After revealing part of the story in its first trailer, Universal Pictures has just released a new teaser for The Odyssey. This trailer explores Odysseus’s years stranded on the island with the goddess Calypso, while Antinous and greedy suitors try to seize Odysseus’s wealth and throne during his absence after the Trojan War.
The trailer opens with a conversation between Calypso and Odysseus: “Tell me what you remember.” The hero replies that he has a wife and a son and begs her to help him return home. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Odysseus’s homeland, Antinous leads power-hungry men to the palace, pressuring Queen Penelope to accept a suitor’s proposal.
The trailer opens with a conversation between Calypso and Odysseus: “Tell me what you remember.” The hero replies that he has a wife and a son and begs her to help him return home. Meanwhile, back in Ithaca, Odysseus’s homeland, Antinous leads power-hungry men to the palace, pressuring Queen Penelope to accept a suitor’s proposal.
The nearly three-minute video also reveals Odysseus’s loyal servant Eumaeus, played by John Leguizamo. This character plays a key role in helping the king reclaim his throne later in the story. The trailer also clearly shows the design of Polyphemus, the one-eyed giant. In Homer’s epic, Polyphemus is the son of the god Poseidon. During Odysseus’s journey home, he and his crew accidentally enter Polyphemus’s cave and face a fierce pursuit.
Upon release, the trailer sparked mixed reactions on social media. Some viewers are excited and hopeful this will be Nolan’s next blockbuster following the success of Oppenheimer. Others feel the trailer lacks excitement and comes off as cold compared to the film’s ambitious scale. Debates over historical accuracy, style, and adaptation choices have intensified.
The biggest criticism focuses on Anne Hathaway’s portrayal of Penelope, Odysseus’s wife who waits for him for years. Close-up shots in the trailer show her expression as stiff and unnatural. Many online viewers speculate this is due to Botox use limiting her emotional range. Negative comments argue her appearance no longer fits the ancient setting, undermining the character’s authenticity.
However, many defend Hathaway, saying such scrutiny of her looks is unfair and superficial. They argue a short trailer isn’t enough to judge her full performance, and she could still deliver depth when the film premieres.
Another major controversy surrounds the casting of Helen of Troy, the iconic beauty of Greek mythology. Rumors suggest Lupita Nyong’o, a Black actress, may play the role. This has sparked backlash from some viewers who feel casting a Black actress as the “most beautiful woman in the world” in ancient Greece is inappropriate and distorts the original story.
On the other hand, many reject this view, saying beauty standards are not fixed and diversifying casting is a natural trend in modern cinema. Some point out that mythological descriptions are not as specific as often assumed, making reinterpretation reasonable in a film adaptation.
Some netizen comments:
– Close-ups show stiff expressions with no emotional depth.
– Penelope should convey longing, but I don’t feel that here.
– Anne Hathaway’s face looks frozen, probably due to too much cosmetic work.
– Helen is a symbol of beauty in Greek mythology, so changing her image is hard to accept.
– If set in ancient Greece, historical and traditional imagery should be respected more.
– I’m not against creativity, but such changes risk losing the character’s original symbolism.
The Odyssey is Christopher Nolan’s 13th feature film, based on Homer’s ancient poem of the same name. It will make history as the first movie shot entirely with IMAX cameras. Nolan’s recent blockbuster, Oppenheimer, grossed $958.8 million and earned 13 Oscar nominations in 2024, including Best Picture and Best Director. Nolan also wrote and produced The Odyssey alongside his wife, Emma Thomas.
Source: Hollywood Reporter