Turns out, Travis Scott won’t be the most problematic casting in Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey.”
Elon Musk has inserted himself into the discourse surrounding Nolan’s next film, taking to X on Saturday to accuse the Oscar-winning filmmaker of losing his “integrity” over the apparent casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy in “The Odyssey.”
Musk’s comment appears to be rooted in disagreement over Nolan prioritizing diversity over traditional or historical expectations. It’s not that Nyong’o lacks the talent to pull off the role — au contraire, she’s incredibly talented — but rather that she would be playing a character traditionally understood to be a white woman.
Helen has historically been described as “fair-skinned” and “blonde,” and is famously invoked through the oft-quoted phrase “the face that launched a thousand ships,” emphasizing her unmatched beauty as the catalyst for the Trojan War.
Musk didn’t elaborate further, but the implication was clear: such casting, if true, would represent a betrayal of the source material. Of course, with an X account comprising more than 220 million followers, Musk’s remarks have now kick-started controversy surrounding Nyong’o’s rumored casting.
It’s worth noting that Nyong’o playing Helen has never been confirmed and remains, for now, a rumor — albeit one that has been circulating for many months. One theory suggests Nyong’o could be playing both Helen of Troy and her sister, Clytemnestra, in the film.
Regardless, until an official announcement is made, the uproar remains rooted in speculation, though it is notable given that the roles of most other principal cast members are already known, and the actress who plays Helen has yet to be revealed.
Musk does have a small connection to Christopher’s brother, Jonathan Nolan, who in 2018 created a short promotional film using footage from SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch, which Musk later promoted at SXSW. The two have also appeared together in public discussions focused on technology and space exploration.