Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey just received a fresh wave of criticism for changing a pivotal moment from Homer’s epic. Both fans and critics have relentlessly dissected Nolan’s adaptation since the first-look images dropped, and more so when the much-anticipated trailers were finally released. That’s inevitable when you’re adapting one of Western civilization’s foundational texts. The jury is still out on whether Nolan was justified in taking such creative liberties, since The Odyssey just premiered. In the meantime, some who have read the source material are practically throwing a fit because of one cut moment.
Speaking with Jon Stewart during Tuesday’s The Daily Show, Nolan addressed some of the hot topics that spurred controversy surrounding his latest film. He took it all in stride and acknowledged the criticisms. “The fact that people have been fascinated by The Odyssey for 3,000 years, the fact that people care about a film coming out, that’s a huge advantage. It means we’ve got people’s attention,” he said. That response stemmed from a comment Stuart heard after watching the film.
Stuart said he walked out of the screening with someone who studied Homer’s epic in Greek. That person loved the film but apparently had one pet peeve — Nolan changed the way Odysseus (played by Matt Damon) introduces himself to the Cyclops Polyphemus in a scene. Now, Nolan’s films have their moments of levity (he almost made a comedy after all) — the “I’m not wearing hockey pads” line in The Dark Knight has been memed into oblivion. Despite his penchant for dry humor, Nolan said that “it was not possible” to work the famous Homeric pun into the film. Minor spoilers about Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey ahead.
Shortly after landing on the Cyclopes’ island in Homer’s text, Odysseus and his men found themselves trapped in a cave after Polyphemus blocked the exit. Crafty and cunning, Odysseus is known for his clever tricks — he conceived the ruse of the wooden horse that won the war for the Greeks. Odysseus knew that if they attacked Polyphemus, he would call out to the other Cyclops for help, so he introduced himself as “Nobody” when Polyphemus asked. Odysseus later blinded Polyphemus with a stake, and the latter called the other Cyclops — when they asked who was attacking him, he said, “Nobody is killing me,” and the Cyclops misunderstood him and left.
Nolan said he had trouble translating the pun from the Greek text. “Puns in translation are tough. I tried. It was not possible to work in it,” he said. That pun was a turning point for Odysseus’ fate in Homer’s text, however, because Odysseus taunted Polyphemus as they fled the island on their ships. Odysseus also revealed his true identity, which turned out to be a fatal mistake — Polyphemus prayed to his father Poseidon, the god of the sea, storms, and earthquakes, to punish Odysseus and his men.
“It’s the most important scene in [Homer’s] The Odyssey,” one user wrote on X. “Because of his pride, Odysseus shouts his real name at him as he runs away, and that is how Polyphemus goes to tell his father, Poseidon, who it was that humiliated him in that way, thus incurring Poseidon’s wrath.” Another X user argued that pun also hinted at Odysseus’ internal thoughts, that he was a nobody without his intellect.
Despite the complaints, Nolan has previously said that criticisms “come with the territory.” “These conversations that happen before people see the film — they’re always irrelevant, because no one having them knows what the film actually is yet,” the filmmaker concluded.
The Odyssey is now showing in theaters.
Release Date
July 17, 2026
Runtime
172 Minutes