Nolan's The Odyssey grosses $264M, sparks casting debate

Christopher Nolan's epic film "The Odyssey" has achieved a massive global box office opening, grossing over $264 million worldwide, while simultaneously becoming a flashpoint in a heated cultural debate over its casting choices. The film, which opened in theaters worldwide on the weekend of July 18-20, 2026, stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and features a cast that includes Lupita Nyong'o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page in the role of Sinon, a character imported from Virgil's "Aeneid."

The casting of Nyong'o, a Black actress, as the legendary Helen and the absence of actors of Greek ancestry in a film based on a foundational Greek epic have drawn significant criticism, particularly on the social media platform X. Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has been a prominent critic, accusing Nolan of desecrating Homer and pandering to "woke" ideology to win awards. Musk responded approvingly to a user's suggestion that he fund a rival, historically accurate adaptation directed by Mel Gibson, stating he was "down" for the idea. The controversy has also entered Greek politics, with the opposition party Niki criticizing government subsidies provided to the production.