Nolan's "The Odyssey" Sparks Controversy in Greece Over Cast Choices

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ATHENS — From ancient to modern times, Greeks have been ready to pick a fight over the ownership of Helen of Troy or Sparta, celebrated as the most beautiful woman in the world.

The release of the new film “The Odyssey,” directed by Christopher Nolan , has already sparked a run in theaters internationally, but also stirred controversy in Homer’s land.

In a country where children encounter Homer’s epic from the seventh grade at school, discussion about its adaptation is frequent and lively. How close does Nolan follow Homer’s story? Why are there no Greek actors included in the cast? And why is the face that launched a thousand ships, Helen, played by a black actress?

The Hollywood sensation, starring Matt Damon as King Odysseus, follows the epic’s outline, describing his perilous 10-year journey home from the Trojan War, attempting to reunite with his wife, Penelope, during which he battles gods and monsters only to find his palace overrun by rivals.

The movie was partially filmed in Greece, showcasing some of the country’s most iconic sites: the Palace of Nestor in Pylos, Voidokilia Beach, Methoni Castle and Acrocorinth, with Greeks proudly expecting their natural heritage to receive global acclaim, as well as boasting of the fact that the famous Greek epic remains alive 3,000 years on.

The production received some €6.5 million in subsidies from the Greek state. | Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Universal Pictures

The production received some €6.5 million in subsidies from the Greek state (its total budget reached €250 million). Based on a subsidy scheme introduced in 2017, the government in Athens offers reimbursements for part of the expenses for productions taking place in the country.

But then came the choice of Mexican-Kenyan-American actress Lupita Nyong’o to play Helen, whose abduction by Trojan prince Paris triggered the Trojan War.

SpaceX boss Elon Musk was quick to comment: “Chris Nolan desecrated Homer and groveled on his knees just to meet the woke rules required to win an Oscar,” the billionaire owner of Tesla posted on X . “What a worm,” he added .

Greek media hosted extensive debates about the choice, with historians, directors and film critics arguing for and against it. Those in favor argue that Greek epics are part of Western civilization and belong to everyone. Creative freedom is allowed, particularly when it comes to myths.

Those against the choice point out that Homer described Helen as having beautiful hair (kallikomos), a beautiful face (kallipareios), an elegant style of dress (tanypeplos), but has no specific characteristics, leaving it open to the reader’s imagination. The only description provided is her white arms (leukolenos).

Greece’s small ultra-Orthodox opposition party Niki objected to the casting and the government subsidies, arguing that Greek taxpayers are called to fund the imposition of “woke-type ideology” on Greek history and cultural identity.

Dimitris Natsios addresses supporters at an election campaign rally in Thessaloniki, Greece on June 18, 2023. | Christos Karras/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images

Greece’s “so-called patriotic government continues to support every ‘woke’ expression and to silence every initiative that highlights our national identity,” Niki leader Dimitris Natsios said in a statement.

“It is not the state’s role to dictate to a creator how they should artistically interpret a work or a myth,” Greek Culture Minister Lina Mendoni told Greek culture magazine Lifo. “Can we seriously be having a conversation about whether the state should censor Christopher Nolan?”

Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said he doesn’t oppose his government’s decision to fund the film, but he said that he finds it difficult to understand Nolan’s choices .

“Nolan has gone too far; I don’t know if he’s doing it to win an Oscar,” Georgiadis told local ANT1 TV.

Some also felt that Greeks are completely left out of the adaptation of the Greek epic, as no Greek actor is included in the cast. Greek diaspora website Greek City Times addressed an open letter to the cast and creative team of the film arguing: “Greece is not only a setting in antiquity. It is a living country. Greek people are not historical figures. We are contemporaries.”

Speaking on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast , Endy Zemenides, executive director of the Hellenic American Leadership Council, described this as a “missed opportunity” for Nolan.

Tourists visit the Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens on June 19, 2026. | Nick Paleologos/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images

“It is disappointing to hear that maybe some casting decisions were made to base on identity features, so they can qualify for an Oscar,” Zemenides said.

“Homer belongs to everyone, but why are the Greeks missing from Nolan’s Odyssey?” Lifo magazine wonders.

The Guardian has a similar piece : “What the Hellenic! Why is Christopher Nolan’s new Greek epic entirely devoid of Greeks?”

Still, Nolan’s movie is expected to be a blockbuster worldwide, but also in Greece. It premiered on Thursday and tickets were quickly sold out, while the adaptation sparked a run in bookstores for the original epic .