“The Odyssey” has generated a lot of buzz even before its release, but not everyone is impressed with Christopher Nolan’s approach to the epic poem. Elon Musk has been critical of the adaptation, voicing his opinion on casting choices, among other things. The trillionaire recently shared his plan to create his own AI-powered version of the tale, one he claims would be more “historically accurate” than Nolan’s take on Homer’s work.
Elon Musk has been vocal about his thoughts on Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” long before the film’s release on July 17. In February, there were rumors that Lupita Nyong’o would be portraying Helen of Troy, and Musk commented on X that the director “has lost his integrity.”
On July 22, Musk announced that before 2026 is over, he will have a feature-length version of “The Odyssey” created with AI image and video generator Grok Imagine “that is historically accurate and true to the art of Homer.” The post was accompanied by a three-minute clip of what the movie could look like, which was shared by Heavy Pulp.
Reactions to Musk’s statement varied, but many pointed out that he couldn’t create something “historically accurate” when his source material is rooted in Greek mythology. “It’s an imagined story that feature cyclops and mermaids my dude… There is nothing historical about it,” one user commented.
One Filmmaker Said The Businessman’s Opinions Are ‘Worthless’
Following Musk’s post, filmmaker Scott Derrickson, who directed films such as “Sinister,” “The Exorcism of Emily Rose,” and “Doctor Strange,” shared his reaction on social media.
“Clearly @elonmusk doesn’t know sh-t about cinema & he stopped reading in his 20s. His opinions on art are worthless,” Derrickson wrote. Entertainment critics and British historian Tom Holland (not to be confused with the “Spider-Man” actor) have also pushed back against Musk’s criticisms of the film.
Some also pointed out inaccuracies in the AI-generated video Musk posted, with many noticing that Odysseus had a yellow earplug. Another commented, “Not to nitpick but nobody here looks Greek… It looks cool but it exposes the fact that accuracy is not the goal. It’s just making everyone white.”
Elon Musk Heavily Criticized And Mocked ‘The Odyssey’
Musk’s statements about “The Odyssey” stemmed from rumors about casting, specifically over Lupita Nyong’o, who portrayed twin sisters Helen of Troy and Clytemnestra, and Elliot Page as Greek warrior Sinon. He wrote, in part, that the casting was one of “the dumbest and most twisted things I’ve heard.”
When the cast was confirmed, Musk doubled down on his stance. In May, conservative political commentator Matt Walsh posted about the movie, describing it as “woke” and calling Nolan a “coward.”
“We’re told that we shouldn’t object to Helen of Troy being portrayed as a black woman. And yet if a major Hollywood studio made a film set in Africa and cast a white woman as ‘the most beautiful woman in Africa,’ those same people would literally riot in the street,” Walsh wrote. Musk agreed, replying, “Absolutely true. Such hypocrisy in Hollywood.”
Later, the business mogul called Nolan an “anti-White racist.”
The SpaceX CEO Accused Christopher Nolan Of Pandering To The Oscars
Chris Nolan desecrated the Odyssey so that he would be eligible for an Academy Award …
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 15, 2026
In yet another post, Musk accused Nolan of making the casting choices he did to pander to the Oscars. “Who specifically is the a-shole who added DEI lies to Academy Awards eligibility instead of it just being about making the best movie?” he asked.
Musk was referring to the Oscars’ diversity and inclusion rules, which went into effect in 2024. As many pointed out, however, the businessman’s assumption was inaccurate. According to the Academy’s guidelines for a film to be eligible for Best Picture, only two of the four standards must be satisfied when it comes to diversity.
The inclusion standards do not only cover on-screen casting, but also behind-the-camera opportunities, marketing and distribution teams, and creative leadership and crew.
Elon Musk Said He’s Up For Funding An Adaptation Directed By Mel Gibson
X user John Carter posted an idea on the social media platform, saying that he wants the trillionaire to give Mel Gibson $100 million to create a “painstakingly historically accurate” adaptation of “The Odyssey.” Carter also noted that he wants all dialogue to be taken from Homer’s poem and delivered in Homeric Greek dialect.
Musk responded with two words: “I’m down.” Others mentioned, however, that Gibson’s movies, including “Braveheart,” “The Passion of the Christ,” and “Apocalypto,” were filled with inaccuracies.
Nolan has not directly responded to Musk’s criticisms, only offering a blanket statement about critics. During a press tour, the director said the comments are “irrelevant,” especially before watching a film, and the backlash “comes with the territory” of creating a big movie.