Lupita Nyong’o Complains Homer Didn’t Write Enough Roles For Women, But Nolan Made ‘Odyssey’ Better

ByMF Jones

The Odyssey trailer is currently being downvoted into oblivion amid complaints around casting choices and the bizarre decision to feature modern, Americanised language in Ancient Greece, so it’s probably not a good time for one of the film’s stars to come out and talk sh1t about Homer’s original epic.

Lupita Nyong’o, who plays Helen of Troy in Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of the story, has now complained that Homer didn’t write enough roles for women, and that Nolan corrected this.

She told YouTube channel DC Film Girl: “What Chris is interested in this film is investigating the cost of war. When you read the Iliad and the Odyssey, very little time is spent in the perspective of the women. It’s told from a very masculine side of things. But this film takes time to really consider things from the female perspective. And so we see in Helen and Clytemnestra how this war has affected them both, and they respond to it very differently because their experience of it is very different.”

In another clip doing the rounds, Nyong’o is asked what one question she would ask Homer if she had the chance, and she answered: “So, Homer, how do you feel about the screen time given to these women considering how little you spent with them?”

Quite amazing considering she admitted that she had never even heard of the Odyssey before being cast in Nolan’s movie:

The Odyssey trailer has almost 5.7 million views and just 68K Likes – a brutal 9-to-1 ratio. Again, much of it is down to controversial casting choices that include Nyong’o, Elliot Page and rapper Travis Scott. You could argue that these are stupid/bigoted complaints given that the Odyssey is a myth and its characters are not real historical figures. But there’s also an argument about setting and realism and tradition, and diversity for the sake of it.

If the Odyssey turns out to be as awesome as the early critic reviews say it is, then I’m sure all will be forgiven. Still, not a great look for Lupita Nyong’o to express her gripes with Homer’s writing at a time where the target demo of this major Hollywood production are already feeling very skeptical about the whole thing.

The Odyssey hits screens on July 17 2026 – not long to go now.

For a look at the new Ali G film that just secretly finished filming, click HERE.

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