\n Speaking to Elle magazine<\/a>, an international fashion and lifestyle publication, Nyong\u2019o said, \u201cI was so deeply honored to be entrusted with the role. I mean, she is iconic. What more can I say?\u201d \n <\/p>\n
\n Her casting, however, triggered intense debate online, with critics including the world\u2019s richest man, Elon Musk, arguing that it was historically inaccurate to cast a Black actress as a figure traditionally depicted as white.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Musk tweeted that director Christopher Nolan had “grossly insulted the Greek people,” comparing the casting to placing a white actor in the role of Shaka Zulu, the legendary Zulu leader.
\n <\/p>\n
\n He later accused Nolan of being “an anti-White racist” and claimed the filmmaker assembled a diverse cast for The Odyssey in pursuit of Academy Awards recognition.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Nyong\u2019o responded by emphasizing the mythological nature of the story. “It’s quite something to be a part of The Odyssey, because it is so grand. It spans worlds. So that’s why the cast is what it is. We’re occupying the epic narrative of our time.”
\n <\/p>\n
\n She added, “I’m very supportive of Chris’s intention with it and with the version of this story that he is telling. Our cast is representative of the world. I\u2019m not spending my time thinking of a defence. The criticism will exist whether I engage with it or not.”
\n <\/p>\n
\n The backlash also extended to conservative political commentator and Daily Wire host Matt Walsh, who wrote on X that critics would react differently if \u201ca white woman\u201d were cast as \u201cthe most beautiful woman in Africa\u201d in a major Hollywood production.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Reflecting on the criticism, Nyong\u2019o said, \u201cI can\u2019t spend my time thinking about all the people who still don\u2019t love me. You\u2019ll find the representatives who believe in you, and you\u2019ll get on with it. I want to believe I\u2019m built to last.\u201d
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\n A $250 million Hollywood gamble
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\n <\/p>\n
\n Beyond the controversy, The Odyssey is shaping up to be one of Hollywood\u2019s biggest theatrical releases of 2026, with analysts projecting it could join Christopher Nolan\u2019s billion-dollar blockbusters alongside The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises, while potentially surpassing the near-$1 billion performance of Oppenheimer.
\n <\/p>\n
\n According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film was produced with a $250 million budget.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Koimoi noted that, based on Hollywood\u2019s commonly used 2.5x multiplier rule, The Odyssey would need to generate an estimated $625 million globally to break even after marketing and distribution costs.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Industry projections, however, suggest the film could perform well beyond that threshold.
\n <\/p>\n
\n With a cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, Robert Pattinson, Zendaya, Lupita Nyong\u2019o, and Charlize Theron, The Odyssey is projected to generate between $800 million and more than $1.2 billion during its theatrical run, according to estimates cited by Koimoi.
\n <\/p>\n
\n For the Kenyan actress and Academy Award winner for Best Supporting Actress, blockbuster success is nothing new.
\n <\/p>\n
\n Her breakthrough film, 12 Years a Slave, generated more than $187 million globally and earned her an Oscar, making her the first Kenyan actress to receive the honour.
\n <\/p>\n
\n She has since appeared in major franchises including Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Black Panther.
\n <\/p>\n
\n The success of Black Panther, which generated approximately $1.347 billion globally, further positioned Nyong\u2019o among African actors featured in some of Hollywood\u2019s highest-grossing productions.
\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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