinking about how much Christopher Nolan disrespected us. Don’t pay for the movie. Resist this slowly dying agenda that is rotting our societies. Hollywood is dead. pic.twitter.com/f9hLbUTAbi
— Homer Pavlos (@HomerPavlos) May 13, 2026
The dispute quickly evolved beyond casting and into a broader cultural flashpoint over race, representation and historical authenticity in blockbuster filmmaking. International outlets including Euronews and Entertainment Weekly described the backlash as part of a wider debate over diversity standards in Hollywood and the entertainment industry’s evolving approach to representation.
Musk also amplified posts targeting the gender identity of Elliot Page, one of the performers attached to the project. Born in Canada in 1987, Page rose to international prominence with the Oscar-nominated film Juno and later starred in productions including Inception, The Umbrella Academy and Hard Candy. In 2020, Page publicly came out as a lesbian and then as transgender, becoming one of the entertainment industry’s most visible transgender thespians and advocates.
A slim Page, who reputably stands 155 (5-foot-1) centimeters, has repeatedly been cited as being cast as the demi-god Achilles, the greatest warrior in Greek mythology.
The Odyssey is one of the greatest works of literature in history. As a lover of Western Civilization — and as the proud son of a Greek immigrant — I denounce Nolan’s sacrilege in perverting this great epic with DEI & trans lunacy. Shame on him & shame on Hollywood. https://t.co/xvt5GAxMnv
— Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) May 13, 2026
Nolan has defended his creative decisions publicly, insisting the film is not intended to function as a literal reconstruction of the ancient world. Speaking to Time, the director compared the project’s ambition to that of Interstellar, saying that while his earlier sci-fi epic imagined “the best version of the future,” as The Odyssey aims to imagine “the best version of the ancient past.”
He also addressed criticism surrounding the casting of rapper Travis Scott in a supporting role, explaining that the choice was intended as a nod to oral poetic traditions that he sees as spiritually connected to modern rap performance.
Matt Damon in the title role of Odysseus in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey.
Fresh criticism followed the release of the film’s first trailer, with viewers mocking the predominantly American accents used by actors including Tom Holland and Robert Pattinson. The Hollywood Reporter joked that “everybody sounds like they’re from Ohio,” adding that Nolan’s Ithaca resembled “upstate New York more than Greece.”
Despite the controversy, industry analysts still expect The Odyssey to become one of the summer’s defining box-office events. The film stars Matt Damon as Odysseus alongside a sprawling ensemble that includes Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Charlize Theron and Pattinson. Production took place across Greece, Italy, Iceland and Scotland.
According to Deadline, IMAX screenings for the film have already sold out nearly a year ahead of its July 2026 release — a sign that even amid fierce online culture wars, anticipation for Nolan’s most expensive production to date remains extraordinarily high.
