Christopher Nolan's new film, an adaptation of Homer's 'The Odyssey', has prompted criticism from some right-wing commentators, who have labelled it 'woke'. The casting of Lupita Nyong'o, a black woman, as Helen of Troy, a mythical figure, has been highlighted as a key reason for this perception.
Elon Musk has been a prominent critic, describing Nolan as an "anti-White racist" and proposing the creation of an AI-powered 'Odyssey' film using Grok, which he stated would be "historically accurate and true to the art of Homer". Other criticisms from online commentators have focused on a perceived lack of historical accuracy in the film's adaptation of the fictional myth, such as the use of Corinthian helmets in a Bronze Age setting.
Peter Swallow, Labour MP for Bracknell and chair of the all-party parliamentary group on classics, noted that the film's modern interpretation of 'xenia' – an ancient custom governing the treatment of strangers – could be seen as an allegory for the current international system. He suggested that this message, which he described as being about the value of multilateralism in an increasingly nationalistic world, is the underlying reason some on the right might dislike the film.