The Odyssey is still over half a year away, but it’s clear it will bring back one of the most enticing yet controversial parts of Oppenheimer. The Odyssey is one of the oldest works of literature in the world, and it’s a story so ingrained in our culture that practically everyone has felt its influence in some capacity. With that comes a hefty responsibility in adaptation, one that few directors would be fit to step up to. Luckily, it’s Christopher Nolan, coming off his recent Best Picture win, who’s set to deliver an epic, cinematic experience worthy of this timeless tale.
The Odyssey has already been met with controversy, due to fans dividing over its casting choices, costuming design, Nolan’s favorite translation of the Ancient Greek text, and more. However, other aspects of this story will trigger their own impassioned responses. For those unfamiliar with the text, the film will follow the Ancient Greek king, Odysseus, on his 10-year return journey from war, where mortal and immortal hurdles prevent him from returning to his wife.
‘Oppenheimer’ Prompted a Heavy Historical, Moral Debate
One of the most compelling parts, following the reactions to Oppenheimer, was the rise in discussion surrounding the United States’ usage of nuclear weapons on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in the 1940s, which, though an extraordinarily horrifying event, did also end World War II. This led to many intense debates, as though the usage of such a highly destructive weapon is inhumane, many have argued for the hypothetical outcome where, alternatively, more lives could have been lost due to the war going on. For the purpose of this article, the disagreement itself is non-essential, but its prevalence in response to the Christopher Nolan Best Picture-winner was an undeniable side effect.
Movies are meant to spark such conversation, as, no matter which way one sees it, the fact that a piece of art can trigger a discussion that requires critical thinking and historical analysis is beneficial to society. Being able to reflect on our own history is crucial, and if a Christopher Nolan blockbuster is the way to do so, so be it. In my opinion, this is what cinema is all about. Movies aren’t meant to give you answers; they’re meant to ask you questions, and that’s precisely what Oppenheimer did. It introduced J. Robert Oppenheimer as a man and examined his complicity in the most drastic technological advancement in human history, but it didn’t lecture the viewer on a moral stance. Nolan challenged his audiences to explore the story and make their own decisions.
‘The Odyssey’s Revisionist Narrative Debate, Explained
First, it’s worth mentioning that The Odyssey, while rooted in historical elements, is a fictional tale. Unlike the biographical drama of Oppenheimer, Nolan’s next movie leans more into historical fantasy, and its events will not bear the same emotional resonance as those of World War II and the Manhattan Project. That said, there are still some discussions to be had, and The Odyssey can spark some compelling moral debates.
First, there’s the literary element, which is that Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will likely draw many of its characterizations from Emily Wilson’s translation of the story. Ancient Greek texts obviously need to be translated to be sold as English books, but the byproduct is that, with each translation comes variation based on the personal biases of the writer. Wilson was the first female classicist to translate such a text, and with that came divisive differences that have been tied to the often reductive and oversimplified conversation of woke revisionism.
For example, the version of Odysseus portrayed in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey will likely not represent a “hero” by modern standards. While the Greek heroes of ancient mythology were often distinguished for their greatness and accomplishments, rather than their affinity for morals, unlike a contemporary superhero, Emily Wilson’s translation has still been noted for portraying the titular character as a complicated man. He isn’t a righteous figure; he’s a soldier on a journey that presents impossible obstacles, mandating impossible decisions.
Matt Damon’s version of Odysseus will likely be more similar to Nolan’s portrayal of Robert Oppenheimer than, say, Batman, examining a character who, while extensively important, is capable of making choices that will challenge the viewer’s ability to sympathize with him. Odysseus will commit adultery, murder, abandon his crew, and more, and though these have always been components of his character, the lens through which it’s portrayed may have shifted in recent years, and will surely trigger the word “woke” in response, unlike a project like Gladiator, where Russell Crowe’s Maximus is simultaneously the ultimate man’s man and an altruistic hero.
‘The Odyssey’s Scylla and Charybdis, Explained
Scylla and Charybdis, often used synonymously with the proverb, “the lesser of two evils,” are among the most timeless, fascinating components of The Odyssey. Odysseus must choose to sail his ship past Scylla, the sea monster, or Charybdis, an enormous whirlpool; a decision that will either mean losing a portion of his crew, or all of it. To do so with ease, he lies to his men about Scylla, and when they pass the monster, it gobbles up many men; the sacrifice Odysseus felt he must make to save the larger majority.
The decision Odysseus makes is understandable from a utilitarian leadership perspective, but it’s still a timeless example of a moral conundrum. Is it okay to lie and sacrifice some lives to save a larger number of lives? On a far heavier and more direct scale, this is the root puzzle for some of the ideas present in Oppenheimer, as well as Interstellar and Dunkirk. These conversations flow throughout Christopher Nolan’s movies, and The Odyssey will spark them again.
- Release Date
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July 17, 2026
- Producers
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Emma Thomas