Elon Musk is once again criticizing the casting of Lupita Nyong’o as Helen of Troy in the upcoming blockbuster “The Odyssey,” suggesting that casting a Black actress as “the face that launched a thousand ships” is because director Christopher Nolan “wants the awards.”
Musk, named the world’s richest person earlier this month, took to his social media platform X to comment on posts lambasting the casting of the Oscar-winning actress, as well as transgender actor Elliot Page in the adaptation of ancient Greek poet Homer’s epic work.
His condemnation comes as Musk, known for leading Tesla and SpaceX, is traveling with President Donald Trump on his diplomatic trip to China and is embroiled in a legal battle with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in the U.S. District Court in Oakland.
The latest discourse about the film’s casting began on Tuesday, May 12, with an X post by conservative commentator Matt Walsh that was written in reaction to a Time magazine interview with Nolan that described Helen — a fictional character — as “the most beautiful woman in the world.”
“Not one person on the planet actually thinks that Lupita Nyong’o is ‘the most beautiful woman in the world,’” Walsh wrote, referring to Homer’s description of Helen of Troy. “But Christopher Nolan knows that he would be called racist if he gave ’the most beautiful woman’ role to a white woman. Nolan is technically talented but a coward.”
Musk responded, “True.”
Later, Musk asserted that Nolan “wants the awards,” a response to a post that mischaracterized the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ representation and inclusion standards for Oscars eligibility in the best picture category.
He also responded to a hateful post about Page with a laughing emoji. The role in “The Odyssey” played by Page, who worked with Nolan in “Inception” (2010) before he transitioned, has not been revealed.
This isn’t the first time Musk has weighed in on Nolan’s casting choices. In February, when Nyong’o’s casting was first confirmed, Musk posted on X, “Chris Nolan has lost his integrity.”
It is the first film shot entirely with IMAX cameras and is scheduled to be released in theaters July 17.
Nolan’s previous film, “Oppenheimer” (2023), won seven Oscars including best picture and director.