Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jul 22
Musk Floats $100 Million Alternative 'Odyssey' Film as Nolan's Version Tops $282 Million
Updated
Updated · Forbes · Jul 22

Musk Floats $100 Million Alternative 'Odyssey' Film as Nolan's Version Tops $282 Million

3 articles · Updated · Forbes · Jul 22

Summary

  • Elon Musk said on X he would either make a “historically accurate” Odyssey with Grok AI before year-end or back Mel Gibson with $100 million to direct one.
  • The proposal extends Musk’s campaign against Christopher Nolan’s hit adaptation, which he says “desecrates Homer” through diverse casting including Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy and Elliot Page as Sinon.
  • Classics scholars have rejected the accuracy argument, noting Helen is a mythological figure, ancient Greeks lacked a modern concept of race, and language would matter more than skin color.
  • Nolan’s film has still drawn near-universal approval, posting 94% from critics and 97% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes while grossing more than $282 million worldwide in under a week.

Insights

Is Musk’s AI film a genuine artistic pursuit or a high-tech salvo in the culture wars?
Will AI democratize filmmaking for all, or will it simply create art devoid of a human soul?
How can we judge 'historical accuracy' in a mythical epic featuring cyclops, gods, and six-headed monsters?