US billionaire Elon Musk has sparked an unexpected debate online after publicly criticizing Christopher Nolan's casting of a black actress to play Helen of Troy in his upcoming film The Odyssey.
Kenyan-Mexican actress Lupita Nyong‘o will join Nolan’s team in November 2024, Variety reports, but her role has yet to be announced. Despite this, rumors began to circulate on social platforms that she might play Helen in the adaptation of Homer's epic poem.
One user posted that Helen was historically described as a fair-skinned blonde. Musk responded to the post and pointed the finger at Nolan rather than the actress. "Chris Nolan has lost his integrity," he wrote.
Reaction was swift, with many users pointing out that The Odyssey is rooted in mythology rather than recorded history, and that adaptations often reinterpret classic characters. Others noted that it might be premature to criticize a character who hasn't been announced yet.
Others point out that at the height of the classical period, "ancient Greek culture" had extended into North Africa. Therefore, it wouldn't be too far-fetched to imagine non-melanin-deficient characters in a realistic depiction of this story.