Why is Christopher Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' being criticised?

Christopher Nolan is one of the most celebrated filmmakers of the 21st century who is known for his mathematical genius, complex themes and unconventional narratives.

The British-born filmmaker has been honoured with many awards and he maintains his legacy of trying new things.

After the global success of Oppenheimer, which won him his first Best Director Oscar, it was highly anticipated what his next step would be which was later revealed to be the retelling of Homer’s epic Odyssey.

The Odyssey, which is slated to release to release in summer 2026, follows the story of Greek King Odysseus’ decade-long journey home after the Trojan war.

The first trailer of the movie was released on December 22 and Nolan’s creativity is now being heavily scrutinised.

Many viewers of the trailer have commented on its “historial inaacuracy” regarding tiny details, including the design of Odysseus' helmet, which some argue is not according to the orignal epic.

Another point of criticism the movie faces is its filming locations. Nolan filmed the movie near Dakhla, a city in the Western Sahara which is under Morocco’s administration but remains unrecognised as Moroccan territory. Many activists believe an occupied area “normalizes” occupation and represses the indigenous Sahrawi people.

The film’s casting has also faced heavy backlash as majority of the cast is Anglo-Saxon actors which, as per critics, should have been Mediterranean people.

While Nolan’s stature as a filmmaker is enough to bring people to theatres, the star-studded cast is a cherry on top so it is inevitable that cinemas will be filled but will it stand up to the expectations to the creator’s reputation?

Related: Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' first trailer falls short of expectations