Christopher Nolan’s highly-anticipated adaptation of ancient Greek poet Homer’s epic “The Odyssey” has sparked debate for months before audiences even had the chance to see it.
From criticism over casting choices and historical accuracy to backlash over the 55-year-old Oscar-winning director’s own comments dismissing critics, the fantasy action-adventure has found itself at the center of multiple controversies ahead of its theatrical debut.
With a production budget of $250 million and marketing costs totaling an estimated $125 million, “The Odyssey” is one of the most expensive R-rated movies ever made. Box office analysts have estimated that the film will have to gross over $700 million globally to turn a profit for its studio, Universal.
While “The Odyssey’s” controversies have dominated social media and entertainment news headlines, brand experts and box office analysts told Fox News Digital they do not expect the pre-release scrutiny to derail the movie’s commercial prospects, with some arguing that it could have the opposite effect.
Here’s a look at everything Nolan has taken heat for ahead of “The Odyssey’s” release.
“The Odyssey” features a star-studded cast including Matt Damon, Robert Pattinson, Anne Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Charlize Theron, Jon Bernthal and Lupita Nyongo.
Despite its lineup of A-listers and many previous awards recipients, Nolan faced backlash over several casting decisions.
Much of the criticism came from his choice to cast Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, as Homer describes the character as having “white arms” in the poem. Social media users have pointed out that Nyong’o’s African roots and darker complexion contradict the poet’s description of the character.
Nolan also faced scrutiny over his decision to cast transgender actor Elliot Page as Sinon, a great warrior who fought alongside Odysseus during the Trojan War, as well as rapper Travis Scott, who plays a Greek bard (oral storyteller). Others have taken issue with the fact that no actors of Greek or Mediterranean descent were cast in the film.
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While weighing in on the backlash, PR expert Sarah Schmidt pointed out that the controversy had generated significant publicity for the movie ahead of its release.
“There is a lot of noise around this film, but in this case, noise isnt a bad thing,” the president of the PR firm Interdepence told Fox News Digital. “People are talking about the film before its even out, which is almost always a win.”
“If this was about a personal scandal that is one thing, but this controversy is about creative choice, casting, dialogue, and design,” she continued. “And this type of historical edit is not unprecedented. Look at Hamilton, which reimagined history and cast in an unexpected way. It told a story and became a
