Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and owner of the social media platform X, is back at it again, criticizing the casting choices for Christopher Nolan’s new film, ‘Odyssey’.
In an interview with ‘Time’ magazine on the 13th (local time), Director Nolan officially confirmed that Lupita Nyong’o will play the role of Helen, the Queen of Sparta. Nyong’o is actually pulling double duty, playing both Helen and her sister, Clytemnestra.
In Homer’s original work, Helen is described as “the most beautiful woman in the world.” While there is no explicit mention of race, descriptions of her having “fair skin and blonde hair” have led to the long-standing perception of Helen as a blonde white woman.
Lupita Nyong’o is a powerhouse Black actress well-known for ‘Black Panther’ and the ‘Star Wars’ series, and she’s a critically acclaimed talent who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for ’12 Years a Slave’ in 2013. For comparison, the 2004 movie ‘Troy’ cast German actress Diane Kruger in this role.
Responding to this, American conservative critic Matt Walsh took to social media on the 13th, claiming that no one considers Lupita Nyong’o the most beautiful woman in the world. He criticized Nolan, saying the director chose a Black actress only because he knew he would be labeled a racist if he cast a white woman, calling Nolan a “coward” despite his technical brilliance.
Elon Musk joined the fray, replying that Walsh’s points were “correct.” Musk further claimed that Nolan cast people of color simply to win awards, while offering a favorable review of the previous film ‘Troy’.
This isn’t the first time Musk has targeted Nolan. Back in February, when speculation first arose that Lupita Nyong’o would play Helen in ‘Odyssey’, he criticized Nolan for “losing his authenticity.”
The casting of ‘Odyssey’ has certainly sparked debate. Specifically, “diversity casting” that changes a character’s race can raise concerns about altering the original work. Disney’s obsession with PC (Political Correctness), such as casting a Black actress for ‘The Little Mermaid’ and a Latina actress for ‘Snow White’, has previously faced a cold reception from audiences.
However, many are reacting that Musk’s criticism, claiming the casting is just a move to win an Oscar, is completely off the mark.
The American outlet Variety stepped in to debunk Musk’s claims with an article titled “‘Odyssey’: Why Elon Musk and His Troll Army’s Attacks Are Not Just Ridiculous, But Seriously Inaccurate.”
Variety pointed out the irony of Musk, a self-proclaimed fan of ‘Iliad’ and ‘Odyssey’, praising ‘Troy’. This is because ‘Troy’ was heavily criticized by both critics and audiences upon release for distorting Homer’s story.
They also refuted Musk’s claim that Nolan used diversity casting to win an Oscar, noting that he is misinterpreting the Academy’s regulations.
To be eligible for an Oscar, a film must meet at least two of the Academy’s four representation and inclusion standards: screen representation, theme and narrative; creative leadership and crew; industry access and opportunity; and audience development.
‘Odyssey’ already satisfies Criterion B, as the heads of costume, production design, editing, and makeup are women. It meets Criterion C through Universal Studios’ internship program, and Criterion D through Universal’s diverse executive leadership, which includes female presidents (Donna Langley and Veronica Quan Vandenberg) and a Black president of domestic marketing (Dwight Kaines).
Variety mentioned that an all-white cast can still win an Oscar if other criteria are met. They emphasized that Musk and his supporters should look at Nolan’s previous work, ‘Oppenheimer’ (2024), which won seven Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Director, despite having an all-white cast.
The publication further claimed that Musk is suspected of manipulating algorithms to increase engagement on his account and frequently amplifies “white victim narrative” campaigns that attack diversity.
‘Odyssey’ depicts the 10-year journey of the Greek hero Odysseus, who led the Trojan Horse, as he attempts to return home after the war. It is based on Homer’s epic ‘Odyssey’, which has a history of 2,000 years. The film features a star-studded cast of Hollywood’s finest, including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Zendaya, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Charlize Theron, and Lupita Nyong’o.
As the first feature film shot entirely with IMAX cameras, ‘Odyssey’ is expected to be the pinnacle of Christopher Nolan’s visual aesthetics. The movie opens in North America on July 17 and in Korea on August 5.
