Lupita Nyong’o has sparked a new debate surrounding Christopher Nolan’s upcoming adaptation of The Odyssey after suggesting that Homer did not spend enough time in his ancient epic poems exploring the perspective of women.
The comments come at a challenging moment for Nolan’s highly anticipated film, which has already found itself at the center of online discussion over how faithfully the filmmaker will adapt one of the most influential works in Western literature.
Nyong’o, who will portray Helen of Troy in the film, recently explained that Nolan’s version would take a different approach to some of the female characters found in Homer’s works.
“Very little time in the Odyssey is spent in the perspective of a woman”
O illiterate founder of Greece, the goddess Athena (a female) drives the entire story from start to finish. Her fingerprints are on every page.
The entire point of the story is that mortals, in spite of… pic.twitter.com/U0A0cdRNn1
— George Alexopoulos (@GPrime85) July 6, 2026
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“When you read The Iliad and The Odyssey, very little time is spent in the perspective of women,” Nyong’o said. “It’s told from a very masculine side of things. But this film takes time to really consider things from the female perspective.”
Her remarks followed another interview where the actress was asked what she would say to Homer if she could watch Nolan’s adaptation alongside the legendary Greek poet.
Has the ability to ask Homer a single question- proceeds to lecture…😒 pic.twitter.com/ISh24efcA4
— Steph Anie (@mynerdyhome) July 6, 2026
“I would be like, ‘So, Homer, how do you feel about the screen time given to these women considering how little you spent with them?’” Nyong’o responded.
She later added, “Remember us??”
Fans Compare The Odyssey Comments to Rachel Zegler Drama
The reaction to Lupita Nyong’o and her comments on Homer comes after several high-profile adaptations have faced backlash from audiences who felt filmmakers and actors were too openly critical of the original works they were adapting.
Perhaps the most notable recent example was Disney’s live-action Snow White remake.
Rachel Zegler as Snow White in Snow White (2025), Walt Disney Studios
During the film’s promotion, star Rachel Zegler drew criticism after describing the original 1937 animated film as outdated and saying the new version would take a different approach.
Zegler said the prince “literally stalks” Snow White in the original film and explained that the remake would no longer center around the romance that helped define Disney’s first animated feature.
Those comments became a major talking point throughout the film’s marketing campaign, with many viewers arguing that studios should focus on explaining why audiences should love a new adaptation rather than highlighting perceived flaws in the original.
Nyong’o’s comments have now sparked a similar discussion among fans of Homer’s work.
The question is not whether Nolan’s film can expand the roles of its female characters. Adaptations have always reinterpreted source material. The larger debate is whether audiences respond positively when creators appear to suggest that iconic stories need to be fixed.
Homer’s The Odyssey Already Includes Several Influential Female Figures
Although The Odyssey is primarily centered around Odysseus’ journey home after the Trojan War, Homer’s story features several female characters who are essential to the narrative.
One of the most important is Penelope, Odysseus’ wife, whose loyalty and intelligence define much of the story’s emotional foundation.
While Odysseus struggles to return to Ithaca, Penelope spends years resisting pressure from suitors attempting to take control of her household. She famously delays them by promising to choose a new husband after completing a burial shroud for Odysseus’ father, Laertes, only to secretly undo her work each night.
Mia Goth as Melantho and Anne Hathaway as Penelope in the trailer for The Odyssey – YouTube @UniversalPictures
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Her intelligence and patience mirror Odysseus’ own cleverness, making their eventual reunion one of the epic’s defining moments.
Athena also plays a crucial role throughout The Odyssey. The goddess of wisdom repeatedly assists Odysseus, guides his son Telemachus, and helps shape the events leading to his return.
Without Athena’s intervention, Odysseus’ journey would likely have ended very differently.
Other major female figures include Circe, the powerful sorceress who first challenges Odysseus before providing him with critical guidance; Calypso, the goddess who offers him immortality and eternal youth if he remains with her; and Nausicaa, whose compassion helps lead Odysseus toward his eventual return home.
Queen Arete of the Phaeacians is also portrayed as an influential ruler whose approval carries great importance, while Helen of Troy remains a significant figure whose story connects The Odyssey back to the events of the Trojan War.
Diane Kruger as Helen of Troy in the movie Troy – Warner Bros.
While Homer’s epic may not be structured around female viewpoints in the way modern audiences understand perspective-driven storytelling, many of its female characters remain among the most recognizable figures in ancient literature.
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey Faces Pressure to Honor a 3,000-Year Legacy
The debate arrives as Nolan’s adaptation continues to generate intense discussion online.
The film’s trailer has received significant backlash, with dislike tracking showing nearly 613k dislikes compared to 68k likes.
Some fans have raised concerns about casting choices and whether the film will remain faithful to the themes that have allowed Homer’s story to endure for nearly three millennia.
However, Nolan has built his career on ambitious storytelling, and many viewers are still waiting to see how the finished film handles the legendary material.
Lupita Nyong’o in an interview for The Odyssey – Universal
The challenge facing The Odyssey is one shared by every adaptation of a beloved classic: finding a way to bring something new to the story without losing sight of why generations of audiences valued it in the first place.
Homer’s tale has lasted thousands of years because its themes of perseverance, loyalty, temptation, wisdom, and the desire to return home continue to resonate.
Now, Nolan’s film will have to prove whether its new perspective adds to that legacy — or whether audiences will see it as another example of Hollywood trying to improve something that already stood the test of time.
How do you feel about Lupita Nyong’o and her comments about Homer and The Odyssey? Sound off and let us know!
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