The Odyssey’s 2 biggest changes you need to know before you watch
The Odyssey sails into theaters July 17, but don’t expect a straight shot from Troy to Ithaca. Christopher Nolan’s action epic takes two bold swings at Homer’s classic—changes worth knowing before you buy a ticket.
Christopher Nolan's rolling out his version of 'The Odyssey' soon, and as per usual, it's triggering debates before anyone's even seen the film. On paper, you'd think he'd go full epic—ancient Greeks, gods throwing tantrums, all that—but Nolan's done what Nolan does: he’s shaken things up and, unsurprisingly, not everyone's loving it.
Not Your Grandad's Homer
If you’re heading into this one hoping for a by-the-book take on Homer’s legendary poem, you’ll probably notice a few big differences straight off the bat. Here are the two major changes everyone’s chattering about:
- Modern English Dialogue – The first thing that set fans off was a clip with Tom Holland as Telemachus calling out 'Dad'. Yes, you read that right: ancient Greece, 'Dad'. People don’t generally associate the Odyssey with casual 21st-century banter. According to Nolan, that's the point. He explained, 'When you look at the ancient world, people tend to view it in weird ways. There’s a lot of cultural prejudice, a lot of elevating it because it’s old… When you go to the poem, what you find is something really earthy and grounded and accessible. For me, I just want to centre it on that and make it feel very fresh for modern audiences.' That’s his excuse—and based on previous films, he’s not really fussed about sticking to the history books.
- Loose (Very Loose) Adaptation – Nolan isn’t particularly worried about staying loyal to the original poem. There’s already backlash online about costumes, casting, and the general vibe being more 'Nolan world' than Homer. He’s taking the same approach he brought to 'Interstellar'—where, if you remember, he got stick from scientists for not being strictly accurate. His attitude is pretty straightforward: 'What is the best speculation and how can I use that to create a world?' He knows purists might roll their eyes, but he reckons that’s better than playing it safe.
Is Nolan Even Bothered?
Nolan’s no stranger to this sort of flak. Plenty of armchair historians want their toga drama 'authentic', but he’s not losing sleep. For him, it’s about making an old tale feel urgent and new—even if that means jettisoning ancient chit-chat for something that sounds like your mate at the pub. He’s not ignoring the classics, but he’s not getting bogged down in them either. And if that winds people up, well, it’s not the first time.