Homer’s Odyssey and Nolan’s Oddity

Homer’s Odyssey and Nolan’s Oddity

From The American Mind Podcast by The Claremont Institute

May 14, 2026 · 6 min

About this episode

The episode discusses the adaptation of Homer's Odyssey by Christopher Nolan and the implications of casting choices in the context of contemporary cultural narratives.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit claremontinstitute.substack.com The Odyssey: Homer’s epic tale of a man’s harrowing return home from war. Today, the object of gender-critical, woke narrative extremes in translator Emily Wilson’s rendition—and potentially in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation. Spencer Klavan and Ryan Williams discuss the rumors and reports about the summer film's casting: Zendaya as Athena, Lupita Nyong'o as Helen, Travis Scott as the poet Demodocus, and possibly Elliot Page (formerly Ellen Page) as Achilles. Will Nolan somehow pull it all together, or deliver a steaming pile of Woke?

People in this episode

Host: Spencer Klavan

Guest: Ryan Williams

Topics covered

  • Homer's Odyssey
  • film adaptation
  • gender-critical narrative
  • casting rumors
  • Christopher Nolan
  • woke culture

Keywords

  • Homer
  • Odyssey
  • Christopher Nolan
  • Zendaya
  • casting
  • woke culture
  • Emily Wilson
  • film adaptation

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: The Odyssey, Homer’s Odyssey, Nolan’s Oddity

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