LOS ANGELES — Director Christopher Nolan restricted pre-release screenings of his film "La Odisea" to film critics and traditional media journalists, excluding social media influencers. The film is an adaptation of Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey."

Elon Musk initiated a campaign against "La Odisea" on X in January. Musk stated that the film employed a black actress and transgender actor Elliot Page to comply with Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences representation and inclusion standards. "Nolan desecrated 'The Odyssey' to be eligible for Academy Awards," Musk said.

Lupita Nyong'o plays Helen of Troy and Elliot Page portrays Sinon, a Greek warrior and cousin of Odysseus. Commentator Matt Walsh stated regarding Nyong'o's casting, "Not a single person on the planet really thinks that Lupita Nyong'o is 'the most beautiful woman in the world'. But Christopher Nolan knows that they would call him racist if he gave the role of 'the most beautiful woman' to a white woman."

Critics have cited the absence of Greek actors in the main roles. An open letter published by Greek City Times addressed the production. The letter stated, "We are not asking for exclusion or limitation. We are not arguing against diversity, or against reinterpretation. Greek culture has always been formed through exchange, migration, and encounter over the centuries. What we ask for is something simpler and more human. That when Greek stories are retold on a global stage, the Greek people are not made invisible within them."

Nolan addressed creative decisions in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, stating that characters in "La Odisea" speak in contemporary English dialogue. He said he wanted to prioritize language that has "an emotional and not intellectual meaning for people." Nolan added, "Maybe I was naive and it could backfire, but I wanted an earthly narrative. For me it was an obvious decision."

Critics noted several historical inaccuracies in the film, including the dark armor worn by King Agamemnon, played by Benny Safdie, which resembled Batman or Renaissance styles instead of classical Greek armor. Odysseus's ship was compared to a Viking vessel rather than a classical Greek ship, and the warriors' armor featured steel plates in a Bronze Age setting. Matt Damon plays the protagonist Odysseus in the film, which was filmed in Morocco, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Iceland, Western Sahara, Malta, and at Universal Pictures studios in Los Angeles.

Why It Matters

Restrictions on pre-release screenings for "La Odisea" coincide with public discourse surrounding the film's creative choices, particularly its casting and historical representations. The film is the first fiction film shot entirely with 70 mm IMAX cameras and has a reported budget of US$250 million, according to Box Office Mojo. "La Odisea" is scheduled for theatrical release on July 17.