The Odyssey sparks new backlash from MAGA critics over plot point

OpinionMovie
21 Jul 2026 • 3:43 AM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

The Odyssey sparks new backlash from MAGA critics over plot point

  • Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey is facing renewed criticism from right-wing commentators following its theatrical release.
  • Critics are taking issue with a plot point where Odysseus expresses guilt over the sacking of Troy and shows signs of PTSD, labeling it as "woke" and a deviation from the epic's original characterization.
  • Right-wing cultural commentator Peachy Keenan and others on X criticized the portrayal of Odysseus as vulnerable, claiming it reduces him to a "traumatized, not very clever, self-hating boomer."
  • Earlier, the film faced backlash over casting choices, specifically Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy, with Elon Musk and Daily Wire commentator Matt Walsh endorsing claims that the casting was "incoherent."
  • These critics argue that the film's creative decisions, including character portrayals and casting, undermine the original story and are influenced by contemporary "woke" ideologies.

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