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Elon Musk has announced plans to produce a “historically accurate” AI-generated version of The Odyssey before the end of 2026, escalating his criticism of Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster adaptation of the ancient Greek epic.
The billionaire owner of X said his AI chatbot, Grok, would create a full-length film that remains “true to the art of Homer.” Musk shared the announcement on Wednesday alongside a three-minute AI-generated trailer created by a Grok user.
The move is the latest chapter in Musk’s ongoing criticism of Nolan’s The Odyssey, which has become one of the year’s biggest box office successes. Since casting rumours emerged earlier this year, Musk has repeatedly accused Hollywood of pursuing a “woke” agenda, particularly over reports that actress Lupita Nyong’o would portray Helen of Troy.
Musk also endorsed social media criticism questioning the casting, arguing that Hollywood applies different standards to race-based casting decisions. He similarly objected to reports that transgender actor Elliot Page would play Achilles, calling the rumour “one of the dumbest and most twisted things” he had heard. The reports were later proven false, as Page plays the character Sinon rather than Achilles.
Despite Musk’s claims that his AI adaptation will be historically faithful, historians have long noted that Homer’s The Odyssey is a work of mythology and literature rather than a historical record.
The AI-generated preview shared by Musk appears to feature an all-white cast, drawing further attention to the cultural debate surrounding the film. Nolan’s production, by contrast, was filmed largely on IMAX cameras with minimal use of computer-generated imagery.
Responding to criticism over historical accuracy, Nolan dismissed the controversy, saying debates before audiences have seen the film are “irrelevant” because critics do not yet know what the film actually is.
The controversy has done little to hurt the movie’s commercial performance. The Odyssey earned $124.5 million during its opening weekend in North America, making it the biggest live-action debut of 2026 and Universal Pictures’ highest-ever opening for an R-rated film.
The film also grossed $139.6 million from 73 international markets, lifting its worldwide opening to $264.1 million—the biggest global debut of Christopher Nolan’s career, surpassing The Dark Knight Rises, which opened with $249 million in 2012.
