After his Oscar-winning film, Oppenheimer, all Christopher Nolan fans have been eagerly waiting for his next directorial, The Odyssey. Considered one of the highly anticipated releases of 2026, the film has
landed in hot water even before its production was complete. And at the centre of it all is businessman Elon Musk. The billionaire tech entrepreneur has expressed his disapproval over the casting of an actress in the period drama.
The controversy began after reports surfaced that actress Lupita Nyong’o had been cast to play Helen of Troy in Nolan’s adaptation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic. The makers are yet to officially confirm her casting. Despite the lack of any solid confirmation, discussions began on social media, where many criticised the director’s casting choice. Musk reacted to the thread, adding to the criticism.
Internet Shared Why Lupita Nyong’o Isn’t Fit To Play Helen Of Troy
“Christopher Nolan already ruined The Odyssey…Casting Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy is absolutely disgusting and goes directly against what was written thousands of years ago. See attached for how Helen of Troy was written about. It’s pretty specific,” wrote one user. Reacting to the post, another user shared their opinion on why the actress isn’t a good fit for the role.
The individual explained, “Helen of Troy was fair-skinned, blonde, and ‘the face that launched a thousand ships’ because she was so beautiful that men started a war over her, casting choices that make the premise incoherent are admissions that the story was never the point and an insult to the author.”
Elon Musk Reacted To The Criticism
Musk weighed in by replying, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.” His comment quickly went viral, fuelling a heated debate online. Some users echoed the tech entrepreneur’s sentiment, emphasising that casting a Black actress contradicts the character’s description in ancient texts.
Chris Nolan has lost his integrity
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 31, 2026
Others strongly supported Nolan, arguing that The Odyssey is mythology, and not a historical fact that should be accurate. “The Odyssey” is a myth. There is no historical evidence that Helen of Troy actually existed; hence, she can be beautiful in any colour. Casting a beautiful black woman does NOT go against what was written in any way, shape, or form thousands of years ago. Just ask Homer,” one person said.
The Odyssey: Plot And Cast
Set sometime between 750 and 650 BC, the epic follows Odysseus, king of Ithaca and his decade-long struggle to return home after the Trojan War. Matt Damon leads the film as Odysseus; Tom Holland plays Telemachus, Odysseus’ son; Anne Hathaway steps in as Penelope, Odysseus’ wife; Zendaya appears as Athena; Jon Bernthal joins as Menelaus, king of Sparta; and Robert Pattinson appears as Antinous. Benny Safdie, Himesh Patel, Elliot Page, Mia Goth, Travis Scott and John Leguizamo will appear in other supporting roles. The film will be released on July 17, 2026.
