Should We Be Worried About Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey?

Fixing Christopher Nolan’s next movie, The Odyssey.

One of 2026’s most anticipated films is Christopher Nolan‘s “The Odyssey.” Based on Homer’s riveting tale, it follows Odysseus after the Trojan War between the Romans and Greeks. When the news first broke, many moviegoers and Nolan fans were ecstatic that Christopher Nolan was replicating this movie. However, with the cultural dismissiveness and wardrobe, the “Oppenheimer” director has got the movie wrong. But he could make it right.

Casting

When the casting of “The Odyssey” was first announced, it was clear it was star-studded. Nolan cast Robert Pattinson, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, and Lupita Nyong’o as the film’s core cast. The casting soon built up to Elliot Page, Benny Safdie, Mia Goth, Samantha Morton, Himesh Patel, and others. However, the Greeks noticed one big problem: the lack of Greek casting. Understandably, Nolan would want A-listers to pull audience members; however, in the bulk of the 19 cast members, none had even a shred of Greek in them. One X user posted, “Is now a good time to discuss the Greek erasure in Chris Nolan’s Odyssey cast? Is no one brave enough to speak out? DAMON as Odysseus?? Tom Holland??”

Is now a good time to talk about the Greek erasure in Chris Nolan's Odyssey cast? Is no one brave enough to speak out? DAMON as Odysseus?? Tom Holland?? These mf have never tasted goat in their LIFE. If Anne Hathaway shows up as a woman named Ariadne or something I'm gonna flip

— Emil DeRosa (@emilderosa) March 6, 2025

Another X user posted. “Not to be that person but… isn’t odyssey about Greek gods? Like pleased in Greece? With still no Greek people in the cast?”

Not to be that person but… isn’t odyssey about Greek gods? Like pleased in Greece ? With still no Greek people in the cast? https://t.co/YWGzF94oO7

— бджілка майя -величезний ред флаг🎇 (@rixeymom) February 18, 2025

Another posted. “Can you imagine casting no Greeks as leads in THE ODYSSEY. Or at least people who look like they might pass as Greek? Someone keep Christopher from this folly. Cast reasonably!”

Can you imagine casting no Greeks as leads in THE ODYSSEY. Or at least people who look like they might pass as Greek? Someone keep Christopher from this folly. Cast reasonably! 🤦‍♂️

— Sapient Hominin (@SapientHominin) February 6, 2025

The biggest post was when Greek City Times posted on X, “Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ casts everyone except for Greek actors”

Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" casts everyone except for Greek actors https://t.co/kDEYlyasWR pic.twitter.com/yOaIx4C39X

— Greek City Times (@greekcitytimes) February 20, 2025

With 28 now cast in The Odyssey, only one supporting actor, Michael Vlamis, is Greek.

Everyone else doesn’t even have 1/8 of Greek blood. The Greek erasure from Nolan’s film, in which he was dubbed as the master of accuracy, was shocking and disappointing to many, to say the least. It wouldn’t be a problem if there was one Greek lead or even one-fourth of the cast. But the fact that Nolan has seemingly gone out of his way not to cast any Greek actors raises an eyebrow. In the argument that Nolan needs an audience pull, Theo James, Billy Zane, Nia Vardalos, Jennifer Aniston, and Hugh Jackman are just a few Greek actors who would get people to come to theaters. Moreover, the lack of Greek filmmakers is disappointing to many, as many Greek-Americans and Greeks work in the industry.

Wardrobe

Many quickly pointed out that Matt Damon’s attire in a first look for “The Odyssey” looked nothing like traditional Greek attire in the original tale. While Homer’s “Odyssey” describes not only Odysseus’ attire looking a completely different way, the supporting characters and other Greeks were also described as having the opposite of what’s been seen as of now. One user posted on X, “The Iliad literally describes Odysseus wearing a kino leather helmet adorned with boar tusks, but Hollywood can ever resist the siren song of the generic ancient broom helmet.”

The Iliad literally describes Odysseus wearing a kino leather helmet adorned with boar tusks, but Hollywood can never resist the siren song of the generic ancient broom helmet. This helmet is like cocaine to costume designers. https://t.co/WBLjsbfGTO

— Big Serge ☦️🇺🇸🇷🇺 (@witte_sergei) February 17, 2025

“Roman cosplay. Looks nothing like Archaic Mycenaean armor.” Another voiced their observation.

Roman cosplay. Looks nothing like Archaic Mycenaean armor pic.twitter.com/WA2pIOJBdZ

— Clossington🏴‍☠️ (@Chossingstone1) February 17, 2025

A headline even called out the painful reality of Nolan’s costume design for his film: “‘Family Guy’ Had More Accurate Greek Armor Than Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey'”.

With Nolan being known as a director with authentic sets, setups and costume design, it was indeed a shock to many that he made Matt Damon so Roman. Greek attire and clothing is known for looking a certain way, and with a big budget and the cusp of greatness at Nolan’s fingertips… the ones remarking “this is cinema!” have us wondering… is this actually cinema?

How can Nolan fix this?

At first, Greece wasn’t even listed as a filming location, but it’s been reported Nolan is filming in Nestor’s Cave, Almyrolakas Beach, Methoni Castle, and Ancient Corinth. It was hefty, considering Greece hadn’t even been a confirmed filming location at first. So that’s a positive turnaround Nolan had accomplished. So, regarding the lack of Greek casting, the easiest thing would be to supplement as many Greek extras as possible. And possibly have more Greek filmmakers and Greeks who work in the industry join. With the growing team and Nolan’s resources, it wouldn’t be impossible.

Like directors in the past, Christopher Nolan should also take the criticism of the film’s wardrobe seriously and change it up a bit. He should have more than one designer on set to take notes and reexamine what the cast has been wearing for the upcoming reshoots. It’s never too late to make changes.

In 2025, cultural accuracy has been taken more seriously.

It’s been a nonnegotiable, so it’s surprising that someone as meticulous as Nolan would brush off cultural accuracy for a beautiful blueprint. Greek culture is one of the easiest European cultures to replicate. It’s been the inspiration for many works in the past, and with Greek-Americans and Greeks working in film, you would’ve thought he’d value more insight into Greek culture. “The Odyssey” has the potential to be a wonderful piece of art if Greeks are given their credit and respect.

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